Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Vietnam from $275

I joined the special needs program for 2 weeks in early March, 2020-- during the outbreak of COVID-19. During my stay it was declared pandemic, and the world quickly turned into chaos. However, I was very impressed on how the local team handled the situation. We had to take our temperature every day, they made us sanitize our hands countless times each day, volunteers who arrived after a certain date were no longer allowed to participate in the medical and special needs program. The local staff were always willing to assist people who had to head home early, and constantly gave us news updates on the situation in Vietnam. After bars, clubs, and restaurants got shut down, the lovely staff organized karaoke nights and game nights to keep us entertained. I think they did their absolute best to ensure our safety, and I felt very well taken care of.
Living conditions were basic, but it was clean, the food was good, there was a good social atmosphere and the staff were super friendly. I was a bit nervous about my program since I had no medical study background and it was a completely new territory for me. But the staff were super nice, gave directions and answered every question I had, and the experienced volunteers help me adjust quickly as well. By the end I was very sad to have to say goodbye to the kids.
Overall, I had a great experience, and I think the staff handled the abnormal and worrying situation very well, proving that they are trust-worthy. Thank you.

I spent two weeks volunteering in the kindergarten program with IVHQ in Ho Chi Minh and honestly had the time of my life!! The staff make you feel so at home and the accomodation is clean and well maintained. There was a variety of food to choose from at meal times and the location is super close to cafes and restaurants. The other volunteers were all so welcoming and had a great attitude, wanting to make the most of their experience.

The kindergarten program was really rewarding and even in two weeks I made so many connections with the children. Although some days are repetitive (singing, dancing, feeding, teaching), the kids really love when the volunteers are there and you can see the difference you're making in their lives. Without the volunteer program, the children wouldn't learn english, limiting there opportunities in the future.

The city of Ho Chi Minh is busy and has so much to do, after volunteer hours everyone was super eager to explore and make the most of their time overseas. Travelling to other parts of Vietnam is also really easy and affordable from Ho Chi Minh and the staff at the accomodation were so helpful with planning weekend trips and providing recommendations. We could book tours or weekend trips the day before we left easily with the help of the staff which allowed flexibility and kept the experience exciting!

Overall, in my two weeks in Ho Chi Minh, I made memories which will last forever, made lifetime friends from all over the world and learnt so much about the rich culture and beautiful landscape of Vietnam. For anyone thinking about volunteering overseas, I would highly recommend the IVHQ Vietnam experience and any of the programs they offer.

I always wanted to do an international volunteer. I chose IVHQ because of the different programs that it offers in various countries. I volunteered with IVHQ in Vietnam in May 2019 for 1 week and it was such a good experience. You meet great people from all round the globe. The staffs were very supportive and always ready to help a hand. Even before you arrive, there is a proper coordination to ensure that everything goes on smoothly. I would highly recommend to choose IVHQ. They are professional :). You also have free time depending on which program you are doing. On the 1st day there is culture day/week and at night a warn welcoming dinner. The rooms that were provided were clean and neat. One suggestion maybe would be to improve the variety for vegetarian foods.

I had a wonderful experience volunteering with IVHQ for the medical program in Ho Chi Minh City.

Pros: Incredible local team support, organized daily schedules, fun activities in the city, meaningful volunteer work, wonderful learning experience, hands on, made great friends

Cons: Accommodation wasn't very nice, a little dirty/messy, Ho Chi Minh is a busy busy city so be prepared for chaos, some days could be a little boring while working in the hospital, very very hot (thankfully the accommodation has AC so you can cool off in the evenings)

I would do the program again, definitely, and I did realize that the longer I stayed, the better it got. With an authentic program like this, it takes time to assimilate to the culture, the food, the hospital or whichever placement you are on, and once you're in the grove, you start to make connections and really enjoy your time! I highly recommend!

My returning trip to Vietnam was an amazing experience. As a prior volunteer, I was excited to work hands on with fellow volunteers and staff. The doctors and nurses were very friendly and happy to answer my questions. I learned more from the different departments of the hospital than last year. My volunteer friends were one of the main highlights of my IVHQ trip because we got to experience the culture and work together. Even though I was able to communicate to the doctors and patients in Vietnamese, I learned that laughter has no language barrier. Overall, I am thankful for another opportunity to volunteer with IVHQ! I would recommend this program for anyone interested in helping the community, learning new culture and meeting new people!

Wow! IVHQ was an amazing program and they really prepared me for my time abroad. The programs were reasonably priced (unlike some of their competitors!) Everything was included as well, which definitely eased some of my worries before the trip. There were very clear instructions leading up to my trip and they were very receptive to feedback. The hosting program made sure everyday that we had no issues and they were more than happy to help us if there were. The staff was amazing as was the food and the total atmosphere. They took a scary experience (going on your own to a foreign country) and turned it into an
experience of a lifetime. I met a family there and it was very sad to end my trip but I can’t wait to go on more. I completely recommend this program as they really care about not only the volunteers but the countries in which they are located! Thank you IVHQ!

Simply an amazing experience! I was only in Vietnam for two weeks, but I worked with so many amazing volunteers and staff members and saw so many beautiful areas in and around the city. The program coordinators here are amazing! Not only are they good at their jobs, providing safe, meaningful volunteer opportunities, but they also are great people to spend time with and get to know. I had high expectations coming into the program, but IVHQ and Green Lion still managed to exceed those expectations! I will definitely be traveling with them again in the future. :)

For the medical placement specifically, just come in with an open mind ready to observe. I learned a lot just from watching the doctors, nurses, and therapists. I even got to watch a couple of surgeries which were very interesting!

Before this opportunity, I already have a lot of experience working with disability groups and with children by being a Community Support Work at Saskatchewan Abilities Council, and I really enjoyed the work I did with them. This volunteer trip was a great experience to see the differences in mental health support between developed countries and developing countries. It gave me a better picture of how I can utilize my skills to support diverse groups. I was surprising that there is so many skills I used at work are from my study at school. This industry is for sure a place of interest for me in the future.
Overall, I enjoyed this experience very much. First, this hospital is way more organized than I thought, due to language barrier, the hospital specifically signed coordinators who speak English to work with us. Second, I was able to walk out of my comfort zone to work at a developing environment. Most importantly, I was able to use the skills and knowledge I so far learned at school at real work place, it made me enjoy the program at school more and made me more certain that this is the area I want to study and work for in the future. I learned so much from this trip.