Location
  • Vietnam
    • Ho Chi Minh City
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Medium Group (16-30)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
300
Price Details
Fully hosted experience from only $300 for 1 week - this includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 01, 2024
Apr 05, 2024
46 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Trusted by 136,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the world's #1 rated volunteer programs in Vietnam and 50+ destinations worldwide.

For the past 6 years, we've won the "Top Volunteer Abroad Provider Award" from GoOverseas, so you can trust that you're in the safest hands with IVHQ in Vietnam.

Our affordable projects start from $18/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement and local support. Projects run year-round, with durations from 1-24 weeks. Choose from 5 projects, ranging from Special Needs Care to Teaching to Medical in the vibrant and bustling Ho Chi Minh City, known for its cultural landmarks and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Plus, you’ll stay with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world (private room options available).

With IVHQ’s superior pre-departure support services, you’ll gain exclusive access to your own Volunteer Travel Specialist, comprehensive preparation tools and volunteer training before you leave home.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Cheapest volunteer programs from $18/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement & local support.
  • Volunteer for 1-24 weeks, year round start dates most Mondays.
  • 15+ years experience & only B Corp certified volunteer travel organization.
  • Get free changes up to 14 days before you start with our flexible booking policy.
  • Affordable way to earn college credit - gain 5 credits for only US$500!

Popular Programs

Teaching English Project

The aim of this project is to provide assistance to college students in Ho Chi Minh City who are needing to increase their English fluency so they can further their studies in Business Communication, Nursing and Public Relations. This project is well suited to volunteers who are passionate about education and are excited about the opportunity to use the English language to help enhance the career prospects for students in Vietnam.

Medical Project

As a volunteer on our Medical project, you will have the opportunity to experience a new culture, while developing your medical knowledge by gaining an insight into the Vietnamese healthcare system. This is a unique opportunity to gain a greater understanding of differences between medical systems in developed and developing countries. This project is well suited to volunteers on pre-medical and medical students, or those qualified in a relevant medical field.

Special Needs Care Project

As a Special Needs Care volunteer in Vietnam, you will be working within hospitals and community clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, providing support to children and young people, some who have been affected by Agent Orange. This project is best suited to caring and hard-working individuals who are passionate about increasing access to care for young people living with a range of intellectual and physical challenges.

Food Outreach Project

Your role on this project is to provide assistance to a local ‘Soup Kitchen’ to enable them to provide over 500 lunches daily to people from various backgrounds including poor elderly, low-income earners, disabled, students and children. Poverty is still widespread throughout Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh has a large population of people who are unable to afford regular nutritional meals.

Program Reviews

4.95 Rating
based on 61 reviews
  • 5 rating 95.08%
  • 4 rating 4.92%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.75
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 4.95
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 17 - 24 of 61 reviews
Default avatar
Yew Kuan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IVHQ: Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh - Food Outreach

The whole trip carries and injects positive energies to help and love people.
It ranges from IVHQ regional team's comprehensive arrangement, to local team - The Green Lion's hospitality in support plus food outreach station team's devoted contribution to needing people.
And of course there are the volunteers and their golden hearts, whom have travelled from different parts of planet, just to offer their helping hands from single week to several months.
Every second I can feel my fast pulses of excitement plus positive desire to do my contribution and do more. Every moment I am well confident my safety and well being in foreign land are properly taken care of by local team.
On my last 2 service days I was given opportunity to company disabled kids at hospital in afternoon, after food outreach event. This is broke my beliefs on the limited contribution I can offer. It opens me to new heights to understand there are actually more I am capable of to offer.
During the 5 days, priceless vitality and passion emit from everyone's eyes regardless of individual's status and wealth. There is no asking for any return or compensation. All there is are just unlimited flows of love and care to whoever need help.
As a corporate worker for years, this volunteering has woke me up to realize the 3 essentials to achieve harmony and peace in humanity. They are help, love and care.
I praised and salute to every single soul I met in this journey. You all are beautiful and handsome.
There are lot more for me to improve on volunteering but I am committed to join you all to make a better world, for many years ahead.
Thank you so much.

Pros
  • Atmosphere fills with positive energies to help and love people
  • People around the planet come together as one to offer their help
  • Willing to help at no ask for returns
52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rachael
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing experience!

This was my second volunteer trip with IVHQ, and I’m glad I chose to do this one for longer this year. As a pre-med student, the medical program helped me to experience medicine in a different culture while shadowing healthcare professionals. The people you meet will become some of your best friends, and the adventures you go on provide you with the best memories! I traveled on the IVHQ Peru trip last summer, and I did not think any other trip could top that, but IVHQ Vietnam had such an immense impact on me. I’m already planning for my next trip!

Pros
  • Planning this trip with one of the volunteers that I met on my IVHQ Peru trip last year
  • Learning about cultural differences in medicine
  • Discovering the beautiful city in my free time
49 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I felt safe even during time of global crisis

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.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be friendly and talk to everyone! I had so many great conversations with people in all different age groups.
78 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nicola
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IVHQ Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City Kindergarten Program

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.

68 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Smita
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

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.

75 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderful experience!

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!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice is to go in with a patient* and open mind. It takes time to get comfortable and acclimate to a new place. I have traveled all over the world and it took me a bit of time to really fall in love with my placement. Everything in Vietnam was so new for me, especially when you're placed in a hospital. I think a 2-3 week placement is sufficient time for the program!
76 people found this review helpful.
Response from International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

Hi Rachel, thanks so much for your recommendation. It's especially fantastic to read how supported you felt from our local team in Vietnam during your time with us and we really appreciate your contribution.
We continuously monitor what's happening on the ground in Vietnam, both on the projects and in regards to volunteer accomodation and food, so we will certainly review the accomodation cleanliness standards that you have flagged. We hope to have you travel with us again soon! ^Courteney - IVHQ Vietnam Program Manager

Default avatar
Nina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My returning trip to Vietnam

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!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The unfamiliar things I ate were snails and frog legs!
70 people found this review helpful.
Response from International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

Hi Nina, thank you for your review! I'm so pleased you have had another wonderful experience volunteering with us and it sounds like you have made some friends for a lifetime. We would love to have you volunteer with IVHQ for a third time! Courteney - IVHQ Program Manager.

Default avatar
Kimberly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IVHQ- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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!

What was your funniest moment?
Ha! The funniest moment was trying to explain the difference to a local doctor (I volunteered in a hospital) the difference between a Wedgie and a Veggie as the doctor kept mixing the two up. Definitely a funny moment for the two of us and definitely very memorable!
72 people found this review helpful.
Response from International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

Hi Kimberly! Thanks so much for your review. It sounds like you had an awesome time getting to know your host family. We can't wait to have you back and plan your next adventure! Kate - IVHQ Program Manager.

Questions & Answers

For sure, all ages welcome, I volunteered with families, seniors, young adults and mature adults 😊