Where
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
When
Weekly departures, year-round (except closure periods)
Duration
Minimum 1 week
Accommodation
Shared or private rooms in a volunteer house with meals included
Language
English (beginner level recommended)
Ideal for
Those who want to care for others, step up with empathy, and experience everyday Vietnamese life
Project details
In Ho Chi Minh, a hospital centre welcomes children with disabilities every day — children who need support and stimulation to navigate their daily lives.
Here, the local staff work with dedication but often with limited resources. That's why this project exists: to give children moments of play, educational activities, and small acts of care that make all the difference.
As a participant, you'll work alongside the local staff in daily routines, accompany the children through creative games and hands-on activities, and gain a close-up view of a reality that calls for sensitivity, empathy, and presence.
As a participant, you'll work alongside the local staff in daily routines, accompany the children through creative games and hands-on activities, and gain a close-up view of a reality that calls for sensitivity, empathy, and presence.
Real Support for the Youngest
In Ho Chi Minh, a hospital centre welcomes children with disabilities every day — children who need support and stimulation to navigate their daily lives.
Here, the local staff work with dedication but often with limited resources. That's why this project exists: to give children moments of play, educational activities, and small acts of care that make all the difference.
As a participant, you'll work alongside the local staff in daily routines, accompany the children through creative games and hands-on activities, and gain a close-up view of a reality that calls for sensitivity, empathy, and presence.
As a participant, you'll work alongside the local staff in daily routines, accompany the children through creative games and hands-on activities, and gain a close-up view of a reality that calls for sensitivity, empathy, and presence.
Why participate
Support Children with Disabilities
Contribute to their daily wellbeing through games, creative activities, and small acts of care that truly make a difference.
Why participate
Support Children with Disabilities
Contribute to their daily wellbeing through games, creative activities, and small acts of care that truly make a difference.
Discover the Authentic Life of Saigon
Experience the city beyond the tourist trail, spending time with the local community and the centre's staff.
The Weekly Program
Weekdays
From Monday to Friday, mornings and afternoons are dedicated to the children's disability centre, where you'll work alongside staff through games, hands-on activities, and moments of care.
Monday begins with an orientation day and cultural activities, designed to help you get to know the city, the language, and the local coordinators.
In the evenings, you'll explore the city streets and share meals with fellow participants, with free time to rest or socialise.
07:00Breakfast and getting ready for the day
08:30Arrival at the centre and supporting children with daily activities
11:30Lunch and a relaxing break with fellow volunteers
14:30Creative activities and educational games alongside local staff
18:30Return to accommodation, shower, and shared dinner on the rooftop
21:30Free time: chats, group games, or an evening stroll through the city
Weekend
Weekends are free from scheduled activities. You can explore the area, join day trips, or simply relax with fellow volunteers.
Mekong Delta Tour
Cruise along rivers and floating markets, discovering rural villages and unique landscapes just a few hours from the city.
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FAQs
During your stay in Ho Chi Minh, you'll live on a university campus in a dormitory designed to welcome students and volunteers from around the world. The facility is just ten minutes from the airport and about twenty from the city centre, in a lively neighbourhood well-served by cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, and pharmacies.
The rooms are simple but functional: you can choose a shared room with 6–8 beds, or, for more privacy, a private room for 1–2 people. All rooms are lockable and equipped with bed linen, air conditioning, and a safe. Towels, private bathrooms, and hot showers are not provided. The facility follows campus rules, including a nightly curfew from midnight to 6:00 am.
Common areas include a computer room, a panoramic rooftop terrace to relax and socialise, and access to a swimming pool (closed on Mondays for maintenance). Wi-Fi is available in common areas and there are paid laundry facilities on site. To stay connected throughout your stay, we recommend activating an eSIM before departure. With Airalo you can set it up in minutes and be online from the moment you arrive: find out how here.
Nearby you'll also find a gym, shops, and ATMs.
🍜 What's included:
- Shared or private room accommodation
- 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends (brunch + dinner)
- Free drinks (water, tea, and coffee at the campus)
- Rooftop and common areas for relaxation and socialising
- Constant support from the local team 24/7
- Swimming pool access during the week (except Mondays)
- Lockable rooms with in-room safe
The campus is more than just a place to sleep — it becomes part of the experience itself: here you'll meet volunteers from other countries, share meals and leisure time, and fully absorb the energy of one of Vietnam's most dynamic cities.
The rooms are simple but functional: you can choose a shared room with 6–8 beds, or, for more privacy, a private room for 1–2 people. All rooms are lockable and equipped with bed linen, air conditioning, and a safe. Towels, private bathrooms, and hot showers are not provided. The facility follows campus rules, including a nightly curfew from midnight to 6:00 am.
Common areas include a computer room, a panoramic rooftop terrace to relax and socialise, and access to a swimming pool (closed on Mondays for maintenance). Wi-Fi is available in common areas and there are paid laundry facilities on site. To stay connected throughout your stay, we recommend activating an eSIM before departure. With Airalo you can set it up in minutes and be online from the moment you arrive: find out how here.
Nearby you'll also find a gym, shops, and ATMs.
🍜 What's included:
- Shared or private room accommodation
- 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends (brunch + dinner)
- Free drinks (water, tea, and coffee at the campus)
- Rooftop and common areas for relaxation and socialising
- Constant support from the local team 24/7
- Swimming pool access during the week (except Mondays)
- Lockable rooms with in-room safe
The campus is more than just a place to sleep — it becomes part of the experience itself: here you'll meet volunteers from other countries, share meals and leisure time, and fully absorb the energy of one of Vietnam's most dynamic cities.
The safety of our participants is at the heart of every decision we make. Programmes in Ho Chi Minh are run in partnership with trusted local organisations and a team of coordinators who are always on hand to provide continuous support throughout your stay.
🔹 Participant screening and safe environments
To ensure a safe and reassuring experience, all participants are required to provide a criminal background check before departure. We can help you obtain a DBS check or equivalent if it is intended for programmes like ours. This step is essential to safeguard the children and local communities involved.
🔹 High safety standards
The campus where you'll stay is located in a safe and well-served neighbourhood, with controlled access and a nightly curfew that ensures peace and quiet for all guests. Our partner schools regularly host international volunteers and are well practised at working with people from different countries and age groups.
🔹 24-hour support
From your arrival at the airport through to the end of the programme, you can count on continuous assistance from our local staff, ready to help with any need — evenings and weekends included. Our our team is also always reachable via WhatsApp for any situation that may arise.
🔹 Training and orientation
On your first day, you'll attend an orientation session that will provide all the practical information you need on culture, safety, and community living. You'll receive concrete advice on getting around the city, using public transport, and navigating daily life in Vietnam with ease.
🔹 Good practices for a worry-free experience
Ho Chi Minh is a vibrant and welcoming city, but as with any major metropolis, a few simple precautions go a long way:
✔ Avoid carrying valuables when moving around the city.
✔ Use official taxis or the Grab app for safe travel.
✔ Always check with the local team for advice on neighbourhoods and timing.
💡 Our goal is to give you a safe, welcoming, and well-supported environment, so you can fully embrace the experience and focus on what truly matters: the moments you share with the children and the discovery of Vietnamese culture.
🔹 Participant screening and safe environments
To ensure a safe and reassuring experience, all participants are required to provide a criminal background check before departure. We can help you obtain a DBS check or equivalent if it is intended for programmes like ours. This step is essential to safeguard the children and local communities involved.
🔹 High safety standards
The campus where you'll stay is located in a safe and well-served neighbourhood, with controlled access and a nightly curfew that ensures peace and quiet for all guests. Our partner schools regularly host international volunteers and are well practised at working with people from different countries and age groups.
🔹 24-hour support
From your arrival at the airport through to the end of the programme, you can count on continuous assistance from our local staff, ready to help with any need — evenings and weekends included. Our our team is also always reachable via WhatsApp for any situation that may arise.
🔹 Training and orientation
On your first day, you'll attend an orientation session that will provide all the practical information you need on culture, safety, and community living. You'll receive concrete advice on getting around the city, using public transport, and navigating daily life in Vietnam with ease.
🔹 Good practices for a worry-free experience
Ho Chi Minh is a vibrant and welcoming city, but as with any major metropolis, a few simple precautions go a long way:
✔ Avoid carrying valuables when moving around the city.
✔ Use official taxis or the Grab app for safe travel.
✔ Always check with the local team for advice on neighbourhoods and timing.
💡 Our goal is to give you a safe, welcoming, and well-supported environment, so you can fully embrace the experience and focus on what truly matters: the moments you share with the children and the discovery of Vietnamese culture.
🧭 Orientation day
Your experience in Ho Chi Minh begins with a full day designed to help you settle in, get to know the local culture, and start the project with confidence and peace of mind.
On your first Monday, you'll take part in several activities guided by the local team:
- Welcome meeting, programme introduction, and campus rules
- Practical advice on health, safety, and cultural etiquette
- Introduction to Vietnamese culture, with a few basic words and insights into everyday life
- Tour of the campus and surrounding neighbourhood, with useful tips on cafés, supermarkets, and ATMs
- Support for buying a local SIM to stay connected throughout your stay. If you'd prefer to arrive with an eSIM already active — without having to hunt for a SIM on arrival — you can purchase one before departure through Airalo, our affiliate partner.
👉 You can do so using this link
- Group recreational activities and a family dinner at a local restaurant to get to know your coordinators and fellow volunteers
Orientation day is the perfect moment to break the ice, make new friends, and get comfortable in the city.
📌 From Tuesday onwards, you'll begin activities at the community centres — but from day one, you'll already feel part of the community and ready to make the most of the experience.
Your experience in Ho Chi Minh begins with a full day designed to help you settle in, get to know the local culture, and start the project with confidence and peace of mind.
On your first Monday, you'll take part in several activities guided by the local team:
- Welcome meeting, programme introduction, and campus rules
- Practical advice on health, safety, and cultural etiquette
- Introduction to Vietnamese culture, with a few basic words and insights into everyday life
- Tour of the campus and surrounding neighbourhood, with useful tips on cafés, supermarkets, and ATMs
- Support for buying a local SIM to stay connected throughout your stay. If you'd prefer to arrive with an eSIM already active — without having to hunt for a SIM on arrival — you can purchase one before departure through Airalo, our affiliate partner.
👉 You can do so using this link
- Group recreational activities and a family dinner at a local restaurant to get to know your coordinators and fellow volunteers
Orientation day is the perfect moment to break the ice, make new friends, and get comfortable in the city.
📌 From Tuesday onwards, you'll begin activities at the community centres — but from day one, you'll already feel part of the community and ready to make the most of the experience.
✈️
Arrival recommendations for Ho Chi Minh
We recommend booking a flight arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), which is just 10 minutes by car from our campus.
The ideal arrival time is on a Saturday or Sunday between 6:00 am and 9:30 pm, when our welcome service is active.
If you arrive on a Saturday, you'll need to book one extra night at the campus (with a small surcharge).
If you arrive after 9:30 pm, a pick-up is still possible, but with an additional charge for out-of-hours transport.
Arrivals on other days or outside standard hours: we do not offer a standard pick-up service. You can make your own way using official taxis or the Grab app, or request a private transfer (with a surcharge).
Once you've booked your flight, please send us your details: flight number, date, and arrival time. This allows us to organise your welcome smoothly.
📍 Airport meeting point As you exit the arrivals hall, you'll find our coordinator holding a sign with your name or the name of the host organisation. If in doubt, the reference meeting point is Pole no. 03, just after customs and baggage claim.
If you don't see our staff straight away, stay put — don't move, we'll find you.
📱 A useful tip: if you want internet access from the moment you arrive, you can activate an eSIM before departure with Airalo, our partner. Use this link
🚖 Transfer to accommodation The journey from the airport to the campus takes about 20 minutes by taxi. You may be able to share it with other participants arriving at the same time.
🚖 Departure recommendations Check-out from the accommodation is by 12:00 noon on Saturday.
The return transfer to the airport is not included, as each participant has different departure times. However, the local team will be happy to help you book a taxi or Grab, which typically costs between $5 and $7 USD.
We recommend booking your return flight from Saturday afternoon onwards, so you can leave the campus at a relaxed pace in the morning without any last-minute rush.
🗓️ Want to continue travelling? If you'd like to explore other parts of Vietnam after the project (Mekong Delta, Vũng Tàu, Đà Lạt, etc.), let us know in advance — we'll be happy to share practical tips on transport, buses, and trains.
💡 After your place is confirmed, you'll receive an up-to-date document by email with all practical information, emergency contacts, and local team numbers, so you'll have everything at hand well before you travel.
If you arrive on a Saturday, you'll need to book one extra night at the campus (with a small surcharge).
If you arrive after 9:30 pm, a pick-up is still possible, but with an additional charge for out-of-hours transport.
Arrivals on other days or outside standard hours: we do not offer a standard pick-up service. You can make your own way using official taxis or the Grab app, or request a private transfer (with a surcharge).
Once you've booked your flight, please send us your details: flight number, date, and arrival time. This allows us to organise your welcome smoothly.
📍 Airport meeting point As you exit the arrivals hall, you'll find our coordinator holding a sign with your name or the name of the host organisation. If in doubt, the reference meeting point is Pole no. 03, just after customs and baggage claim.
If you don't see our staff straight away, stay put — don't move, we'll find you.
📱 A useful tip: if you want internet access from the moment you arrive, you can activate an eSIM before departure with Airalo, our partner. Use this link
🚖 Transfer to accommodation The journey from the airport to the campus takes about 20 minutes by taxi. You may be able to share it with other participants arriving at the same time.
🚖 Departure recommendations Check-out from the accommodation is by 12:00 noon on Saturday.
The return transfer to the airport is not included, as each participant has different departure times. However, the local team will be happy to help you book a taxi or Grab, which typically costs between $5 and $7 USD.
We recommend booking your return flight from Saturday afternoon onwards, so you can leave the campus at a relaxed pace in the morning without any last-minute rush.
🗓️ Want to continue travelling? If you'd like to explore other parts of Vietnam after the project (Mekong Delta, Vũng Tàu, Đà Lạt, etc.), let us know in advance — we'll be happy to share practical tips on transport, buses, and trains.
💡 After your place is confirmed, you'll receive an up-to-date document by email with all practical information, emergency contacts, and local team numbers, so you'll have everything at hand well before you travel.
Book your spot
1
Send your application (free!)
Choose the project that inspires you most and indicate the period you would like to travel. No commitment: the application is free and non-binding.
2
Meet your coordinator
After your application, we will put you in touch with your dedicated coordinator. They will explain everything in detail and answer all your questions.
3
Confirm your spot
When you're ready, pay the deposit to lock in your spot. You'll get everything you need: local contacts, a visa guide and your pre-trip pack.
4
Set off on your adventure!
Pack your bags and go! On arrival you will find other volunteers like you, a welcoming local team and an experience you will hardly forget.
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