Why Volunteer in Vietnam?
If ever a country deserved a helping hand it is Vietnam. Blighted by a turbulent and tragic past, this Southeast Asian gem is fast on the road to recovery and our Vietnam volunteers are doing their best. Every year hundreds of volunteers join our projects in schools, hospitals, monasteries and orphanages across Hanoi, Vietnam, making a real and lasting difference to the lives of the country’s most disadvantaged people.
Vietnam’s breathtaking scenery, rich culture, incredible food and welcoming people are no secret. Millions of tourists flock here each year. However, volunteering in Vietnam provides a completely different take on how life here really works. Volunteers eat, sleep and work amongst Vietnamese nationals, in local projects designed help the most under-privileged in society. And while some of our projects can be challenging, the positive impact our volunteers make is something that stays with them for the rest of their lives. Many return year after year.
Our Vietnam volunteer projects offer a variety of options to the conscientious traveler who wants to take their Vietnam experience to the next level. All the projects have been in operation for years, and have enjoyed the benefit of hundreds of Vietnamese and foreign volunteers from around the world.
All of our Vietnam volunteer projects are focused on working for and with children. Projects range from working with sick kids in hospitals, looking after children in Buddhist temples, to providing much needed non-formal education to Hanoi’s disadvantaged youth. Volunteers will be provided with full orientation and assistance throughout the project.
Vietnam is fast emerging from a turbulent past and there is a very real sense that now is the time there is now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a better future its people. Participating in one of our Vietnam volunteer projects is the perfect way to play your part.
Our Vietnam Volunteer Projects
English Teaching Volunteer Project
English Teaching Volunteer Project
The Friends for Asia rural schools project offers a candid view of daily life in Vietnam. Ideal candidates will be keen on getting an inside perspective on a side of this country that tourists rarely encounter.
Victims of Agent Orange Volunteer Project
Victims of Agent Orange Volunteer Project
This is a holistic community that aims to live as self-sufficiently as possible. With that in mind, the range of tasks carried out on site is diverse. Volunteers that have a background in medical work or caring for those with disabilities are highly sought-after. That being said, there are many other ways to get involved in a meaningful way.
NGO Volunteer Project
Volunteering with a non-governmental organization (NGO) is one of the most exciting ways to get involved in Vietnam. These groups provide highly specialized services that are making a serious impact on local communities. The opportunity to lend a hand and see lives being changed firsthand is something that stays with you for a lifetime.
English Teaching at an NGO Project
Volunteers applying through Friends for Asia can sign up to assist a newly formed NGO that is poised to assume a leading role in an at-risk community in western Hanoi. This is a critical time in the life of this NGO, as it’s currently operating under a two-year charter. With ample support from volunteers like you, this organization has the potential to set a new standard for community development in Vietnam.
Other Volunteer Opportunities in Southeast Asia
Friends for Asia is not affiliated with any government or religion. It is a privately operated limited partnership, incorporated in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The director of Friends for Asia is a former U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from Kyrgyzstan and Thailand. Besides Vietnam, Friends for Asia also offers volunteer projects in Nepal and Thailand.
For more information about volunteering in Vietnam, click here.
