Vietnam Youth Tour - FAQ
Tell me more about Vietnam?
Tell me more about the partner organization
What type of volunteer work is available?
What age do I have to be to volunteer in this program?
What language do I need to know to participate in the program?
When do I need to arrive in Vietnam?
What are the living arrangements while volunteering?
Where will I be located?
How do I get to the project?
Are we able to do any sight seeing?
What hours am I expected to take part in the program?
What resources are available for the program?
What is the course content of training/orientation session?
How do I pay my fees?
What clothing is appropriate for the program?
What clothing is appropriate for the program?
Are there any more expenses once I arrive?
Do I need an entry visa?
Do I need travel insurance?
What is the climate like in Da Nang?
What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?
How safe is it to volunteer in Vietnam?
What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program?
Do I have to be from New Zealand to volunteer through Global Volunteer Network?
Can vegetarians be catered for in this program?
Can I mail packages or supplies TO Vietnam?
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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 third largest city, located on Vietnam's east coast. For extra information, we suggest that you purchase a travel guide, such as the Lonely Planet's guide to Vietnam.
Tell me more about the partner organization
GVN's partner in Vietnam has been building cross-cultural education and understanding between local Vietnamese people and foreigners. They first started placing GVN volunteers in July 2004. They are registered with local governments and with PACCOM to do this. They do not receive any funding from the government, and rely on the in-country fee to run the program.
What type of volunteer work is available?
Volunteers will be teaching English to the children at the orphanages, as well as to local members of the community. In some cases you will also help care for, teach and play with the children.
What age do I have to be to volunteer in this program?
Volunteers need to be at least 15 years of age and no older than 17 years of age at the time of travel.
What language do I need to know to participate in the program?
You need to speak English. You must be a confident English speaker because most of the work involves teaching this language. You will be taken through some brief language training during your orientation since it would be courteous to learn some Vietnamese phrases.
When do I need to arrive in Vietnam?
The program will start with training and orientation on November 29th 2009 and volunteers will be required to arrive in Da Nang the day before. The last day of volunteering will be on December 11th and volunteers will fly home (departing Da Nang) either on the evening of December 11th or on December 12th.
What are the living arrangements while volunteering?
All volunteers will stay in a guesthouse with the Youth Tour group. You should expect to have power and hot running water, as well as flushing toilets. Bed linen and fans are provided.
Where will I be located?
Our programs are located in the central and coastal regions of Vietnam. Volunteers teach English at orphanages and at language and community centres in the central and coastal regions of Vietnam. Volunteers in the Youth Tour will be located in Tam Ky.
How do I get to the project?
You will be met at Da Nang airport by our partner organisation and you will be taken to your accommodation. In most cases you will be transported by car to the work sites. In cases where is this is not possible you will be expected to walk or bike to work. This would be a maximum of 2km per day.
Are we able to do any sight seeing?
Yes. Volunteers will have the chance to explore the famous port town of Hoi An, they will also travel to a remote village to experience traditional rural culture.
What hours am I expected to take part in the program?
The hours will vary from placement to placement but a typical day would include approximately five hours of work per day.
What resources are available for the program?
As placements are not well resourced, you may like to bring items with you to help you with the activities you will be taking part in. You can discuss specific needs with the volunteer coordinator and the partner organisation, so that we can give you an extra up to date idea of what is required.
What is the course content of training/orientation session?
The training will consist of an introduction to GVN Vietnam, along with an introduction to basic Vietnamese, placement site visits and sightseeing around surrounding areas of placements. You will also make final preparations for voluntary work.
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.
What clothing is appropriate for the program?
Light, cotton clothing that covers most of the body is not only more acceptable in Vietnamese culture but also helps to protect against sun and getting bitten by mosquitoes. Volunteers can wear old clothing while working as it's likely that clothing will get quite dirty. Women should not wear short shorts or tops which leave the shoulders uncovered when teaching. 3/4 trousers and skirts below the knee are acceptable.
What clothing is appropriate for the program?
You will need to budget for around US$30 a week to pay for snacks, entertainment and for some extra bottled water. You may also need to budget for hotel accommodation if you arrive or depart outside the program dates.
Are there any more expenses once I arrive?
You will need to budget for around US$30 a week to pay for snacks, entertainment and for some extra bottled water. You may also need to budget for hotel accommodation if you arrive or depart outside the program dates.
Do I need an entry visa?
Yes you do. Your visa must be issued prior to travelling to Vietnam and needs to specify the exact dates that you will be in Vietnam, so you will need to bear this in mind when applying. You need a Vietnamese tourist visa for this program.
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.
What is the climate like in Da Nang?
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 October to December and the dry season runs from January to July. The average temperature is about 26C, reaching up to 30-35C from May 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 immunizations/vaccinations will I need?
We advise that you consult your doctor about this, as soon as possible before you leave, as some injections need to be done with a certain amount of time prior to leaving home. The more common ones are Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid.
How safe is it to volunteer in Vietnam?
Vietnam is a relatively safe country to live in, however, as with all travel, you need to take precautions such as carrying cash in a money belt and being aware of your possessions and surroundings at all times (be extra vigilant at night time). You will need to be extra careful if you spend time in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Hanoi. Volunteers in the Youth Tour will have 24 hour supervision and more staff support than our adult volunteers.
What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program?
Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. We look at skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to, as well as volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision.
Do I have to be from New Zealand to volunteer through Global Volunteer Network?
No, you can volunteer through the Global Volunteer Network from any where in the world.
Can vegetarians be catered for in this program?
The diet in Da Nang is very seafood oriented, so it is not difficult to avoid red meat. Vegetarian food is available in the placements. There are also vegetarian restaurants available in the city.
Can I mail packages or supplies TO Vietnam?
It is NOT recommended to mail to Vietnam as it can take 6 weeks for packages and letters to arrive. Often packages are opened upon arrival and can be taxed based on their contents. If you want to send something, we try to coordinate having an incoming volunteer bring the items. You mail items OUT of Vietnam rather easily.
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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 Youth Tour program.
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