Vietnam Volunteer Programs from $18/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

I had an incredible experience with both the staff and the medical program in Vietnam! The Local Team and everyone involved in the program were exceptionally kind, welcoming, and always ready to help. Their friendliness made the entire trip even more enjoyable and enriching. The program itself was well-organized, and I learned so much from both the local medical staff and the hands-on experience. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for a meaningful and fulfilling experience. I truly hope to embark on more of these trips in the future, as this one left such a lasting positive impact on me!

The experience was wonderful. It was a great opportunity to get out of the country and a fantastic way to meet many new people. The Local Team was helpful and ready to assist in any way necessary. I felt like I made an impact, and I met so many new people in the food outreach program and in other programs from so many other countries too. This is an amazing way to immerse yourself in a new culture and try delicious food. I highly recommend International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) for anyone looking for a way to volunteer!

I had the most amazing experience in Vietnam. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and have grown in confidence as a result. The IVHQ team offered lots of pre-departure support and the in-country team welcomed you so warmly when you arrived. I have made friends for life with the other volunteers! During the programme I was given the opportunity to support children with their English and to support them with other developing skills. I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone who is thinking about volunteering.

This experience was absolutely amazing for me. I was in the Medical program in Vietnam and I had so much fun! Aside from that, I also learned so much about the medical system in Vietnam and made so many good friends and connections. Everyone was so nice! This was a great opportunity for me to improve my social skills but it helped so much with my confidence and helped me grow as an individual. It was super fun and any concerns I had were gone after I got settled in. IVHQ and the local team were super helpful and friendly so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, I’d be glad to tell you more about my experience! But I highly recommend this program if you’re considering it!

Hello, my name is Perla, and I am 20 years old. Volunteering in another country has been a long-standing goal of mine. I love traveling and discovering new cultures, but I wanted to add a deeper purpose to my travels. That’s why I decided to join a childcare program in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam with IVHQ. As a first-time volunteer abroad, I think this program was the perfect choice.

I remember arriving at the accommodation, feeling overwhelmed and questioning why I had decided to travel to the other side of the world. However, this feeling quickly faded as I began connecting with the people around me. The Local Team was incredibly welcoming, and helped me with everything I needed. They were genuinely caring and made sure we embraced this journey in the right way.

On the night of my arrival, some volunteers from other programs were sitting down on the patio of the accommodation. I joined them, and as I listened to their conversation, I wondered how long they had known each other? They seemed so close for a group that had just met a week ago. It amazed me how quickly you can connect with someone when you share the same goal.

Volunteering in a Kindergarten was an absolute joy. If you love kids, you will fall in love with this program. I felt like I relived a part of my childhood during my time in Ho Chi Minh.

Lastly, I was truly impressed by the Vietnamese culture -the people, the food, the traditions. I was amazed. Traveling so far away makes you realize how different and unique each environment is. When you’ve lived your whole life in one place, you might not fully appreciate the importance of traditions because they’re just the way things have always been. Vietnam is simply lovely and my time there went by so fast that I wished I could have stayed longer.

A reflection on my service learning program experience in Vietnam can be summarized in a sentence: It has brought me closer to my dreams. This program has facilitated my engagement with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, enabled me to work in an international environment, deepened my understanding of the complexities of humanity and society, and ultimately, contributed to my development as a more mature and globally engaged citizen.

Through the summer program offered by the City University of Hong Kong College of Business, I enrolled in the service learning program in Vietnam. After submitting an application for the program through IVHQ, we got in touch with a local group named Green Lion, who put us up in a Ho Chi Minh City hospitality college. Every Monday was filled with love and excitement as coordinators in Green Lion made an effort to unite the entire volunteer team into a huge family by hosting events like karaoke night, family supper, and team games. When I first arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, I was astounded by how alive, dynamic, and advanced the city was—there was always something new to discover.

In Vietnam, Cultural Week began in the first week. We visited the Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Thanh Market, a few well-known pagodas and temples, and more. Due to French colonial control, the opera theater, post office, and museums are just a few examples of the numerous French-inspired buildings in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. But the thing that shocked me the most when I first got to Vietnam was how much Vietnamese customs—which are remarkably similar to Chinese customs—had been affected by Chinese culture. For example, we give older family members titles that reflect their seniority in the family in order to honor both our elders and our forefathers. Furthermore, the Chinese term "Fu" is pasted in many institutions, and Chinese characters may be seen almost anywhere, especially in temples. They also follow many of our Chinese customs, such as celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Spring Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival. The aforementioned can be explained by historical circumstances, particularly the Confucian Sphere, which is a term used to describe a group of East Asian and Southeast Asian nations that have traditionally been greatly impacted by Chinese customs, culture, and standards.

I spent three weeks participating in the English Teaching program while I was volunteering in Vietnam. I also had the priceless chance to speak with and gain knowledge from overseas volunteers thanks to this experience. My understanding of volunteering has changed from one of pure altruism to one of mutual growth and learning. I came to understand that volunteering is about more than just helping people; it's also about building relationships and developing empathy via my encounters with the locals and other volunteers. I had discussions with Vietnamese students in my English corner class about a variety of subjects, including national laws, hometowns, and favorite foods. We both gained insight into each other's social and economic cultures as a result of these conversations. One student, for example, clarified that homes in Vietnam are tall and narrow, showing the impact of filial piety in Vietnamese culture, a notion also rooted in Chinese history, to accommodate the elderly on the upper levels. In addition to being instructors, we are also students, as my Australian colleague pointed out.

I now consider myself a more globally engaged citizen, committed to creating a more interconnected world for future generations. I learned from my experience in Vietnam that prejudices fueled by ignorance and the manipulation of news sources and social media with hidden agendas are often the root of cross-cultural conflicts and miscommunications. Because of the Russia-Ukraine War, it was nearly impossible to encounter a Russian in the United States. Therefore, my American colleague in my English teaching team was delighted to converse with my Russian colleague. On the one hand, my American colleague gained additional knowledge on the state of the economy and the difficulties caused by the Russian War, including the growing number of individuals who are in debt. Conversely, though, my Russian colleague additionally became aware of the pressing issue of guns and crimes in the United States. Through unbiased and objective conversations, we did our best to comprehend each other's perspectives on each other's cultures and current situations. I believe that by encouraging intercultural understanding, we can lessen prejudice and hatred, advance equality and inclusiveness, and have an impact on the world.

In addition, my experience volunteering abroad has increased my social consciousness and sensitivity to the problems that communities face not just in Vietnam but all around the world. The biggest one is the growing educational divide between the rich and the poor, which is a direct effect of the wealth and poverty gaps. As part of my English teaching program, I conducted debate lessons in a local middle-class neighborhood. Despite their young age, the students there spoke English with astonishing fluency. Conversely, even though they were in higher grades, the English proficiency of the students I taught at the hospitality college—who were typically from different provinces—was basic. The above was also the main difficulty I met during the program: to get used to the different English levels of different classes. However, I am more motivated to assist students who do not have access to high-quality educational materials because I believe that education may alter their fate. For instance, my coordinator informed me that in Vietnam, those who speak English make three times as much as those who do not. Observing their difficulties has made me feel obligated to promote constructive change and help create a society that is more just and caring.
In summary, the service learning program has been a significant and life-altering experience that has improved my teamwork abilities, raised my social consciousness, and transformed my perspective on volunteering. It has also made me a more internationally involved citizen. I am appreciative that I had the chance to take part in this life-changing event and I am excited to carry on serving others in the future.

I have volunteered for years around the world with different groups. You cannot do better than IVHQ. Their organization skills are 5 star. Their attention to every detail from registration to travel arrangements to daily activities to the transition homeward is perfect. I chose the construction team in Luang Prabang, Laos. Working with the locals building, painting, repairing schools was rewarding. I loved seeing the physical results of my labors. I would join the team at Luang Prabang again and again. We worked hard and played hard. Our hosts escorted us to numerous breathtaking locations. They invited me into their home for dinner and a fun game called pétanque. The first thing I did when I got home was purchase my own pétanque game set. These good people changed my life in so many good ways.

I can not thank you enough for my time shared in Ho Chi Minh City on the food outreach project.
The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish, I have already registered for my next program, that shows just how wonderful things were.
I ate things that were different from the normal things I eat. The strangest thing was a big snail & I liked it!
I experienced a lot of different Vietnamese culture & I especially loved the coffee. (I took two coffee making classes)
I arrived back in the U.K. last night & I am already missing my daily coffees.