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THE PROGRAM:
Program Dates
| Program Overview
| Da Nang
| Quang Ngai
| Tam Ky
| Tuy Hoa
| Extra Placement Costs | Program Fee
| Orientation Session
EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROGRAM AND VOLUNTEERS:
General
| Code Of Conduct
| What to Expect and What to Bring
| Responsibilities
| Teaching
| Health and Hygiene
| What to Wear
| Accommodation
| Meals and Food
| Transportation
| Communication
| Free Time
| Culture, Religion and Social Customs
| Resources and Donations
| Finishing The Program
PREPARATION FOR YOUR TRAVEL:
Checklist
| Step by Step Video | 24 Hour Emergency Number
| Immunisations
| Malaria
| Travelling to Vietnam
| Airport Customs
| Entry Visa and Immigration
| Money Exchange
| What to Take With You
| Fundraising ideas
About VietnamGeneralWe would like to thank you for the work that you are about to embark on. It is appreciated that you are giving so much, with your contribution of time and funds to the program. You will be working directly with our partner, Viet Dang, who coordinates our volunteers in the Vietnam program. Viet is a Vietnamese local, and he is based in Da Nang. Vietnam is a dynamic mixture of traditional culture, colonialism and communism, but we have made this guide as specific to the program as possible so that you are aware of what you will be facing when volunteering. If you wish to travel further within Vietnam, this would be an opportune time to do so. However, we would recommend that you look into purchasing your own guide for travel, as this guide will not provide you with enough detail to assist you further. Location Vietnam is notable for its spectacular scenery and long and rich cultural history. While the war is not too far in the past, and still affects the day to day life of many Vietnamese, its people are friendly and the country has opened up to economic liberalisation. With a long and beautiful coastline and the Red River and Mekong Deltas, Vietnam is full of beautiful and unspoiled scenery. The Vietnamese are extremely cordial to Western visitors, and are eager for extra contact with the rest of the world. Volunteers have the opportunity to experience Vietnamese life through five program locations, which will be explored further in the following sections. Regardless of which location you are in, you will participate in training and orientation in the coastal city of Da Nang. Da Nang, or Danang, is Vietnam's fourth largest city situated on the northern edge of Vietnam's tropical zone. Most visitors come to Da Nang to for the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the Caodai Temple. Just south of the city you will find China Beach and the Marble Mountains, and at the northern tip of the peninsula is the Nui Son Tra, or the Monkey Mountain. During the war, American troops and the Saigon government built up Da Nang into a political, military and cultural centre. Military bases and such infrastructure as the airport, ports, warehouses, roads, public works, communication stations, and banks were constructed. Industries flourished, with oxygen, acetylene and detergent production, grind and textiles industries. However, the devastating war made thousands of rural people flee to refugee camps. Urban slums appeared, social evils increased and production came to a standstill. In 1975, after gaining complete independence, Da Nang began to recover from the war's severe consequences. In 1996 Da Nang City became an official province, directly responsible to the central government. Da Nang was also made famous in the 1987 film "Good Morning Vietnam". Climate Da Nang is located in the north of Vietnam's tropical zone, with a temperate and pleasant climate all year around. However, there is still a wet season that runs from August to December. Rainfall is highest in September and October. 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%. The following link will give you an idea of what the average temperatures and rainfall level is for you to look into for the time of year you are volunteering: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002940. Language Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam, and is spoken nationwide, although there are differences between regions. Many older people in Vietnam speak French, while many younger people can speak English well. Many Vietnamese are interested in English to the extent that they will start conversations with westerners in order to help improve their language skills. While it should be possible to get by using English, it would be courteous to learn some Vietnamese phrases. You may find this link useful where you can download a free program to help you learn basic Vietnamese, http://www.byki.com. You will also be taken through some brief language training during your orientation. Useful Vietnamese phrases include: Yes - Da No - Không Please - Xin vui lòng Thank you - Cam on Sorry - Xin loi My name is... - Ten toi la... Hello - Xin chao Goodbye - Tam biêt Holidays and Festivals The following holidays occur on fixed dates: New Year's Day: 1 January Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnamese Communist Party: 3 February Liberation Day: 30 April International Worker's Day: 1 May Ho Chi Minh's Birthday: 19 May National Day: 2 September Christmas: 25 December The following holidays are based on the lunar calendar: Tet Holiday: 1st to 7th day of the first new moon, and normally falls in late January or early February. The public holiday is officially three days, but most people take 10-15 days off. There will be interruptions in business hours and volunteer's work during this time. The ProgramProgram DatesYou should arrive on the last day of the month as orientations are held on the 1st (the next day). The final night of accommodation and last day of work on the program is on the second to last day of the month and you are free to leave on the last day of the month. E.g. for a 1 month placement in August you would arrive on July 31st with your final night of accommodation being August 30th, departing the next day (the 31st). Program Overview Volunteers in the Vietnam Orphanage program have the chance to help care for children in orphanages and at day care centres. Volunteers also teach English at language centres and to various community groups. This program is located in the central region of Vietnam. This program will give you a chance to make an important contribution to the people of Vietnam, and to gain an in depth experience of the country and its culture that will stay with you the rest of your life. The mission of our partner in Vietnam is to attract international volunteer aids to different social assistance programs in Vietnam, especially those for disadvantaged children. This builds cross-cultural education and understanding between Vietnamese people and people around the world. Our first volunteers were placed in July 2004. Our partner in Vietnam is registered with local governments and with PACCOM (People's Aid Coordinating Committee) to do this. They do not receive any funding from the government, and rely on the program fee to run the program. Our partner organisation can only function with the input of the volunteers from all walks of life. In the orphanages and support centres, there are many children who suffer from mental and physical disabilities. These children need more help than they currently receive, which in some cases is a bare minimum. Qualified physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, behavioural therapists, play therapists, doctors, nurses, orthotist prosthetists, podiatrists and all people with a medical qualification are highly sought after in the Vietnam program. There is a qualified Vietnamese physiotherapist who works very hard to review over 300 children in the program. He is very grateful for any assistance and is keen to learn new ideas and techniques. Our Vietnam partner will be very grateful for whatever time you can offer, whether you can stay for one month or 12. Your contribution is invaluable to the children on the program. The work is incredibly rewarding; you can make a difference for these children, and help to brighten their future. The volunteer opportunities are in the following locations:
Community Classes Throughout your placement in the Vietnam Orphanage program you may be asked to teach English to local members of the community. These may take place in hospitals, language centres or other community organisations. For some of these classes the students pay a small fee to attend (directly to the language centre), which goes towards administration and electricity charges. These classes enhance the volunteers' experience of Vietnam. They also raise awareness for the cause of the orphanages and the reasons why international volunteers come to help out in the community. These people then support or help our partner in Vietnam, and consequently help the children in the orphanages. Da Nang Da Nang city is in the middle of the country on the north - south road, rail, sea and air routes. The population of Da Nang is around 1.1 million people. It is 764km south of Hanoi (the capital) and 964km north of Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, Danang is in the central point of three well known world cultural heritage sites, including the ancient capital of Hue, Hoi An and the holyland of My Son. Our partner in Vietnam cooperates with local authorities such as the Da Nang Redcross, the Da Nang Department of Welfare, the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs and the Da Nang Agent Orange Organisation to place international volunteers in the following placements: Red Cross Day Centre: This centre is about four km south of downtown Da Nang. It is home to 37 disabled children whose ages range from 12-25 years. Some of them suffer mental illness; some are partly paralyzed while others have sight and/or hearing impairments. This centre provides day-care with lunch and accommodation for 20 children, whose parents work during the day. Permanent care with three meals and accommodation is provided for the remaining 17 who live at the centre. The centre also offers training courses on printing, sewing and embroidery for all the children, the aim being to provide the children with the opportunity to be able to support themselves as an adult. Their work is sold to the public to raise money to assist with the operation of the centre. Volunteers are expected to teach communicative English to around 10 of the children. Volunteers are also needed to teach all of the children arts, crafts, songs and sports. Red Cross Baby Orphanage: At the same address as the Da Nang Red Cross Centre for Disabled Children is the Da Nang Red Cross Baby Orphanage. There are around 20 baby orphans at the baby orphanage. Their ages range from newborn to eleven years old. There are seven Vietnamese members of staff (called ‘Mothers’) who work directly with the babies. Their job is to clean, bathe, feed and look after the children. Volunteers are expected to look after the babies while staff are cleaning and cooking meals. Sometimes volunteers also assist the staff in feeding and changing the children. There are two older children (boys) that have special needs at the centre- Hung (11) and the other, Huy (10) both have Cerebral Palsy. As the Mothers are very busy tending to the infants and toddlers it is expected that volunteers provide particular care and attention to these two boys. Previous volunteers have found both are very responsive to attention and stimulation, including being held, picked up and talked to. Da Nang Malnourished Baby Orphanage: This orphanage is located in the centre of the city. It is home to around 15 babies who are mostly orphans, although some of the children are there because their families are temporarily unable to provide for them. Their ages range from newborn to ten. There are Mothers who are responsible for caring for the children. Their jobs include cleaning, cooking, bathing and feeding the children. Volunteers are expected to assist the staff in taking care of the children, including feeding and changing nappies, while the staff are cleaning or cooking meals. There are some teaching programs for the children, but mainly in games and some basic art skills for the older ones. There are two children who have Cerebral Palsy, Tam (boy, aged 10) and Tinh (girl, aged 4). As the Mothers are very busy tending to the infants and toddlers, it is expected that volunteers provide particular care and attention to these two children. Da Nang Support Centre for Disabled Children This centre is located about 3km south of downtown Da Nang. It is a day care centre for around 26 disabled children. These children range in age from 9 to 18. Some of them suffer mental illness (Autism and Downs Syndrome); some are partly paralyzed while others have sight and/or hearing impairments. The centre provides lunch and accommodation for all of the children. Recently, a second Support Centre for Disabled Children was opened in central Da Nang. This is also a day care centre for around 20 disabled children aged between 7 and 22 years. Approximately 10 children live there permanently and the remaining 10 are taken there during the day whilst their parents are at work. Volunteers are expected to teach some skills such as: English, arts, crafts, songs and sports to the children. Volunteers are also needed to assist the staff with physical therapy for the seriously disabled children. Danang Social Supporting Centre The centre is located on the outskirts of Da Nang City. It is a community project which caters and shelters for around 200 people of all ages who used to live on the streets of Da Nang. Among them, there are around 50 people who are over sixty years old; 47 people have mental disorders and around 40 are children. The centre houses around 10 children aged between newborn and 2 years, who are orphans. The volunteer’s role is to provide stimulation and interaction with the babies and assist the staff in feeding and changing the children. There are 8 children who are mentally disabled, again, the volunteer’s role is to provide stimulation, interaction and exercise for these children. Volunteers also teach English to the remainder of the children (approximately 15) who are aged between 10 and 18 years. There are also three pre-school aged children who are being taught basic English. In the past, volunteers have also provided craft activities and sports games with these children, which have been very enjoyable and beneficial for the children. Dai Loc Orphanage This orphanage is about 20 kms to the west of Da Nang City. The centre is home for 45 street children from pre-school to High school age who are orphans. Volunteers mainly help the children with their homework and provide activities and games for them. Dien Tho This centre is located 30km south east of Da Nang City. There are 10 deaf children ranging in age from 7 to 23 years who receive sign language lessons from a local teacher. Additionally, volunteers run community English classes here for around 40 children ranging from 7 to 23 years. Volunteers are also expected to provide art, craft, sport and gaming activities for these children. Duc Tri College Duc Tri College is located 5km south of Da Nang. It provides low cost education for students aged between 18 and 22 who come from disadvantaged families. During the school year, volunteers assist local English teachers with pronunciation and explanations of the English language. PLAN Vocational Centre This centre is located in the centre of Da Nang. It provides vocational training for students aged between 18 and 24 years who come from disadvantaged families. Volunteers assist local English teachers with pronunciation and explanations of the English language. The lessons are focused on language which would be used in hospitality and customer service. Accommodation: 
Volunteers live in a rented house which is in the centre of the city. It is just 10 mins walk from Da Nang airport and close to other facilities such as, shopping centres and public transport stations. The program's office is based in the house. The upstairs floors are the bedrooms for volunteers. Beds, pillows, mosquito nets and fans are provided in each of the bedrooms. There is running hot water, internet access and telephone (for making local calls and receiving international calls only). The address is: 22 Nguyen Tri Phuong St, Da Nang City, Vietnam.
Advice on entertainment in Da Nang can be recommended by present volunteers on the program or by staff. This is a sample timetable for a volunteer in the Da Nang program. Please note that a lot of your work will be with disabled children. Each volunteer will have a different schedule which will be arranged after the orientation:
Quang Ngai Quang Ngai Quang Ngai city is the capital of the Quang Ngai province with a population of 120,000 people. It is located 120 km south of Da Nang. Our's partner in Vietnam has entered into a partnership with the Quang Ngai Department of Foreign Affairs to organise placements for international volunteers. Volunteers help with social support programs for orphans and children with disabilities, and English teaching programs at schools and vocational centers. This program will offer volunteers an opportunity to access the larger population of the community of Quang Ngai. The Quang Ngai program is the most lacking in resources and funding of our programs. For this reason a past volunteer in Quang Ngai let us know that volunteers are often requested to purchase nappies, fruit, milk and education supplies for the children. These are supplies that the care givers, day care centres or orphanages may not be able to afford to buy. If possible please try to budget or fundraise approx US$30 a month for these supplies. NH Physical Rehabilitation Center This is a day center for around fifteen children with disabilities aged between 4 and 16 years. Most of the children appear to have been affected by Agent Orange and the majority of the disabilities are physical. The children are taken there by their parents for the day for basic physical therapy. Volunteers are required to go and provide physical and mental stimulation for the children. Social Protection Center This center is home to 87 children aged between 2 and 20 years who are either orphans, or come from families who are unable to support them. There are five children who suffer from physical or mental disabilities. One of the children has cerebral palsy, and another has shown signs of autism. There is one newborn baby who has been at the Center since May. There are also 30 elderly people who live at the Center with the children. Volunteers teach English to the children who are grouped into different grades, according to age. Time is also spent helping the children with disabilities. School For Disabled Children This is a day center for approximately 30 children aged 7 to 17 years who come here while their families go to work. Around 15 of the children are deaf, and 12 have Downs Syndrome. There is one boy who suffers from cerebral palsy. Volunteers play games and activities with the children, and teach English to some of them. English is also taught to around ten children whose parents work at the school. Dung Quat Vocational And Foreign Language Center This is an evening community class for residents of Quang Ngai. Volunteers come here to teach English to a range of abilities and ages. Peoples Committee Of Family And Children This is an evening community class where volunteers teach conversational English to approximately 30 government officials and their children. There are a range of abilities and particular focus is placed on correct pronunciation. Accommodation: Volunteers stay in a rented house at Lo 368 Nguyen Du street, Quang Ngai City, Quang Ngai province. The house is located in a quiet area, just one kilometre from the downtown area. Rooms are equipped with beds, pillows, mosquito nets and fans. The house has hot running water and a telephone (for making local calls and receiving international calls only). Advice on entertainment in Quang Ngai can be recommended by local staff. Typical Working Schedule: A typical day at Quang Ngai program: Morning: Social Protection Center and Centers for Children with disabilities Afternoon: Social Protection Center Evening: Dung Quat Vocational Center (Note: Those who go to Dung Quat Vocational Center in the evening will have the afternoon off to prepare for the teaching) Please note that a lot of your work will be with disabled children. Tam Ky Tam Ky is in the Quang Nam Province in Central Vietnam. It is 860km south of Hanoi, 947km north of Ho Chi Minh City, and 70km south of Da Nang City (a 1½ hour drive). National Highway 1A and the North/South Railway run through the province. Tam Ky is the capital of the Quang Nam province with a population of approximately 100,000 people. It is most famous for the nearby Cham Towers. You won't find many westerners in Tam Ky, so it certainly offers a different experience of Vietnam compared to the more touristy areas. There is a supply of books and DVD's in the volunteer house, but you might like to bring some with you for your spare time. The house has a DVD player and DVD's can be purchased cheaply in Tam Ky. There are many internet cafes within 2 minutes walking distance of the house. There are also internet telephone facilities available. Our partner in Vietnam cooperates with local authorities such as the Quang Nam Union of Friendship Organisations and Quang Nam Department of Welfare to place international volunteers to the following placements: Home of Affection This is the home for 35 orphans and disadvantaged children. The children range from 3-16 years old. During the school semesters, the older children go to school. Classes will change depending on whether school is in or whether it is school holidays - 3 months: Jun/Jul/Aug and 1 week during Tet in February. Volunteers teach the older children English as well as general studies. The younger children are still at a basic English level learning the alphabet, colours, days of the week, etc. The children love doing art lessons and sports. Generally in a 1.5 hour class, the first hour is focused on the core lesson content and the last half an hour is used for games or sports. The Tam Ky Baby Orphanage: The orphanage is the permanent home for around 60 orphans aged from one month to 15 years old. Most of the children do not have parents, although some children have poor parents who are unable to provide for them. Fourteen Vietnamese staff (called 'Mothers') care for the babies and children. They are kept busy cleaning, bathing and feeding the children. Volunteers play with and care for the babies and children while the mothers are working. Sometimes assisting the mothers to feed the children. There are some teaching programs, but you will mainly bring games and art/craft activities to do with the children. Tam Thanh (January to September) Tam Thanh is a small fishing village 15 km east of Tam Ky. It is an isolated beach area where the families are very poor and is inaccessible during the wet season. Many children leave school because their parents cannot afford the fees, plus there is also a shortage of teachers in the area. Volunteers work with staff teaching English to up to 60 children aged from 10 to 16 years old. Class sizes are variable and the children are very keen to learn. The program aims to improve their English to assist with future job opportunities and to encourage them to stay at school. Tam Ky hospital Tam Ky hospital is the largest hospital in the Quang Nam province. It has 500 beds, although there can be 800 patients there at one time, plus their relatives! Foreign medical experts come to work at the hospital and the aim of this program is to improve the English pronunciation, comprehension and conversational skills of the doctors, nurses and technical personnel. It is preferable, although not essential, that lessons are relevant to the medical profession. Economic Zone Students at the Economic Zone are adults who are business people. They deal with foreigners in their business activities and, like the Hospital class, volunteers work to improve their English pronunciation, comprehension and conversational skills, preferably using relevant business terms. Phuong Dong College We began working with this college in June 2007. There are 30 students, aged 19-23, from disadvantaged backgrounds who are training to work in the local hospitality industry. As with the Hospital and Economic Zone classes, volunteers will provide guidance on their English pronunciation, comprehension and conversational skills relevant to the hospitality industry. Daily Work Schedule A typical day at Tam Ky program would be: 8:30 am to 10: 00 am: Baby Orphanage or Tam Thanh program 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm then 3:30 to 5pm: Home of Affection then College/Economic Zone Lessons are planned either at lunch time or in the evening. A weekly schedule is available at the house and volunteers will be allocated across the different centres. Accommodation Volunteers stay in a rented house. It is close to shops (photocopy, toiletries, treats, etc.), internet cafes and local cafes. Rooms are equipped with beds, pillows, mosquito nets and fans. The house has a washing machine, western toilets, hot running water and a telephone (for making local calls and receiving international calls only). Address: 158 Hung Vuong, Tam Ky, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Telephone +84 0510 829 053 Our staff and current volunteers will be able to recommend favourite local entertainment hangouts and assist with finding banks, post office, etc. Tuy Hoa Tuy Hoa city is the capital of Phu Yen province. It is 90 km north of Nha Trang, a popular coastal tourist destination and 400 km south of Da Nang city. The city centre is only 1km from the wonderful beaches of the South East coast. The volunteer house is just 300m from the best beach in the city. There are many Cham tower ruins to visit in the city and a large number of locals still belong to the Cham race. The city population is roughly 100,000 people. Like Tam Ky, there are not many westerners in the city, so you will experience the real Vietnam. Our partner in Vietnam has a partnership with the local organization, The Phu Yen Union of Friendship Organization to place international volunteers to the following placements:
Tuy Hoa Home of Affection
Phu Yen Social Support Center
Niem Vui School for Children with disabilities
Tuy Hoa Community Education Center
Duy Tan High school
Duy Tan Language Center
Accommodation
Daily Work Schedule Lessons are planned either at lunch time or in the evening. A weekly schedule is available at the house and volunteers will be allocated across the different centres.
Children in Need of Surgery The Foundation seeks to help those children primarily under fifteen years of age that have operable conditions but are ineligible for assistance from larger aid organisations due to their country of origin, remoteness or the severity of their illness. Children's First Foundation asks that volunteers keep an eye out for children in need of operations. Therefore, if you find a child that desperately needs an operation please contact your volunteer coordinator for more information about Children’s First Foundation. Extra Placement CostsThe placement fee covers the following expenses:
Additional expenses are likely to be for the following items:
Program Fee Your program fee needs to be paid 8 weeks before the first of the month that you begin volunteering in. These are the methods that you may use to pay your program fee: a) Wire payment directly to our bank account You will need to pay any additional fees charged by your bank for the wire payment. The following information will be required by your bank in order to transfer the funds: US Based Volunteers Account/Beneficiary Name: Global Volunteer Network Account Number: 02-1000-608464-0000 Swift Code: BKNZNZ22 Receiver: //FW021000089 Citibank NA New York NY Account with Bank: /10933728 Bank of New Zealand Wellington All Other Volunteers Account Name: Global Volunteer Network Account Number: 02-0528-0545009-030 Swift Code: BKNZNZ22 Bank Address: Bank Of New Zealand High Street Lower Hutt New Zealand GVN's street address (required by some banks): Global Volunteer Network Level 2 105 High Street Lower Hutt Please ensure your name and program is included in the transaction so we can allocate your funds to your program. Once you have made the wire transaction, please submit the following form so we are aware of the payment being made and can credit it to the correct volunteer: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/confirm/wire.php. If you need to clarify how much money you owe for your program fee, please let your GVN coordinator know. * If you have a New Zealand based bank account, you may pay by online banking directly to GVN's New Zealand dollar bank account (02-0528-0545009-030). Please ensure your name and program is included in the transaction so we can allocate your funds to your account. Please use http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html to calculate the amount that you need to pay in New Zealand dollars. * If you are a Canadian volunteer, a former volunteer has recommended North Star Currency as a cheap currency ordering service. They offer lower exchange rates than banks and credit cards. There are no fees to join and they will wire the foreign funds at no charge. b) Online (credit card) You can use our secure online WorldPay credit card system. Please note that you will need to include an extra 5% to cover the credit card costs. The specific link for making your payment online was given in the initial email from your GVN Coordinator. Please let your coordinator know if you no longer have that email. c) Cheque (Check) It is possible to pay your program fee by cheque, if you are paying at least 8 weeks before the first of the month you are volunteering. Cheques or Bank Drafts must be in your issuing bank’s currency. If your issuing bank's currency is not US dollars, please use http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html to calculate the equivalent to the US dollar amount in your currency and add an extra 5% to cover currency exchange costs. Please note we do not accept postal notes or money orders. Cheques should be made out to Global Volunteer Network, and posted to: Global Volunteer Network PO Box 30-968 Lower Hutt New Zealand. When posting your program fee, you should include this form. Orientation Session Orientation will be held over 2 days and will take place in Da Nang and at the 4 placement locations. We recommend that volunteers plan to arrive in Da Nang at least 1 or 2 days before the end of the preceding month so that you can be relaxed and alert for the orientation session on the 1st. The orientation session will provide you with the necessary information to begin your volunteering program and includes an introduction to the Vietnamese culture and language. You will be able to have any questions or concerns you may have answered during the day. The orientation session includes an introduction to GVN Vietnam and its operation here, Code of Conduct and Expectations of the program, tips on working with and caring for babies and disabled children, guidelines for teaching English and an introduction to the Vietnamese culture and language. You will also meet your interpreter who will provide more detailed information about your placement, its facilities and the work program. The orientation programme offers long and short-term benefits for your stay in Vietnam, and is compulsory for all new volunteers. It is during this short period that important and unrepeated information is explained to you. Many leaving volunteers have commented that orientation is a unique opportunity to meet and get to know our organisation and other volunteers from around the globe in some fun, social activities. Get involved and make the most of it! Orientation Schedule: Location: GVN - Vietnam office at 22 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Da Nang City Session 1 (1st of the month):
Session 2 (2nd of the month): This is your first day at your placement and you will be eased into work. In the morning you will meet with your interpreter and they will give you information about the places where you will be working and what your responsibilities are. They will also inform you of your work schedule and make introductions to host organisations where you will be working. This may include introductory meetings with managers and staff of these centres. Your interpreter will provide more detailed information on the day. Expectations of the Program and VolunteersThese have been written in order to better prepare you as a volunteer, not only for the work that you will be involved in but also for the environment that you will be living in.We understand that each individual situation will vary somewhat so we cannot guarantee that everything will be the same as described for every individual, although this is a good general outline of what you should expect when volunteering in Vietnam. It is important to emphasise that you are dealing with another culture when you are volunteering internationally. How you would approach a particular situation in your own country does not necessarily mean it is appropriate to handle it in the same way in Vietnam. Your time and commitment to the program is of course valued but please remember that you are a guest of the country and that you will be looked at as a representative of your homeland. If you have any queries you would like to discuss about the information provided here please direct it to your volunteer coordinator. General Within Vietnam we expect you to follow the local laws and regulations. The placements will also have rules that you will need to abide by and if you are unsure of these you should consult placement staff to clarify. There is at least one translator as a staff member in each placement. The primary role of translator is to facilitate our volunteers to provide teaching and social services where we operate. You could be placed either in Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Tam Ky, Hue, or Cu Lao Cham Island. There can be up to 150 km between these placements, so it is unlikely that you will have much to do with the volunteers that are not placed in the same city as yourself, unless you choose to travel there during the weekend. Emergency Contact/Arrival and Departure Details We require all volunteers to provide us with arrival/departure details, emergency contact information and information related to your medical history (relevant to this trip) so our partners can be well informed and prepared in an emergency. It is essential to have this information as you may be in a situation where you cannot speak for yourself. You will be requested to provide the following: 1) Your arrival and departure details: flight dates, times, airline, flight numbers or overland details if applicable 2) an emergency contact person at home, phone number and email address for them 3) your insurance carrier while traveling (to be given to medical personnel in the event you are unable to) 4) allergies (to medication particularly) 5) medication you plan to be taking while traveling 6) any special dietary requirements you have that need to be passed on to the partner (i.e. vegetarian) You will be asked to fill this out one month before you start the program. Code Of Conduct With the hope to make the program more structured and benefit both volunteers and our organization. Our partner in Vietnam would like all volunteers to commit to the following code of conduct while volunteering in our program. 1) Culture: In the placements you will be living close to or alongside local families. Although social expectation may dictate that you behave differently, attempt to find a happy medium between adopting local culture and retaining your own. This will include more ‘modest' dress for women, using the Vietnamese gestures of respect and gratitude where appropriate, and not appearing to dismiss Vietnamese culture, even as a joke. 2) Accommodation: Because you will share housing with other volunteers and our staff in all programs, we expect you to show respect for each other in the way that you share the living facilities. You will be expected to help with daily chores to ensure that the living and working spaces are safe and hygienic for all to use. We have agreed with the owner of the houses and the local authorities that the houses will be for volunteers only. Therefore, it would be possible for you have your friends who are not volunteers in the houses during the daytimes, but impossible for them to stay overnight. 3) Transportation: Safe transportation to the work sites is provided, with car and bicycles. Because the traffic in the areas you are working is too dangerous to ride a motorbike, we would ask all volunteers not to use this method of transport, however motor bike taxis are ok. 4) Alcohol and Smoking: Because the program involves with working with young children, we request that volunteers do not drink alcohol or smoke in sight of the orphanages or classes. 5) Leaving Program: If for any reason, you have a break away from the program or leave the program earlier than your scheduled departure, you will need to discuss this with us, in advance. You are not entitled to a refund of your program fee for your time away as much of this is already committed to project work. You are expected to pay your own expenses for accommodation and food if you travel away from your program during the weekend. You will not be reimbursed for this. 6) Self Reliance: Volunteers are expected to take initiative in both their work and personal affairs. The staff at the accommodation and placement will help you if required but be realistic about you expect of them and don't ask them to do things that you can do for yourself. If you have an issue with other volunteers or accommodation while you are on your placement, please talk to the other volunteers and people you live with about this. If you have an issue with the placement please talk to your translators and placement staff. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, Viet is also there to help, so please call or e-mail him. If everyone is reasonable and considerate of others then all of us will have an enriching experience. 7) Teaching: Political and religious natures are not allowed to teach during any lessons at the orphanages and the language centers. 8) Relationships: Be aware of potentially different attitudes towards sexual relationships and understand the effect that any such relationship may have on individuals and the local community. Volunteers should not be involved romantically with people working for our partner in Vietnam. 9) Sharing information with adoption agencies and adoptive parents: During your volunteer work, it is possible that you could be contacted by prospective adoptive parents requesting additional information about the child/children that you have contact with. Please be aware that the GVN Vietnam relationship with the orphanages is entirely different to the relationship between any adoption agency and the orphanage. Whilst the best interest of the children is the main concern, the approach is vastly different. In your role as a volunteer, you represent GVN and their work in Vietnam, and you are not obliged to provide information to any agency or adoptive parents. Any such contact does have the potential to harm the relationship that GVN Vietnam has built with the orphanages. We understand that you want the best outcome for the children, however, we hope that you can understand that any information given to an agency or adoptive parents has the potential to offend the orphanage management and, as a result, can limit or, in the extreme, terminate the access that GVN Vietnam has with the children. If you find yourself in this situation, please share this with GVN staff in the first instance so that they can guide you. Please note that breaches of the code of conduct may result in termination of your placement without the possibility of compensation. What to Expect and What to Bring This section sets out what volunteers expect and need to bring with them, specific to our partner's guidelines. The information provided here primarily relates to your time as a volunteer. If you intend to spend time touring Vietnam, then we recommend that you obtain a good guide book. There may be interruptions to your program no matter what time of year you are volunteering. During certain months, particularly January and February there are cultural festivals which may interrupt the program. During the Tet Holidays during this time the program will close down for 10-15 days. There may be cultural issues that you will need to consider when volunteering in Vietnam. The issues dealt with in this guide are investigated further during training in Da Nang where you will look in depth at issues that need to be taken into consideration. Because the work in Vietnam involves working closely with children, we are requesting that all volunteers provide a police clearance document. This involves going to your local police station to secure this document. (Minor offences such as traffic infringements will not be taken into account.) If volunteers come from countries that do not issue police clearances, three character references from reputable sources (employer, justice of the peace, landlord, the minister of your local church, teacher, etc) may be substituted. The police check or reference document needs to be faxed or emailed to your volunteer coordinator at least 4 weeks prior to your departure for Vietnam. Our fax number is +64 4 569 9081. You should take the original copy with you to present to our partner. Failure to provide a police report or personal references may result in you not being able to volunteer in the area of your choice within the Vietnam program. These books about Vietnam have been recommended by past volunteers: Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X Pham, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, and Sparring with Charlie by Christopher Hunt. Responsibilities Each program within Vietnam will have its own expectations in regards to responsibilities, but all of them are based on volunteers taking initiative and being pro- active in their outlook. Although there will be some basis for the activities volunteers will take part in, volunteers are expected to bring their own knowledge and skills with them in order for the program to be successful. This does not mean that you will initiate every new idea that you bring as some may not be considered appropriate, but having a range of ideas will enhance your program. There will need to be some discussion with onsite staff if you wish to set up a new initiative to ensure it is appropriate.
Teaching While some of the work that you will do here in Vietnam will not centre around teaching English, most of your work will involve at least informal instruction, partly because you are a very valuable resource in Vietnam if you can speak English. Most Vietnamese people are very keen to learn English, especially from a native speaker who has correct pronunciation, as they understand what a huge difference useable English skills can play in their lives. You may feel anxious at the thought of teaching a classroom teeming full of children who don't speak your native language and are looking at you wide eyed, waiting for you to teach them English. Almost all of the volunteers that come to Vietnam with us have no previous teaching experience. You are not expected to be teaching lessons to the same level as a teacher with 10 years experience. All that we ask is that you give 100% effort and enthusiasm to all that you do with the children. All the kids are so adorable that it's difficult to keep it at 100% and not give more. While the class sizes do vary from placement to placement, it is highly unlikely that you would be teaching a group larger than 20 children. Often the number is considerably less. So you will not have thirty plus eager faces staring back at you hanging on every word. Any experience you have at teaching English as a second language will be very useful, so if you have time before your placement it would be very beneficial for you to research this. You will be planning your own lessons and probably determining the content as well as the lesson plan. Some volunteers prefer to teach on their own and other prefer to do it in 2's or 3's. This will need to be decided by you and the other volunteers at your placement once you arrive. A lot of stationery items can be purchased cheaply in Vietnam, so you don't really need to bring those, but you might find it useful to bring teaching resources such as lesson plans, ESL textbooks etc. If you have a particular art or craft activity you want to teach, it may be beneficial to bring the materials from home. Past volunteers struggle sometimes, as there only so many ways to teach the alphabet and numbers. It can be helpful to research games that can help when teaching English to both adults and children. According to volunteers, there are few materials available in most of the facilities in Vietnam so it's a good idea to bring your own. Art and craft supplies (such as stickers and stamps) seem to be really hard to find. Something else that is vital to bring is creative ideas for teaching! It can also be helpful to bring small and cheap prizes such as pens from your home country. As you will be asked to talk about yourself a lot, it is recommended that you bring some photos from home as this can help! All of the placement sites have a substantial resource bank where you can get ideas for lessons and there will be a record of what has been taught by the previous volunteers. Remember, that you will be working with other volunteers and you can always share ideas and lesson plans with each other. In fact, we encourage you to do so. If you would like to do some preparation before you come, there are a few links below to webpages that contain a lot of ESL teaching resources. I'm sure that once you've had a read through some of that information, you will feel more confident. For more details about planning lessons, our Asia teaching resources pack at http://www.volunteer.org.nz/resources/teaching/asia.php will give you some ideas. Another good teaching resource is the book Lessons From Nothing by Bruce Marsland. The resource "Side by Side" for the orphanage and street children programs. This book covers from very basic level to advanced level and uses a lot of pictures to illustrate for the lessons. Hence, it is helpful to the children. You may also wish to take a TEFL course to improve your skills. There are a number of TEFL courses that you can do online which although are not essential will help you in developing your skills and a program. This link will take you to one program that we recommend. http://www.volunteer.org.nz/tefl/ Further useful links are for some activity idea and lesson plans (please note that we are in no way responsible for the material on these sites and have only researched these for the purpose of providing you with a base for some classroom ideas): http://www.esl-galaxy.com/ is a great website with a comprehensive list of resources. http://www.esl-images.com and http://www.english-to-go.com (You need to pay to become a member but can use a lot of useful tools. You can even do this from Vietnam so long as you have access to a computer and printer although you may want to take a look ahead of time to see what is available). http://esl.about.com/ http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?sectionType=listsummary&catid=59410 http://www.esl-lounge.com Health and Hygiene In Vietnam you should be meticulous about looking after yourself to avoid sickness. To avoid viral infections avoid sharing drinks and utensils of any form. Keep your hands clean by washing them often, particularly before eating and after using the toilet. There will be a cook at your placement who will prepare food for you, so the following rules apply mostly for when you are travelling in other areas of Vietnam. The adage that says "if you can cook it, boil it or peel it then it's safe" applies to Vietnam as much as other developing countries. Fruit and vegetables should be washed with purified water or peeled. Shellfish or undercooked meat should be avoided. If a restaurant and its staff look clean and healthy and there are plenty of customers, then it's a strong indication that the food is safe. Only drink water from containers with a serrated seal. Take care with fruit juice, which may have had water added to it, and ice. Tea and coffee should be fine, since the water will have been boiled. A water purifier for volunteers to use is available at all of the volunteer placements. You should check at your orientation who the contact is to help you with the language barrier if you do need to seek medical attention while at your placement. Medical Service is available at Family Medical Practice Da Nang, 50-52 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Da Nang City, telephone: 0511 582 699/700, or 24-hour telephone: 0913 917 303. Viet is also contactable via cellphone on 0913 457 353. What to Wear When deciding what to wear in Vietnam you must consider the temperature and environment you will be working in. Light, cotton clothing that covers most of the body is not only more acceptable in Vietnamese culture, but it also helps to protect against sun and getting bitten by mosquitoes. Also, avoid taking perfume or aftershave as this can attract mosquitoes. Volunteers can wear old clothing while working as it's likely that clothing will get quite dirty. Because you are there in the capacity of a volunteer it is important to be modest in your dress. Avoid exposing too much skin (particularly female volunteers) so although it can be very hot, hardly anyone wears singlets (string tops) - depending on where you are of course - but bring long skirts and pants too since, as a volunteer mentioned, no-one really shows their legs, and "we saw girls at the waterfall in Dai Loc swimming in jeans, long sleeve shirts, gloves and their dust masks and baseball caps!" As for footwear, jandals (flip-flops) and a pair of running shoes is probably all you will need. Don't forget sunglasses and a hat. Accommodation Volunteers are provided with accommodation during the program which is covered by the program fee. Vietnam is a developing country, although your accommodation will not truly reflect this and you should find your living arrangements relatively comfortable. You should expect to have power and you will have running water although hot water may not always be available. See the individual placement sections above for more information on what sort of accommodation to expect. Most volunteers now stay in rented houses with a group of other volunteers. There are flush toilets available at the volunteer accommodation. Volunteers will be provided with bedding and pillows. Please be aware that you will need to provide your own towels. You can choose to bring some from home or alternatively they can be purchased cheaply in Vietnam. Volunteers should expect to be sharing a room which has a lockable door. There will also be lockable cabinets provided where volunteers can keep their documents secure. As a volunteer you will be expected to maintain a reasonable standard of cleanliness in your surroundings. This would include keeping your living space clean and tidy as well as your personal hygiene to a high standard. Daily showers/washes are recommended as well as ensuring clothing is washed regularly. There are washing machines available at all of the placements, except at Cu Lao Cham Island where you will need to hand wash your clothes. Meals and Food Volunteers are provided with three meals per days as well as drinking water. It is essential that you do not drink the local water and you will be able to use the water purifiers' at the volunteer accommodation. Volunteers are also expected to pay for their own food if they travel during their break times. We cannot pay a refund for food. Meals are generally prepared for you, although this varies depending on where you are placed. Vegetarians can be catered for as long as you let Viet or your volunteer coordinator know in advance. The meals which are served are mostly local Vietnamese cuisine. Volunteers should not expect special foods purchased for your own consumption by the host family. They are only given a portion of your program fee to cover your accommodation and meals as they would live - not enough to provide you with the same comforts of home. Any special items you wish beyond what the family provides will be at your expense. If volunteers are offered food that they are not familiar with, it is anticipated that they try a little. But it is alright to refuse politely if there are health reasons or other dietary restrictions. Please also be aware that it is not essential to finish everything on your plate, it is okay to refuse food if you are full. Transportation Upon arriving in Vietnam, you will be met at the airport of Da Nang by a member of the partner program's staff and taken to a hotel where you can stay until the day of the orientation session (unless you are placed in the Da Nang program). Once training has finished volunteers make their way to their program locations. Our partner will arrange the details of this travel - the cost is included in the program fee. Any alternative travelling you choose to do such as to the local shops or further a field for sightseeing is up to you to organize and is at your own expense. You should talk to the staff of the placement or to program staff and find out how you can travel locally as well as local areas of interest such as sightseeing or shops. Many maps and all timetables will be in the local language so you can not expect to get hold of tourist information from within Vietnam easily. You may like to use guides such as the Lonely Planet, Bradt and Rough Guides to learn extra about travel opportunities and sightseeing in Vietnam. There are Volunteer Manuals in each house which provide information on your living arrangements, local facilities and travel tips. Departure from the program to the airport is up to the volunteer to organize but you can seek help in organizing this from either the placement or Viet. If you want to have someone take you to the airport prior notice will be necessary in order to allow time to organize scheduling and will be at your own expense. We strongly recommend against the private use of motorcycles as this can be dangerous for those that are not equipped for driving in developing countries. You would be required to hold an international drivers license to be able to drive any type of vehicle in Vietnam. The most popular methods of transport in the city are bicycle and motor cycle. Because the roads are narrow and crowded we advise all of you to wear helmets while riding and to be careful, especially riding at night time. Helmets can sometimes be difficult or expensive to get hold of, so you may want to bring one with you. There are very few traffic lights at cross roads, so please pay extra attention while you go through them. It is safer to travel by bicycle in the city, and the host organisations and Viet will provide each of you a bicycle if it's appropriate for the placement. If you want to travel long distances in the city, you can hire a motor cycle taxi or car taxi, which costs around 40 cents per kilometre. Please be aware that 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. Communication If you'd like to bring a cellphone, it would be the best if you could get a mobile that works in GMS network. Our partner will instruct you how to get Vietnam sim-card to use for your phone in Vietnam. Many volunteers use Vietnam sim-cards to receive international calls or send text messages. You should have regular access to internet and e-mail at your placement (except at Cu Lao Cham), although the internet can be frustratingly slow at times. All placements now have a computer in the house which is connected to the internet. However these connections are not always reliable so you may need to visit the local internet café at times.Volunteers with their own laptop will also be able to use the internet connection in the volunteer house. Please note that the security of your laptop is your own responsibility. Another important thing is to get a Yahoo or Gmail account instead of a Hotmail account. Hotmail is incredibly slow. The best and cheapest place for internet seems to be at the post office. It is only about 3000 VND per hour, compared to 6000 VND which is the going rate in many of the internet cafes. The best time to go to the post office to check your mail is between 11.30 and 2pm - that's when all the Vietnamese are having an afternoon nap and so it is quiet in there and it is also a bit quicker. A past volunteer also informed us of Voice-Over-Internet cards. These can be purchased for around US$5.00 and will give you 1 and a half hours of international phone calls. Free Time You can use the time when you do not have classes to be preparing future work. Volunteers are free to travel to local sightseeing points of interest in their free time or travel further on weekends. We would ask that you respect the wishes of the placement; if they require you to let them know where you will be then please make sure you give notice of any weekend travel you will be taking part in. Whenever you travel on the weekends to different towns, make sure you bring your passport since you cannot check in to a hotel without your passport. We prefer volunteers to travel on Saturdays and Sundays when you have time off for the weekend. We do not encourage volunteers to take weekdays off to travel. This is extremely disruptive to the program and your classes. If volunteers wish to spend time in Hanoi or Saigon then we recommend you allow an extra week before or after your placement to do so. You may like to travel to meet up with other volunteers during your free time to swap ideas or simple spend time with them. You may find some staff overprotective or concerned about your well being, this is simply a cultural influence. You may feel that at times you do not have a lot of privacy, again this is only cultural and should not be seen as anything other than concern that you are being well looked after. Culture, Religion and Social Customs Please keep in mind when you are travelling to any country that social conventions are often quite different to that of what we are used to. You could find yourself in situations in Vietnam where you think local people are being rude but the Vietnamese culture is quite a contrast to 'western culture' generally speaking, and so becoming aware of issues that you may encounter can help you to be understanding and tolerant, if not respectful of these differences. You may find that sometimes local people may not fully understand or have the answer to a question you ask. To save face or not to shame themselves you may find you are not always given a truthful answer as you would expect. Culturally sometimes people think it is better to give you an answer that will please you, even if it is not always true. Sometimes local Vietnamese people run a little late. It is part of the laid-back attitude of the country. Try to be flexible and remember that things don't always have to run to strict Western timetables. People may say things to you about your appearance or the way you do things. This is not to been seen as insensitive but as an observation and noting the differences between you and them. You can expect some local people to speak some basic English, however you should be aware that there could be cultural miscommunication due to the language barrier also. If you are working with children then you can expect communication to be harder as they will not have the same degree of English speaking ability. If you need to shop for large items (over US $500) you should ask Viet to help you with this, as there is a practice of 'skimming,' where the salesperson takes an extra commission they are not entitled to. We also recommend that you make any important purchases yourself. As a female volunteer you may find that you are assigned duties based on your gender, for example females may be asked to teach arts and crafts while male volunteers may be asked to run the sports program. Not having a family is regarded as bad luck in Vietnam. If you're young and have no family, you should say that you're not yet married. If you are older and have no family, it could be a good idea to pretend that you're already married. Also, most people will expect you to remove your shoes before entering their house. It's also rude to point the soles of your feet towards other people, or towards anything sacred. Always remove your shoes before entering a temple, this is a sign of respect for Vietnamese religion. If there is a waste paper bin beside the toilet, you should use it to dispose of your used toilet paper. Resources and Donations 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 this with Viet and GVN, so that they can give you an up to date idea of what is needed. When you are allocated your placement at the beginning of the month before you start, Viet will provide you with the e-mail addresses of the volunteers currently at your placement, and you will be able to e-mail them to ask them specific questions about what is required. It is recommended by past volunteers that instead of bringing items with you, you can wait until your arrival in Vietnam, where materials are often cheaper to buy. You can also donate money towards improving conditions at the orphanages. Many past volunteers have also brought with them donations of old baby clothes for the orphanages. As well as this, you can also bring clothing donations suitable for older children. There are some resources which the placements need but cannot be purchased in Vietnam:
Finishing The Program Volunteers are expected to have their last night on the program on the second last night of their last month, and then leave the placement on the last day of the month. However, if you do have some extra time, you may wish to stay on for a few days at the start of the next month to help with the incoming group of volunteers. This would be appreciated to minimise the effects of change for the program, and to make the new volunteers feel comfortable in the situation. You will need to talk to Viet about arranging this, and you will need to continue paying for your accommodation and food during this time. You may also need to stay at separate accommodation from the regular volunteers if there are space restraints. Preparation for Your TravelChecklistThis checklist which we have produced, is to assist you with your preparation for your volunteer time in Vietnam, which you can print if you wish to. Please click on http://www.volunteer.org.nz/resources/guides/checklist/vietnam.pdf to access the Vietnam checklist. Video Introduction This is a great place to start if you're not sure what to do first in your preparations. Join Mike in his volunteer journey, taking you step by step through the preparation process and how to make the most of your experience. Click here to begin. 24 Hour Emergency Number In case of emergency, we do have a 24 hour number you can call to reach us: +64 4 918 3467. You can also find this number on the Contact Details PDF here: www.volunteer.org.nz/contact_details.pdf. ** Before your trip, please be sure to note the international prefix needed to make the call from your home country, your stopover countries, and the country you will be volunteering in. If an emergency does arise, you’ll be glad you did! You can find a list of international prefixes at http://www.kropla.com/dialcode.htm. Immunisations Always consult a doctor before going ahead with any vaccinations, particularly if you are pregnant or have allergies. (We would never recommend being pregnant while volunteering in a foreign country). Some of the following vaccinations you may have had as a child and others may not be necessary depending on the country you are from, so check this list out with your doctor. It is important to get onto this as soon as possible, as some injections need to be done with a certain amount of time prior to leaving home. Other vaccinations cannot always be given together. It is important to get on to vaccinations or at least talk to your local doctor as soon as possible, as some injections need to be done with a certain amount of time prior to leaving home. Other vaccinations cannot always be given together. The following list is a guideline vaccinations that you will almost certainly need if you don't already have them, please consult your doctor or travel specialist for detailed information:
Legally required: you will require evidence of having these vaccinations, and may be requested to show this on arrival. Strongly recommended: these should be considered essential for your travel. Recommended: these are necessary for long term volunteers and strongly recommended if you are considering independent travel within the country. Please also consider that there may be some vaccinations on this list that may be strongly recommended by your own doctor. Medical advice of a doctor should be adhered to. There may also be epidemic outbreaks of some listed diseases which should be considered when traveling that we may not be aware of. Bird flu – avian influenza: Currently available vaccines will not protect against disease caused by the H5N1 strain in humans. Two classes of drugs are available for treatment. These are the M2 inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanimivir). These drugs have been licensed for the prevention and treatment of human influenza in some countries, and are thought to be effective regardless of the causative strain. However, initial analysis of viruses isolated from the recently fatal cases in Viet Nam indicates that the viruses are invariably resistant to the M2 inhibitors. Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is a serious viral infection, transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions. In mild cases the symptoms are similar to influenza, but serious cases develop a high temperature and may have a series of after effects. As yet there is no yellow fever in Asia, but it is feared that the high level of international travel could introduce the virus by means of infected people. Since the disease is covered by International Quarantine Regulations, the countries of Asia have very strict quarantine regulations, which apply if you arrive without a valid vaccination certificate travelling from areas in Africa and Latin America, where yellow fever occurs. Apart from vaccination, prevention of mosquito bites is the best way of avoiding yellow fever. Diphtheria: 3 months before travel - protects for 10 years: Diphtheria is an acute respiratory infection caused by the diphtheria bacterium. The disease is mainly transmitted by coughing or sneezing. Diphtheria can also be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. The bacteria may be found anywhere, but especially in poor or densely populated areas. Hep A: 2 weeks before travel - lasts for at least 10 years: Hepatitis is the Latin word for liver inflammation. Type A hepatitis is very common in countries with poor sanitary conditions. It can be transmitted via contaminated food, eg shellfish and ice-cream, as well as contaminated water and beverages. The virus can also be spread through contact with an infected person's stools through poor hygiene. Good hygiene reduces the risk of infection. Typhoid: 10 days before travel - is effective for three years: Typhoid fever is an infectious feverish disease with severe symptoms in the digestive system in the second phase of the illness. The disease is transmitted from human to human via food or drinking water, and it is therefore mainly hygiene and sanitary conditions that determine its spread. Typhoid fever is not a tropical disease and is related to hygiene and sanitary conditions rather than the climate itself. Hepatitis B: 2 months before travel: Hepatitis B is transmitted by contact with blood from an infected person or by sexual contact with an infected person. In rare cases, the virus can be spread by toothbrushes or kissing. Rabies: 1 month before travel: Rabies is caused by a virus, which, among other things, attacks the nervous system. People are most often infected by the bite of a dog, bat or monkey. It is quite unlikely that a person would get bitten, but should this happen and the animal has got rabies, it is still not certain that the person has been infected. Only one out of six people who have been bitten develop symptoms - even if they have not been vaccinated. So if an animal bites you, don't despair. Administer normal first aid. It is vital to wash the wound thoroughly with copious amounts of water, and, if at all possible, use a 20 per cent dilution of soap. And even if you have been vaccinated, you will still need to see a doctor to get the rabies vaccine should an animal bite you. Tuberculosis: 3 months before travel: Tuberculosis is a disease caused by an infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is, first and foremost, a disease of the lungs. The disease is more common in areas of the world where poverty, malnutrition, poor general health and social disruption are present. It is transferred by coughing, speaking or sneezing, and the bacteria itself can remain airborne for hours. However, the tuberculosis bacteria are killed when exposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight. Young people who go to Africa or Asia for a long period to work or travel are advised to get immunised. To prevent the disease, make sure that you eat well and enjoy plenty of sunlight and exercise. Japanese B Encephalitis: 1 month before travel: Japanese B encephalitis is a viral disease, transmitted by mosquito bites. It causes serious inflammation of the brain, which may lead to permanent brain damage, and has a high mortality rate. However, the great majority of cases only produce a mild, influenza-like illness with no effect on the brain. It is also uncommon among tourists and short-term visitors. Additionally, it is thought that only 1 out of 100 adults who come into contact with Japanese encephalitis actually develop any visible signs of it. And the vaccine does not offer full protection anyway, so the best thing you can do is avoid getting bitten. Please visit the Centre of Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm for up to date health information about Vietnam. Malaria You shouldn't require malaria tablets while you are on your placement, although you should consider malaria medication if you are travelling in affected areas before or after your volunteering time. About Malaria: Spread by mosquitoes, this disease can be fatal if not diagnosed quickly. Anti malarial medications can assist in attacking the disease, but these need to be chosen appropriately. Chloroquine, one drug that was once used worldwide, is not effective in some areas against malaria, so please seek the advice of a physician for an anti malarial that will protect you. You may have a medical condition that prevents you from the use of one form of anti malarial that will need to be considered by your own doctor. There are several anti malarials on the market. Some affect people quite differently and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Doxycyline and Malarone: considered good quality forms of anti malarial. Lariam (or Mefloquine): also effective but should be trialled by the user as it has been reported as causing significant mood changes, as well as sleep disturbances and abnormal dreams. Whichever form of anti malarial you choose, it is essential that you know how and when to take it as it will only provide protection if used correctly. Make sure that you allow enough time prior to your travel to obtain medication and begin to medicate yourself. Malaria can be in your system for some time before you show signs of illness. Regardless of where you are, in-country or back home, you should seek medical attention if you show any signs of flu-like symptoms or fevers within a year of travel. Alert the medical practitioner to the fact that you have been travelling in a malaria infected country and let them know what medication you were taking. Additional measures you can take to protect yourself:
Travelling to Vietnam You need to arrive in Da Nang by the last day of the month before you volunteer, so you are ready to participate in the orientation program the next day. Some international flights come directly into Da Nang, but you will probably need to fly via Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. When you arrive at the international airport you will need to fill out an immigration form; these are not always given to you directly. The flight time to Da Nang is approximately one hour from either Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. If you get the domestic flight to Da Nang from Ho Chi Minh or Ha Noi airport, move quickly to the domestic terminal to check in your luggage and confirm your seat on the flight. This is because the domestic terminals are often far away from the international terminals. You need to be careful that you do not miss the domestic flight. It is also possible to arrive in Da Nang by train or by bus, or by another method of transport. If you are interested in taking the train in Vietnam, you may find this website useful: http://www.vr.com.vn/english/index.html. When you arrive in Da Nang, you will be met by Viet or one of his staff. A representative will carry a sign with your name and accompany you to your accommodation. They will be clearly visible for you. If you are flying, you need to let Viet know the date and time of arrival at Da Nang airport and the flight number of your domestic flight to Da Nang. It should begin with the letters BL or VN or something similar. If you are taking a train or bus, let Viet know the expected date and time of arrival and the train number and destination in Da Nang of the bus. If Viet or another staff member fails to meet you, please give them a call at 0913 457 353 (ask a local person (ie taxi driver, motor bike taxi..) to locate where you are in the city) and they will come up and meet with you. Alternatively, meet Viet at 22 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Da Nang City, Vietnam. If you need to call Viet from outside Vietnam, his cellphone number is +84 913 457 353. If you are arriving before the first of the month we can help you arrange additional accommodation prior to the orientation. This will cost around US$14 a night and will be at a hotel close to the volunteer house in Da Nang. The departure tax for international flights from Vietnam is US $12. This may be paid in US dollars or in dong (VND). Save money on international airfare on 12 major airlines that offer special humanitarian discounts. Our airfare partner Fly for Good has compiled these discounts into a booking engine on our site. You qualify for discounts by serving with the Global Volunteer Network. Please visit: http://volunteer.techtrav.com. You will need to register for an individual login and password the first time you use the site. Note: If you book your flights through Fly For Good you will need to present a letter from GVN confirming your volunteer status when checking in at the airport. Please contact your Volunteer Coordinator for more information. Please visit http://www.volunteer.org.nz/resources/discounttravel.php for our list of discount travel providers. Global Volunteer Network is not responsible for any communication or flight bookings. When considering flight options we suggest you also consult a local travel agent. Airport Customs If you fly into Vietnam, the customs inspection is generally straightforward. The import and export of Vietnamese currency is forbidden. You should carry your camera film in your hand luggage as a precaution, but the x-ray machines at Vietnam's airport shouldn't cause any problems. Entry Visa and Immigration Tourist visas allow visitors to enter Vietnam at any point. It is possible to obtain a visa from a travel agency or from a Vietnamese embassy. A travel agency requires a photocopy of your passport and one to three photos, and is generally a more convenient way of obtaining a visa. The visa process in Vietnam is complicated, and often changes, so it is a good idea to discuss your options with your local embassy. If you have any other questions, please contact Viet or your volunteer coordinator. A tourist visa allows a visitor to stay for 30 days, 2 months, or 3 months, and it must specify the exact date of arrival and departure. You may not arrive any date before your visa specifies, and if you postpone your trip you must still leave by the specified departure date. It usually takes four to five working days to process a tourist visa. If you need to specify an address for your visa application, please use 22 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Da Nang City, Vietnam, where Viet is based. Volunteers need a tourist visa to participate in this program. If you are granted a visa from your embassy which will not cover your whole volunteering time, Viet will help you extend this. You will have to pay for this extension yourself, as the organisations that you will be working with cannot afford to pay for it. As of mid-2006 the visa extension for 1 month costs US$45, 2 months is US$80 and 3 months is US$100. Please note that these prices are estimates only because the prices vary depending on which program location the volunteer is placed in. All of these extensions can be made 15 days before the expiry date. The government considers all of the voluntary work as emergency assistance to Vietnamese organisations and bodies. Therefore, they are happy to give an exception to volunteers, allowing them to extend their tourist visas. Viet can also help you to extend your visa if you wish to travel in other areas of Vietnam after your placement. Please note that your passport needs to be valid for at least six months past the date when you arrive in Vietnam. Before leaving your own country make two duplicates of all documents such as passport, visa page, air tickets, travel insurance policy etc. Leave one set with someone at home and take the other set with you, keeping them separate from the originals for emergency use. Vietnam Visa Links: Australia http://members.iinet.net.au/~vembassy New Zealand http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Embassies/2-Foreign-Embassies/countries-v.php#Vietnam UK http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/consular.html US http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org Embassies in Vietnam http://www.vietnamstay.com/information/embassy.htm It is important to know that you can't always be helped by your embassy in Vietnam. They won't be able to help you if you've got yourself into trouble by breaking the law. Remember what may be considered legal in your own country may not be in Vietnam. The embassy may be able to help out with lost or stolen passports but it will not provide flights home. They would expect you to have insurance for personal emergencies. Money Exchange The official currency of Vietnam is the dong (VND or d), and there is a picture of Ho Chi Minh on every banknote. At the time of writing, the exchange rate is around 14 000 dong per US dollar, but is volatile. Vietnam is gradually conforming to Western banking practices, and credit cards and traveller's cheques are becoming more widely accepted. Gold is also used for major transactions. It is possible to exchange money through the black market, but this is not recommended as the rates are generally unfavourable (and it's also illegal), but jewellery shops are often a safe and reliable place to carry out currency transactions. Officially, the dong is the only legal currency, but many businesses will accept US dollars as payment. It is illegal to import or export dong. In theory it is possible to exchange all major currencies for dong in Vietnam, but US dollars are preferred. Beware of fake 20 000 and 50 000 dong notes imported from unknown origins, while clerks may also reject currency that looks tatty or has been scribbled on. It would be the best if you bring some cash and credit cards (Visa Card or Master Card) and withdraw money from ATMs on them. There are some international banks where you can do this in the downtown area of Da Nang. What to take with you Some suggestions for what you may need in Vietnam
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