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Volunteering in Vietnam

Posted November 29th, 2006 by Guest

The VUFO-NGO Resource Centre receives many enquiries each year from people in both Vietnam and overseas who are seeking volunteer opportunities in Vietnam. We have compiled some general information on volunteering in Vietnam, including information about volunteer sending and receiving agencies and links to relevant sites.

Volunteering in Vietnam
The VUFO-NGO Resource Centre does not generally have information on specific volunteer opportunities or internships. Specific opportunities that we are aware of will be posted on the Jobs Board section of our website. Further information is provided below to assist individuals interested in volunteer work in Vietnam.

Volunteer placements
Vietnamese citizens who are interested in volunteering are able to register with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program in Hanoi. UNV recruit Vietnamese volunteers for a range of placements in Vietnam and overseas.

For others, we have generally found that volunteer positions are best arranged in the prospective volunteer's home country through one of the established volunteer placing/sending agencies, or through an international volunteering agency such as United Nations Volunteers.

These agencies have developed effective systems for assessing potential volunteers, and linking them with established partners in Vietnam and elsewhere. They also have pre-departure training and provide basic support to volunteers during their placement and may be able to arrange a living allowance for the volunteer, as well as travel costs, medical insurance and other costs associated with the volunteer placement.

Volunteer agencies

The Vietnam Volunteer Network section of the UNV website in Vietnam also contains information about organisations that send volunteers, and those that may receive them in Vietnam. You can also subscribe to an email discussion and announcements list on Volunteerism in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia via the UNV Website.

Internships
The following websites may be useful if you are looking for an internship opportunity in Vietnam:

Short-term volunteering
Volunteers for Peace have recently opened up an office in Vietnam and are very enthusiastic to accept both short and long term volunteer placements. You can find their office in Hanoi at:

No. 11, Lane 10/11 Hoang Ngoc Phach St.
Tel.: (84-4) 776 3782
Contact person: Mr. Phuong
Email: phuongdon@vfp-viet.org

For more information on the activities of Volunteers for Peace in Vietnam, click here.

We are sometimes contacted by travellers who are keen to undertake some volunteer work for a few days or weeks as part of their overall visit to Vietnam. In general, we are not able to assist with this kind of request.

Unlike in some other developing countries, there are few if any programs in Vietnam where it is possible to arrange volunteer experiences at very short notice.

You may find it useful to visit the Vietnam Volunteer Network section of the UNV website in Vietnam, which contains information about organisations that may require volunteers in Vietnam.

We do ask you to remember that these organisations are usually fully occupied implementing their programs, and that you may do more good by simply visiting and making a donation.

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