TravelWorks.co.uk » Volunteer Abroad » Vietnam » FAQ
Gap Year in Vietnam
Vietnam has long been one of Asia’s best-kept travel secrets, but especially in recent years the country has developed out of its turbulent history into an intriguing and multifaceted travel destination. A land of great natural beauty, Vietnam is also a place where tradition and modern life intermingle. The opulent palaces and temples of Vietnam’s ancient cities are as much a part of the cityscape as the bright and chaotic street markets, where mopeds zip and rickshaws hurry by.
Does TravelWorks accept participants from outside the UK?
Do I need to take a test to prove my English skill level?
Do I need special references or experience in order to participate?
Is there an age limit? How old are typical participants?
Can I participate with a friend?
Can I combine my volunteer work in Vietnam with a programme in another country?
What sort of projects can I volunteer for?
Can I choose which project I would like to work on?
How much time will I actually spend volunteering? Will I have free time?
Will I be able to communicate with people in English?
What will my accommodation be like?
Will I live with other volunteers?
Will other volunteers be working on the same project as me?
Will I have a contact person in Vietnam?
Is there a way for me to contact the other volunteers before I Ieave for Vietnam?
What is the health/safety situation in Vietnam? Do I need vaccinations?
Do I need to apply for a visa?
Should I buy travel insurance?
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
What other expenses do I need to consider?
Will I earn money during my project work?
Does TravelWorks accept participants from outside the UK?
Yes. Participants from the United Kingdom and the United States are welcometo participate in the pag year in Vietnam, as are citizens from other countries. If you are from another country, we will have to check your country’s visa requirements to see if you can participate.
Do I need to take a test to prove my English skill level?
No. No English test is required, and even if you are not a native English speaker, you may still participate in the gap year in Vietnam. However, it is important that you bring good English skills to Vietnam, especially if you are going to teach English classes.
If English is not your mother tongue, and if it’s been a while since you last studied the language, you will want to brush up on your English skills before travelling to Vietnam.
Do I need special references or experience in order to participate?
No. You do not need to have any specific educational or work experience in order to participate in the gap year in Vietnam. However, teaching experience, experience working with children, and travel experience are an advantage.
Is there an age limit? How old are typical participants?
No, there is no upper age limit, although you must be at least 18 in order to participate. Most participants are between 18 and 30 years of age.
Older participants are always welcome to participate in the gap year in Vietnam, although if you are older, you probably will not be working with anyone in your age group. In any case, it is extremely hot and humid in Vietnam, so it is important that participants are physically fit.
Can I participate with a friend?
Yes. When you apply, you can list a travel partner, and we are usually able to place travel partners together at the same project. However, we cannot guarantee 100% that you will be placed in the same project as your friend during your gap year in Vietnam.
Can I combine my volunteer work in Vietnam with a programme in another country?
Yes. It is often possible to combine programmes. Feel free to contact TravelWorks for more information.
What sort of projects can I volunteer for?
After your adventure trip through Vietnam, you will be placed in a volunteer project in or near Hanoi. For example, you could be placed in an orphanage in the Ha Nam province, where you would care for children from three to fifteen years of age, and teach English language classes. At a care centre in Hanoi you could assist local residents as you care for disabled children and adolescents during your gap year in Vietnam.
You should keep in mind that the Vietnamese cultural mentality will affect you as you adapt to your volunteer work in Vietnam. It is very important that you discuss your own ideas with local teachers and project leaders during your gap year in Vietnam.
Please be aware that your volunteer project will not be meticulously planned out for you. You will have a general volunteering assignment, and will have to use your own creativity and initiative in order to successfully complete your assignment. You will need to be very flexible, independent, and adaptable.
Can I choose which project I would like to work on?
You will have the chance to tell staff members from our partner organisation what sort of volunteer work interests you, and they will do their best to place you in a project which corresponds to your interests and capabilities. Which projects will be available during your gap year in Vietnam will depend on the needs of the various project sites and the number of volunteers participating at the time.
You will find out which volunteer project(s) you will be working on after your arrival in Vietnam.
How much time will I actually spend volunteering? Will I have free time?
The length of time you will spend volunteering each day will depend on which project you are assigned to, but you will have at least one-and-a-half to two free days each week. Therefore, you should have plenty of free time to explore Hanoi and discover Vietnamese culture during your gap year in Vietnam.
Will I be able to communicate with people in English?
Some of the projects in Vietnam are in places where no one speaks English. At these project locations, volunteers will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide for the first few days of volunteer work. If there are any problems or miscommunications after your English guide has departed, you will be able to contact our partner organisation for help during the rest of your gap year in Vietnam. During the 3-week adventure tour of Vietnam, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide on most days.
What will my accommodation be like?
During the adventure tour, you will stay in a double-room in a hotel, on a tour boat, and with a Vietnamese host family. During your volunteer work, you will stay in volunteer accommodation at your project site.
Please be aware that you will be staying in living conditions which are considerably simpler than those to which you are accustomed during your gap year in Vietnam. You will most likely share a room with other volunteers. Amenities are simple – be prepared to rough it! For example, there are often no regular showers. You may have to use a bucket to bathe yourself. Water and electrical failures are not uncommon.
You will not have a kitchen during your gap year in Vietnam, and you should factor in that you will be paying for your own meals.
Will I live with other volunteers?
During the volunteer work, you will most likely share a room with 1-2 other volunteers, but this is not guaranteed.
Will other volunteers be working on the same project as me?
You will most likely be placed in a project with other volunteers during your gap year in Vietnam, but you may be the only person at your project. This will depend on how many other volunteer participants are in Vietnam at the time and on the needs of the various project sites.
Will I have a contact person in Vietnam?
Our partner organisation is based in Hanoi, and will be your contact organisation for the duration of your gap year in Vietnam. If you have any questions or problems during your stay, you can call or visit our partners’ office for assistance. If, for example, you should become sick or need to extend your visa, our partner organisation is there to help you.
Is there a way for me to contact the other volunteers before I Ieave for Vietnam?
We will send you a list of other participants and their contact information before you depart for your gap year in Vietnam, as long as others have signed up for the same starting date as yourself.
What is the health/safety situation in Vietnam? Do I need vaccinations?
The health risks in Vietnam are considerably more severe than those in Europe and the United States. Therefore, you should definitely visit a doctor for advice about necessary vaccinations and health precautions. You should do this as early as you can, to make sure you get the proper vaccinations in time. You can find useful information regarding vaccinations at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk .
Vietnam is a wonderful place to travel, as long as you are careful. You can find extensive information about the safety situation in Vietnam and other countries on the website of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk or the website of the U.S. Department of State: travel.state.gov.
Vietnam is a tourist-friendly country, and we repeatedly hear from participants that women are able to travel here safely. Be aware that you will be surrounded by a completely foreign culture. It is absolutely necessary that you dress appropriately (for example, women should cover their shoulders) and that you are courteous to the local people.
Do I need to apply for a visa?
Yes, citizens of the United Kingdom and the United States must have a visa in order to enter Vietnam. Your passport must be valid until at least one month after your planned departure from Vietnam. You will need to contact the Vietnamese Embassy in your country for more information about visa application requirements.
If you are not from the UK or the U.S., we will have to check the visa requirements for your country to see if you can participate.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes, we strongly recommend that you get travel insurance to protect yourself abroad during your gap year in Vietnam. WorldNomads offers flexible travel insurance for short-term and gap-year travellers like yourself. Note that this is only a recommendation. Feel free to search for the travel insurance which is right for you.
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
Some meals are included in the programme price for the 3-week adventure tour. These are listed on the programme page of this website. You will not have a kitchen during your gap year in Vietnam, and you will be paying for your own meals during your volunteer work.
What other expenses do I need to consider?
Your extra expenses will depend to a large extent on your personal lifestyle, but you should take the following expenses into account during your gap year in Vietnam:
- Flight ticket to and from Hanoi, Vietnam
- Meals (some meals during the adventure tour, and all meals during your volunteer work)
- Kayak tour in the Halong Bay (about £ 9, US$ 15, or 10 €)
- Transportation during the volunteer work
- Travel Insurance
- Vaccinations
- Visa costs
- Police background check
- Personal expenses, excursions, souvenirs, etc. (about £ 270, US$ 450, or 300 € per month.)
Will I earn money during my project work?
No, this is volunteer work! This means that through your work, you are supporting people in need and assisting in projects, which usually have barely enough money to cover their own essential expenses. Please do not expect payment for your volunteer work. Instead, look at this as an amazing opportunity to help people and gain meaningful life experiences.
What are my next steps?
If you decide to participate in the gap year in Vietnam programme, just fill out the PDF or online Booking Form. Please note that if you are booking online you will need a credit card (we accept Visa or MasterCard). If you choose the PDF booking form, please print, fill out, and sign the form before faxing it to TravelWorks. As soon as we have received your application, we will process your booking. At this point your application will be legally binding. We will contact you if we need any additional information.
You will receive various application materials by e-mail after you have applied for the gap year in Vietnam programme. These documents need to be completed and returned to TravelWorks.
Print
Tell A Friend
Print |
