PMGY - Volunteer in Vietnam from $510

Name: PMGY - Volunteer in Vietnam from $510
Brand: Plan My Gap Year
SKU: 59259
Rating: 4.79 (19 reviews)

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4.79 Rating

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Location

Vietnam
- Hanoi

Length

2 to 24 weeks

Project Types

Childcare Education Teaching Tourism

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Guesthouse Hostel

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Travel Type

Budget Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

510

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Sep 08, 2023

Last Reviewed: May 01, 2020

Wish List

20 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Vietnam with Plan My Gap Year – an award-winning, international volunteering abroad organisation with programs in Hanoi, Vietnam. PMGY provides safe, trusted and affordable programs, with a range of volunteer projects in Vietnam, including Childcare & English Teaching opportunities.

PMGY Vietnam is located in the chaotic urban capital of Hanoi in the north of the country. The Vietnam volunteer programs start on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month. Our projects in Vietnam run throughout the year and volunteers can join the program for 2-24 weeks. Volunteers in Vietnam are provided with an extensive pre-departure support service, airport pick-up, in-country orientation, three meals per day, volunteer accommodation and local team support.

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Impact

Ethical Impact

Plan My Gap Year is committed to providing ethical volunteer opportunities that truly benefit the local communities. We have personally vetted all of our Volunteer Programs in every destination. We support a small network of Volunteer Programs abroad that we have specifically chosen due to their efforts being sustainable for our volunteers and the local communities alike. We work closely with each of our local teams to ensure we are assessing and adapting to ensure quality experiences for all involved.

For this reason, PMGY does not provide volunteer opportunities in orphanages in any of our locations. Research and studies have shown that visiting and volunteering in orphanages has the potential to generate an industry that separates children from their families. In turn, putting children at increased risk of neglect and abuse. Therefore, we do not support these institutions with our volunteer network.

Instead, we focus on offering alternative childcare volunteer opportunities whereby children come to and from the placement setting each day. In other words, our local teams collaborate with childcare projects which do not offer any form of residential care. These are safe, responsible, and vetted projects, where participants continue to provide valued assistance supporting local staff.

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Program Highlights

Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.
Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.
Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.
Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.
Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

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Program Reviews

4.79 Rating

based on 19 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 78.95%
4 rating 21.05%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.55
Support 4.95
Fun 4.75
Value 4.7
Safety 4.85

Good for Groups, Solo Travelers, Students

Showing 1 - 8 of 19 reviews

This July I spent a month volunteering through PMGY with CSDS in Vietnam and I can honestly say that it has been the best month of my life. Initially I was supposed to go to Sri Lanka but with the terrorist attacks I thought it was better to change destination and, throughout that whole process, PMGY was very helpful. I ended up going to Vietnam, which was a country that I had always wanted to visit, and I had a fairly good idea of what to expect of it due to the handbook that was given to us before our trip but even so I was still amazed by what it had to offer!! Vietnam is amazing and so complex and, even better than only being a tourist in it, I was able to have a great volunteering experience with CSDS in the Sakuranbo Kindergarten teaching children between the age of eleven months and seven years old. My coordinators were amazing and super helpful in every circumstance. I will be forever grateful for the experience that Huyen, our project coordinator, provided me and my friend Rita and for her availability and kindness towards us in every circumstance. The accommodation was also amazing despite being in one of the secondary houses. For the future volunteers I would advise you to go to these projects with an open mind and determination! I recommend this experience to everyone who wants to get to know a beautiful and rich country while making a difference!

This July I spent a month volunteering through PMGY with CSDS in Vietnam and I can honestly say that it has been the best month of my life. I had a fairly good idea of what to expect of Vietnam due to the handbook that was given to us before our trip but Vietnam still was able to amaze me!! The country is amazing and so complex and, even better than only being a tourist in it, I was able to have a great volunteering experience with CSDS. My coordinators were amazing and super helpful in every circumstance. I will be forever grateful for the experience that Huyen, our project coordinator, provided me and my friend Rita. The accommodation was also amazing despite being in one of the secondary houses. For the future volunteers I would advise you to go to these projects with an open mind and determination.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

The most nerve-racking moment that I experienced in Vietnam was when me and my friends were in Danang in the Banna Hills park and we had to go to Hue to catch a flight to Hanói but we couldnt catch a grab dont know why and so we started calling every taxi company that we had heard of in Vietnam! It was one of the most stressfull moments of my life!!!!!

In July of 2019, I traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam to embark on what would be one of the best experiences of my entire life! Through Plan My Gap Year, I volunteered in Sakuranbo Kindergarten for a month, teaching English to children between the age of eleven months old and seven years old.

Initially, I was supposed to go to Sri Lanka. However, taking into consideration the events that had taken place months earlier, I was not able to volunteer in that country. Plan My Gap Year was amazing in helping me change my destination and making the change as smooth as possible.

Although I did not go to my first chosen destination, I am so incredibly grateful that I went to Vietnam and was able to get to know its culture and beautiful places. When I arrived in the country, I stayed with a local organization: CSDS. They were great and helpful with everything I could need. I would like to specifically highlight my project coordinator, Huyen. She was so sweet and always willing to help me and my friend Mafalda, whether with things related to our project or other personal issues. I am incredibly grateful to her.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my decision to do volunteering through PMGY. It was one of the best experiences of my life! Not only did I have the opportunity to discover amazing Vietnamese places and explore its culture, but I also met incredible people along the way, both Vietnamese as well as other volunteers from different parts of the world. 100% recommend!

I participated in the 3 week childcare project in Vietnam, Hanoi and it was everything I wished for and more.

The support prior to arrival and whilst you’re in the country is incredible. This was my first trip long haul trip alone and because PMGY made it so easy, the whole process was stress-free.

The volunteer house was not what I expected, it was much better! It is a very large house and the CSDS team are located on the bottom floor so there are always staff to help us out if we needed it. They took the time to go through our projects with us so we had a chance to have any questions we had answered.

In regards to food at the house - I was very impressed. It is varied food choices each night and the sesame seed tofu was my absolute favourite, I miss it now I’m back home!

My project was amazing and I feel so grateful and lucky I was able to participate in this experience. I worked alongside children with special needs and practiced specific methods in helping them to train fine motor skills. I learnt so much whilst I was there and the staff (even though they didn’t speak English) were so patient and kind the whole time.

The country is beautiful and there is so much to do on your weekends off! I wish I stayed longer as we only got a chance to do a few things but everything I done I have loved - Sapa being my favourite and a must see. The local people are wonderful and kind and I have never felt so safe in a country before.

My advice, if you are hesitant, is to just do it, I promise you will not regret it. I met the most amazing people, had wonderful food, an incredible placement and some memories I will never forget and hold in my heart for a lifetime. I can’t wait to book another trip with PMGY for next year.

Deciding to travel to Vietnam to work on this program was probably one of the best decisions of my life. My only regret is that I didn't stay longer. I was a bit worried that I would feel homesick, but the volunteer house truly felt like home.
Before I left I received the handbook which outlined everything so I felt pretty confident as to what to expect when I arrived.
The in-country support is amazing. The CSDS office is in the house, so there was always people available to talk to, or they could easily be contacted via Facebook. They helped us plan trips, and always made us feel welcome.
The accommodation was much better than I expected. The food was varied, the rooms were fairly spacious, and there was never a queue for the showers.
I did the teaching project, and taught at a local community class for young University students. They were all so lovely, eager to learn, and more than willing to take you exploring on the weekend. In fact, one of the students invited me to a Pagoda for the weekend which was an amazing experience - definitely not something that would have happened had I just been on holiday.
My only advice is to stay longer than you think you'll want to - it truly is an amazing experience and one that I definitely did not want to end.

What would you improve about this program?

I didn't use the T-Shirt at all so that was an unnecessary cost.

This has been my fourth time volunteering with/through PMGY, and once again I am incredibly impressed by the program and every member of the staff. The real experience allows you to see much of the country and experience all your touristic needs, while at the same time making an impact and immersing in the culture. The Vietnamese coordinators (Hung and Nhung) were fantastic, and really bridged the gap between the volunteers and the locals. They were there to answer any and all questions, and were as much friends as they were coordinators. As far as the volunteering, we built a playground in the jungle, and worked at Friendship Village. Both were impactful and incredibly rewarding. Friendship village was a very cool experience, especially as an American, to be able to speak and work with Vietnamese veterans and agent orange victims in order to help relieve some of the pain that is still unfortunately persisting after the war. Would highly recommend this, or any PMGY program!

What would you improve about this program?

Be more clear about the current schedule with the volunteers!

Two friends and I decided to work on the childcare program in Vietnam. We spent two weeks working in a hospital called "Peace Village" with disabled kids. Our experience was really nice, we took care of them playing games and trying to teach some English and also some Spanish. We met really intelligent and interessant kids from whom we learnt a lot! We passed a really good time with them and we have gained an incredible experience there!

I've spent 2 weeks in the childcare program in Vietnam. I've been working with two girls in a hospital called "Peace Village", which is a hospital for disable kids. We've been taking care of them trying to do some activites and trying to teach them some words in english. It has been an amazing experience for us, because we have learnt a lot, and I'm sure that if we have the opportunity to do it again, we will do it!

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

ESL class in Ha Noi, Vietnam

I chose this program because I wanted to spend my last long university summer productively building experience in teaching abroad as this is what I want to do after I graduate.

I'd heard so many things about Vietnam from my friends, the beauty of the beaches, the rich culture, the amazing food, and I decided I had to explore it for myself! I wanted to live, work and relax in a totally new environment and challenge myself with a taster of a new life in Vietnam.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) was there to support me with every step of the program, even when I was abroad on the placement. They arranged most things and offered advice on how to sort whatever they couldn't.

Accommodation, in-country placement, and 24/7 support was provided by PMGY but they supported me and explained how I could organize my travel insurance, what I should pack, how to apply for a visa and even offered to find me a flight quote.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be not to let fear deter you from stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things.

As long as you can step off the plane in Ha Noi with an open-mind, flexible and positive attitude, it is going to be an absolutely amazing and life-changing experience for you.

Make the most of every minute there. I understand it can feel like a huge step to leave your home and submerge yourself in a new culture, language and job but it can be totally worth it so long as you don't allow nerves to hold you back. I know it's cliché but it's very true that you'll regret what you never did more than what you do.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The staff I worked with were very flexible and cared for my well-being, saying it was up to me how many hours I would like to work and that if I was finding it too stressful they could reduce my lesson time.

I usually taught classes Monday-Friday for around three to four hours a day in three different locations across the city. I wish I could have taught more because I absolutely loved spending time with the students!

A normal working week would be Monday-Wednesday working at Ha Noi's university of industry helping to proof-read worksheets, record listening exams, write lesson plans and teach classes; Thursdays and Fridays were spent with two different community classes which were really fun conversational lessons involving lots of games.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was the language and cultural barriers I might face. I didn't want to feel alienated or lost. However, once I arrived there, I soon realized how friendly the Vietnamese people were, especially my students and co-workers!

A smile and an attempt to say hello in Vietnamese went a long way and people would go out of their way to help me when I was shopping at markets or ordering food. I realized how irrational I'd been; people were proud to share their country's culture with me and were so happy to see that a girl had come all the way from England to willingly learn about their way of life.

Yes, sometimes the language made things difficult and cultural differences were sometimes hard to digest, but making an attempt to engage with these differences and embrace the culture really made it easier.

Would you suggest working as a volunteer to other prospective travelers?

Working as a volunteer as opposed to simply traveling is a far more enriching experience on so many levels. As a volunteer, you'll be living like the locals (it was very rare to see a tourist in the neighborhood I lived in) and this allows you to really become a part of the community and experience Vietnamese way of life rather than just drift through the typical tourist hot-spots.

The locals often recognized and appreciated the work we were doing within their community so we got lots of perks tourists could only dream of! We were told the best restaurants to eat in, the best places to visit, received offers to go on free tours of the city, invitations for lunch, street-food bought for us all the time and even a day out to the cinema!

Being a volunteer helped me to understand Vietnamese culture and make many friends I still keep in touch with and I hope to visit again soon to see them. Vietnam's a truly beautiful country with beautiful people and I wish I could have stayed for longer.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Philip founded Plan My Gap Year in 2011 after looking for similar opportunities to volunteer and travel whilst at university. He wanted to provide an affordable and informative option to like-minded travelers around the world, and as a result, PMGY was born.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite memory is my visit to Sri Lanka in 2013 where I first met Ashika, our Sri Lanka project partner.

I was amazed by the hospitality of his family and their willingness to get involved in starting PMGY Sri Lanka. Since then the whole family has been a key part of PMGY worldwide, ensuring Sri Lanka is a flagship destination.

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How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have become a lot more confident, improved my public speaking and gained experience of different cultures around the world and how to manage working with them. I've also developed my business skill set, working on all different aspects of running a small business.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I think India is one of the best countries for project development and participant involvement, and it is where one of our previous participants, Sam, helped to establish a new project.

Through a fund from the program fees, Sam and a local team set up Isabella's school in Delhi, which provides free healthcare and education for disabled children, who wouldn't have had access to these facilities through the government.

I thought it was a really inspiring and a truly motivational initiative, which helps future generations for years to come.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Definitely the Big Five Conservation program in South Africa - it is a dream program for any animal lover, as you are immersed completely on the wildlife reserve for the duration of your time. The local team are people who have worked in animal conservation all their lives, so they have a real passion to share with the PMGY participants.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

It's no secret that there are a lot of organizations offering these opportunities around the world. I think that what makes PMGY unique is that it's not only affordable, but it's personal and informative as well.

We try to make our website and all forms of communication as user-friendly as possible. We try not to 'sell' our opportunities, rather we try to provide honest advice on all our destinations and try to point people in the right direction based on what they're looking for on the overall experience.

As a result, participants and parents view us as a really trustworthy and honest organization. We also have developed a sister charity (PMGY Foundation) which provides people with a platform to fundraise for their projects alongside their volunteer placement. This charity ensures that 100% of their donation is given to need-driven projects around the world.

Every year PMGY hosts a reunion in London for all participants who have traveled with us over the past twelve months. Our local teams from around the world join in the celebration; it's amazing to see how many peoples lives have changed by talking to them about their experiences overseas. This is all made possible by the UK and international teams and the commitment they have.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The main thing you have to be is very determined, and you have to fully appreciate that things aren't always going to go according to plan.

You're going to have some days that don't work out for you, but you have to keep going and look at things from a long-term perspective. I would say the same thing applies to traveling and volunteering -- it's good to take the same approach and embrace each experience as it comes. Keep learning and stay passionate.

About Plan My Gap Year

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning volunteer abroad organisation, offering volunteer projects in Africa, Asia, Europe & South America primarily for 17-22 year olds. PMGY provide a safe, structured and social platform with volunteer travel opportunities available from 1-40 weeks. With over 10 years of experience and expertise, PMGY is widely...