Vietnam - FAQ

Tell me more about Vietnam
What is the climate like in Vietnam?
What kind of volunteer work is available?
What are we required to teach?
Tell me more about flying into Da Nang
When do I need to start the program?
Tell me more about the accommodation?
Can I bring my family/children to this program with me?
What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program?
Do you make provision for vegetarians?
When are the holidays?
What age do I need to be to volunteer?
What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer?
Can I learn Vietnamese during my teaching period?
Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering?
Are there more expenses once I arrive?
How safe is it to volunteer in Vietnam?
How many volunteers are there on site at the same time?
What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own?
Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement?
Do I need travel insurance?
How do I pay my fees?

------

Tell me more about Vietnam?
With its beautiful natural setting, rich culture and tragic recent history, Vietnam is a fascinating destination. Da Nang is Vietnam's fourth largest city, located on Vietnam's east coast. For more information, we suggest that you purchase the Lonely Planet's guide to Vietnam.

What is the climate like in Vietnam?
Da Nang is located in the north of Vietnam's tropical zone, with a temperate and pleasant climate. There are two seasons: the wet season runs from August to December and the dry season runs from January to July.

The average temperature is about 26C, reaching 28-30C from June to August and 18-23C from December to February. The average humidity is 84%. Rainfall is highest in October and November and lowest in the first four months of the year.

What kind of volunteer work is available?
Volunteers may teach English at Universities, language centres, high schools or at an Industrial College.

What are we required to teach?
In the University program, volunteers can teach in the following disciplines:

• English for English Major Students: Pronunciation, Idioms, Basic & Advanced Speaking, Basic & Advanced Listening, Writing, American Culture and English Literature
• English for Non-English Major Students: Communication skills, Office Management Fundamentals, Entrepreneurial Skills, International Marketing, Stock Market and International Finance, Tourism Management and Planning
• English for Lectures and Staff: Communication Skills, Business Letter Writing, Project Management in English, International Business in English, Leadership, Entrepreneurial Skills
• English for IT Lectures and Students: English for Computer Networks, English for Programming
• Volunteer placements can also be made in the professional areas of programming, networking administration training, and IT support.

In the Industrial College program, volunteers will have the chance to help teach correct pronunciation, English conversational skills and some technical terms for accounting; Geology; Finance; Chemistry; Information Technology; economic; mechanism.

In the high school program volunteers can help teach correct pronunciation and English conversational skills to their students.

Tell me more about flying into Da Nang
While Da Nang has some international flights, volunteers will probably need to fly via Saigon or Hanoi. Our partner will help you arrange your internal flight. They will also pick you from Da Nang airport and take you to your accommodation.

When do I need to start the program?
Volunteers need to arrive in Da Nang by the last day of the month before they are volunteering, so that they are ready to start the orientation and training program on the 1st (please note orientation for January 2009 will begin on the 4th).

Tell me more about the accommodation?
The house now is new, very close to school and Language Center, just 5 minutes by walking, 5 minutes from the airport by taxi, and 15 minutes from the shopping centre. The house has 3 stories, 4 bedrooms, 4 toilets, and a large kitchen. The house has a shared washing machine, TV set, DVD player, bicycles and no telephone. There is internet access available at the volunteer house.

Lunch and Dinner are prepared by a Vietnamese cook. Volunteers need to prepare their own breakfast. The cook has the day off on Sundays. For this reason volunteers will need to cook and provide their own food. Please allow a little extra money for this. There are numerous inexpensive restaurants are available throughout the city.

Can I bring my family/children to this program with me?
It isn't appropriate to bring children to this project, due to the work involved and the nature of the accommodation.

What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program?
Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision.

Do you make provision for vegetarians?
We are able to cater for vegetarian diets, although if you are vegetarian you need to state this clearly on your application form and on your communication with out partner prior to your arrival, to ensure that they are prepared.

When are the holidays?
The University is open throughout the year except during the Tet and summer holidays. The Tet holiday is 10 days in mid February (on 1st Jan of Chinese New Year) and the summer holiday is two weeks between late July and early August.

Volunteers can be accepted to the teaching program during the holiday times, but we don't recommend one month placements during these periods due to the reduction in teaching time.

What age do I need to be to volunteer?
Volunteers need to be at lease 18 years of age. For the placements at Duy Tan University, you need to have at least an undergraduate degree.

What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
We advise that you consult your doctor about this, but because you are in a major city, some vaccinations needed in developing areas may not be required.

Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer?
Yes; furthermore, volunteers for the teaching programs must come from Canada, the USA, Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, or Australia.

Can I learn Vietnamese during my teaching period?
Our partner may be able to arrange this for you if you are interested.

Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering?
Yes, our partner will arrange opportunities for you to visit sites such as the famous Cham sculpture museum, China Beach and the Marble Mountains, which are all close to central Da Nang. Some host schools can provide you with tourist tours to beautiful places surrounding Da Nang during break times.

Are there more expenses once I arrive?
You need to allow a little extra money for your meals on Sundays. Any additional travel, snacks and socializing is up to the volunteer to pay for.

How safe is it to volunteer in Vietnam?
Da Nang is a very safe and friendly city, although you should still take precautions such as carrying cash in a money belt. You will need to be more careful if you spend time in Saigon or Hanoi.

How many volunteers are there on site at the same time?
You should expect to be in a group of between three and six volunteers.

What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own?
You will plan your lessons by yourself and should prepare for this.

Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement?
You do. Our information pack has links to Vietnamese Embassies throughout the world. Your visa does needs to specify the exact dates that you will be in Vietnam, so you will need to bear this in mind when applying. For a placement less than three months, you will come to Vietnam with a tourist visa, then the hosts will help you to change the purpose of visa to help you obtain a proper visa for your voluntary work. Please note that you will work exclusive for one particular host organisation during your placement. This means that your visa will not allow you to work for another organisation during your placement. For the University program you are required to obtain a business visa.

Do I need travel insurance?
As with any overseas travelling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident coverage as well as a 'loss of deposits' cover which covers fees paid to GVN, airlines etc (up to US$8,000). If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/.

How do I pay my fees?
Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully refundable if you decide not to take part in the program). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program.

------

Question not covered here? Please check the generic FAQ, and if still unanswered, please ask us a question here. (We aim to answer all email within 48 hours).

Click here to apply for the Vietnam Teaching program.