Vietnam Volunteer Vacation FAQs
Global Volunteers has served various host communities in Vietnam since 1994. Our program in Hanoi began in 2008, and has resulted in some of the most mutually fulfilling experiences reported. Working in partnership with local people on long-term community service work projects is foundational to our relationship with host organizations worldwide. Our investments of volunteer service, program support and international recognition are hallmarks of our commitment to this partnership.
GETTING THERE
What type of visa do I need for the service program?
Americans and Canadians must obtain a non-tourist visa to volunteer in Vietnam. This requires an invitation from the Ministry of Education and Training, which Global Volunteers will arrange. However, due to the time to process both the invitation and the visa, you must apply and pay for your service program in full no later than 60 days prior to the service program arrival date, assuming space is available.
When should I arrive in and depart from the host country?
You should arrive in Hanoi by 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the service program. There are daily flights from the U.S. east and west coasts to Hanoi on China Air. Many other airlines fly to Asian cities with connections to Hanoi. You should schedule your departure before anytime on the final Saturday of your service program.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, provided you send your flight itinerary to Global Volunteers at least two weeks in advance of the service program arrival date. A Global Volunteers staff person or representative holding a Global Volunteers sign will meet you in the public area outside Customs. You'll travel with your teammates to your lodging.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
Please notify Global Volunteers as soon as you confirm your new arrival plans so your team leader can arrange your transportation to the host community. If you make last-minute changes to your itinerary, or if you don't inform us of your flight plans, you must arrange your own transportation to the hotel or host community.
How late can I arrive in the host community?
Our orientation sessions are a critical component of the preparation for your assignments. If circumstances beyond your control prevent you from reaching the program on the opening day of the program, we require that you arrive no later than 9:00 AM on the following day so you can join your team for these sessions.
What should I do if I arrive before the scheduled arrival date?
If you choose to spend time in-country before the service program begins, please plan to meet your team at the designated airport within the specified arrival window on the first day of the program in order to be transported to the host community. Do not travel to the host community without the team leader or Global Volunteers representative without prior authorization.
How mobile must I be to participate on the service program?
All volunteers must be “mobile” due to the amount of walking to restaurants and stairs at the schools in addition to the challenges presented when crossing streets. If you are not sufficiently mobile to cross the streets you will be asked by your team leader to hire a taxi at your own expense to ensure your safety. Taxis are available and cost about $2.00 for most trips. Tipping is allowed but not required.
FOOD AND LODGING
What type of lodging is provided?
Accommodations are double-occupancy at the 3-star Hoa Binh Palace (View Vietnam Lodging), an airy Vietnam Lodging and quiet hotel in Hanoi's picturesque Old Quarter. Single rooms are available for an additional fee. Each room is air-conditioned with in-room telephones, private baths with hot and cold water, seasonal fruit and bottled water daily, free wireless/cable Internet, and cable TV which includes channels such as CNN and BBC. Vietnam single room option fee.
What is the local cuisine?
A delicious comprehensive international buffet breakfast is served each morning at the hotel. Lunch is provided at the schools or local restaurants. Dinner will be at restaurants in the Old Quarter. There are numerous quaint restaurants and cafes in Hanoi offering a combination of delicious Vietnamese cuisine as well as Western-style meals. The food is nutritious and authentic stir fry, hot pot, noodles, and rice -- and includes vegetables, tropical fruits, fish, chicken, pork and beef, all of which are prepared in a variety of appealing ways. Vietnamese Restaurant
Can special diets be accommodated?
No, it is not possible to accommodate low-fat, low-salt or strict vegetarian diets.
Will potable drinking water be provided?
Yes, bottled water will be provided daily.
What type of transportation is available?
All the restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel. The universities and high schools provide transportation to the work sites, picking up the volunteers each morning at the hotel and dropping them off in the afternoon.
What are laundry arrangements?
Laundry and dry cleaning shops are nearby, and can also be arranged through the hotel for a charge.
What is the electrical power?
The current in Vietnam is 220V. At the team hotel you will need a converter and an adapter for equal-prong outlets.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
What are the principal health risks?
We strongly recommend you consult your own physician, public health clinic and/or travel clinic for detailed travel health information. Perhaps the greatest risk is posed by street traffic, both when riding in a vehicle and when crossing busy streets. While there are other health risks in Vietnam, you will not be in danger in Hanoi if you are cautious and follow good health protocol. Vietnam Street Scene
What health precautions should I take?
For general recommendations, consult the following sources:
Centers for Disease Control
Health Canada Online
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Travel Health Online
Is the water safe to drink?
Global Volunteers has arranged for the hotel to provide two bottles of water to each volunteer each day. Tap water is not safe to drink.
Is it safe to eat food purchased from street vendors?
We strongly recommend that you do not purchase food from street vendors.
What type of insurance do you recommend?
We strongly recommend medical insurance that covers you while you are outside your home country, and trip cancellation insurance. Your travel agent can refer you to travel insurance providers. Global Volunteers will provide you with emergency medical evacuation insurance.
MONEY MATTERS
What is the local currency?
The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong, although U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Tipping is optional, but not expected.
What is the current exchange rate?
For currency conversion information, refer to the following website: FXConverter
Where do I exchange money?
Upon your arrival, you may choose to exchange money at the airport. You can also exchange money at the hotel where the team will be staying and at other locations around Hanoi throughout your stay. You cannot exchange Vietnamese Dong outside of Vietnam. It is advised to either spend all your local currency or exchange it in Vietnam prior your departure.
Can I use cash, credit cards or checks?
ATMs are available in Hanoi and cash can be readily exchanged at large hotels and other exchange bureaus. With the exception of large hotels and restaurants, credit cards are not widely used throughout Vietnam. Travelers checks are not widely used and receive lower exchange rates.
How much money should I bring with me?
The amount of money you bring depends on how you choose to use your free time as well as your personal spending and shopping habits. Global Volunteers service program fee covers all meals, lodging, transportation and work project expenses during the service program except free-time expenses and alcoholic beverages.
COMMUNICATIONS
How can my family contact me?
You will receive a contact sheet prior to your departure that lists numbers and directions for them to get in contact with you should the need arise. Please provide copies to all who may need to reach you.
Can I make phone calls?
You may make and receive local and long distance telephone calls from phones available in your hotel room. However, calls placed through the hotel operator can be very expensive and service is sometimes unavailable. Collect calls are not possible nor can calling cards be used. Cell phone reception is good if you have a phone that has international capability.
Is internet service available?
Free internet service is available at the hotel.