About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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Don’t let Vietnam’s relaxed attitude to life fool you; there’s so much here to see, visit, and taste! And as if the floating markets, bustling streets and emerald paddy fields aren’t enough you will also experience the famous Vietnamese hospitality as you get involved with playing games, singing songs and planning arts projects in one of a number of local orphanages. You’ll play a valuable role in the overall development of the children and your efforts will last long after the sun tan fades! If you enjoy a challenge this project is the perfect way to discover why Vietnam is becoming one of the hottest destinations in Asia and have lots of fun while you do it.
Welcome to Vietnam! Today you will be met at the airport and taken directly to the accommodation which will be your home for the duration of your stay in Vietnam. You will have the rest of the day to rest and recover from your journey. If you are feeling adventurous you can head out and start exploring your surroundings!
If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Ho Chi Minh on the specified arrival date we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation, please call us for more information.
Your orientation will take place over the weekend and will take place at the hotel where you’re staying in Ho Chi Minh. All new arrivals will have their orientation together, and this will cover important information such as what it’s going to be like at your project, dos and don’ts, fun things to do in South Vietnam, a language lesson and how to stay safe on your trip. You will also have a walking tour of the city to get you more acquainted with your new home!This is your prime opportunity to ask any burning questions that you haven’t yet had answered and to meet your fellow volunteers!
Today you’ll be up bright and early for your first day your project! Today is all about settling in and getting to know your way around. The i-to-i team will introduce you to the staff at the orphanage who will be your day-to-day contacts. You’ll spend the rest of your day learning the ropes and starting to get involved with some volunteering.
Now’s the time to get stuck into some volunteering. You’ll be working alongside the full time Vietnamese staff members and will be involved in a wide variety of tasks depending on the needs of the orphanage. You could be singing and dancing, teaching English, playing games and giving out cuddles, or helping with the day to day running of the orphanage. You’ll get out what you put in, so don’t be afraid to use your initiative and get involved!
Your weekends are free to spend as you chose so this is your chance to get out and explore Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding areas. There are an awful lot of sights and experiences to pack in so we hope you’re not too tired from volunteering!
You could visit some stunning pagodas and temples, explore a museum or take a trip down to the nearby Mekong Delta with it’s floating markets. However you decide to spend your weekends, we’re sure you won’t be bored as Vietnam is a fascinating, beautiful country with so much to see and do.
The following weeks will follow a similar pattern of working at the project during the week and relaxing and exploring during your free evenings and weekends. Time will fly by so make the most of every minute in this amazing country!
Having said goodbye to all your new friends, taken your final photos and packed your bag full of souvenirs you’ll travel back to the airport, or off for further adventures elsewhere. The return transfer from your accommodation to Ho Chi Minh City airport is not covered within your project fee, but i-to-i staff will be able to make recommendations and help you arrange a transfer if you need them to. You should budget approximately US$30 for this journey.
We work with a number of orphanages across Ho Chi Minh and you will be placed in one of them dependant on need and availability. The children who live at the orphanages are both male and female and are aged between 1 and 18, with the older children attending school during the day. We also work with a shelter specifically for boys as well. Some of the children living at the orphanages have special needs and you will also be volunteering with these special children too. The orphanages that we work with can vary in size from 50 to 500 children so be prepared for a busy schedule!
The full time staff members who work at the orphanages are very dedicated but do not have enough time or pairs of hands to give these children the individual attention they need and deserve, and by volunteering at one of these orphanages you will be able to help with this. You will also be working with children who are mentally and physically impaired, helping them to learn skills that will be enable them to become a valued member of society when they get older, and instilling a sense of self worth.
While the children at the projects do have access to education provided by the government, they are usually unable to benefit from it fully due to the many complexities in their lives. The support that our volunteers provide allows the children to improve their English and social skills, which will create more opportunities for them in the future, and enable them to learn about a new culture.
The orphanages are located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city. Here you will find traditional street markets and pagodas alongside modern architecture, international cuisine and American cultural influences. It’s a bustling metropolis and motorbikes are everywhere!
Just 70km from Ho Chi Minh City you’ll find the Mekong Delta, a popular destination for travelers who enjoy exploring it’s floating villages and soaking up the local atmosphere.
This project is ideal for anyone who loves children and is keen to make a difference to the lives of underprivileged children, often pushed to the sidelines of Vietnamese society.
Conditions at the orphanages are basic, and the large number of children will mean you may find the experience overwhelming at first. Don’t let this put you off though – these projects are very rewarding and you’ll be making a real difference to the lives of the children you meet. It’s important to remember that attitudes towards orphans and special needs children will be different to what you’re used to, and by offering these needy children your time and attention you’ll make a real impact on their lives and their future.
Although you do not require any special skills, any experience working with children or young people would be valuable. Volunteers must be able to use their initiative and be motivated to work without guidance. You should be patient, compassionate, resourceful and imaginative.
You will be volunteering Monday to Friday with your weekends free to spend as you chose. Your schedule will be flexible dependant on the needs of the project, and will be arranged during your introductions at the project. You could be volunteering in the mornings, afternoons, or a mixture of both, and should expect shifts between 8am and 5pm. Please note that lunch lasts on average for about 2 hours and it is not uncommon for children and staff to put their heads down for a sleep! During this time you can enjoy your lunch and maybe explore your surroundings or take a map too if you are tempted!
Your activities will be varied and could include any or all of the following:
The most important role will be to give the children love and attention. Be prepared to give out lots of cuddles! If you’ve got a special skill or interest you’d like to introduce to the children, or if you’d like to give any additional time to the project then it will be very welcome! During your time at the project it is possible that you will be able to work at more than one orphanage and our team in country will be able to help you with this!
All of the orphanages are under resourced so you will need to use your initiative when planning activities! Have a brainstorm of ideas for songs, games and simple lessons that you can do with the children that don’t require too many props (Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is always popular)!
If you’d like to make a donation to your orphanage then things like stickers, craft materials, stationary, toys, clothes and books are always welcomed. A lot of these resources can be purchased when you get to Vietnam, which will have the added bonus of helping the local economy as well as saving space in your luggage!
Books with English words, flash cards and souvenirs from your home country (flags, postcards, traditional items etc) are a great way to introduce yourself to the people at the project and help them to learn about you and your culture.
Please remember that you will be acting as a role model to the children and should therefore behave and dress appropriately. You should not wear revealing clothes, or t-shirts with slogans that may cause offence. The children will look to you to learn social skills and manners, so save the dirty jokes for when you’re letting your hair down at the weekends and in the evenings please!
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for a volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
You will arrive on the Arrival Date - Friday and will be met at the airport on that day. You will be taken to your permanent accommodation for your stay (see below for details) where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. The hotel is located near to shops and supermarket and street cafes. Ba Chieu market is nearby so plenty of time to go souvenir shopping and there is access to places of interest such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Post office, War Remnants Museum to name a few!
Note: If you're arriving early we can arrange a meet and greet for you. If you require this please contact us to arrange this service.
Thanh Thao Hotel
57/4 Le Quang Dinh Street
BinhTanh District
Ho Chi Minh City
T; 08 35 100 259
Your orientation will take place on the Saturday morning at 9am so please be prepared for an early start, you will be introduced to your project on Monday and will start working as a volunteer.
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night a
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 80.00
Our volunteer accommodation in Ho Chi Minh is a hotel in the Binh Tanh district of the city. You will share a room with fellow volunteers (up to 3 people per room) and each room has a private bathroom. There is a dining room service where you can order food and also access to water, beers and snacks but watch out as these aren’t included in your placement fee! The hotel is a family run hotel where the family are very welcoming, friendly and helpful! It will be like a home from home!
Thanh Thao Hotel is an air-conditioned cocoon from Ho Chi Minh’s sunny streets. You will have plenty of space to store your belongings as well as a refrigerator for keeping drinks cool. Each bathroom has a shower and western style toilet, some rooms even have a bath! You will also have a tv in your room, so for any of you learning Vietnamese you can certainly attempt to listen!
The hotel has a 24 hour reception whose staff will be happy to help you book train and rail tickets if you need them. Free Wifi is available in most areas of the hotel and internet is also available in the lobby.
Located in the heart of the Binh Thanh district close to Ba Chieu Market, Dinh Tien Hoang Suppermarket and approximately 10 minutes by taxi from the centre of Ho Chi Minh, the hotel is also within walking distance of local shops, restaurants and bars. There is also access to the main tourist attractions located a few kilometres away such as the War Remnants museum, Notre Dame and the Reunification Palace. The backpackers area is about 10 minutes away by taxi (although it may take longer during busy times) so you can while your evenings away here chatting to new friends too!
It is situated a 30 minute drive from Tan Son Nhat airport.
As the orphanages we work with are in various locations within Ho Chi Minh City then distances will vary. You will travel to your project each day by taxi or public bus. You should budget around US$80 per week for this commute if taking a taxi, which is approximately a 30 to 45 minute journey.
Vietnam’s history has been marred by war and various power struggles as it has sought to regain and maintain independence. Its earliest origins are believed to date back to the Dong Son civilisation circa the 3rd century. Up until the 10th century it was ruled by a succession of Chinese dynasties before it achieved independence. The period up until the mid 19th century saw a series of dynasties including, Ly, Tran and Le, with aims to carve out the country’s own identity against the influence of China.
The country was unable to fend off the dominance of the French Empire and by 1883 the French had overtaken the country. Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Vietnamese Communist party, was a key force in the country’s quest for independence, and post-WW II he declared the country independent after his communist army defeated French colonists in 1954. At the 1954 Geneva conference the French agreed to withdraw and the country was effectively divided into the communist north and the anti-communist south, which was intended to be temporary and followed by democratic elections. This didn’t turn out as planned when Ngo Dinh Diem, the leader of the south, refused to hold elections and the north began strengthening their communist influence in the south. An armed struggle ensued and the USA, who supported the south, intervened in the early 1960s and was joined by other foreign troops. War raged until a ceasefire in 1973, and two years later the north gained control and unified Vietnam under communist rule.
Stability was not assured and Vietnam incurred the wrath of China when it invaded Cambodia in 1978 which resulted in China attacking Vietnam the following year. Years of fierce combat meant an economy at near collapse which contributed to thousands of refugees fleeing the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Aside from Soviet influence, it remained isolated from the world. Economic reforms in 1986 paved the way for a modernised economy and economic growth. Having established diplomatic relations (notably with the USA) the country opened itself up to foreign investment. While it remains one of the world’s poorest countries, it has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.
To experience Vietnam at its most weather-friendly, there is no clean cut time of when to go as climate varies between the north, south and central regions. The north is defined by a cool, wet winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October, during which time typhoons may occur. The temperatures in the north are at their mildest from late September to November and in March and April. To avoid the wet season in the central region which runs from August to December, it’s best to visit between January and July; the coastal regions tend to bear the brunt of the wet weather. The most desirable time to visit the south is between October and February when it’s dry and a respite from the baking temperatures experienced during March through to May. The south’s two main seasons are wet, from May to November, and dry, during the months of December to April, with June to August the wettest period.
The busiest time to visit is typically from November to January and April to June when tourists are out in full, leading to a rise in accommodation rates. A worthwhile, albeit packed, time to visit is during the weeks leading up to the lunar new year, known as Tet, a major holiday in Vietnam. The days change each year depending on the lunar cycle but for 2007 the first day of Tet is earmarked for February 18. During the holiday, there may be limited services and a number of businesses close for three or four days but the build up is the best part if you’re a visitor.
The average costs of life’s little essentials are as follows:
For long distances, flying is a doable but often expensive option compared to trains and buses. The main domestic airlines are Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines which offer regular services between major cities; flying time between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is around 2 hours. It’s often cheaper to purchase domestic tickets within Vietnam.
Vietnam has an extensive bus network in place and cheap fares but the buses are all too often overcrowded and road safety is dubious; driving is not recommended. While the fares may still be relatively cheap, foreigners are usually charged more than locals. Aimed at the tourist trade, Open Tour Buses are inexpensive, comfortable buses that journey to the major destinations and stop at selected hotels and restaurants along the way. Although a pleasurable way to travel, it can feel like a tourist bubble rather than an experience of the real Vietnam. Minibuses are also plentiful but can be irritatingly slow with numerous pick ups and drop offs. It’s best to ride express minibuses which have far fewer stops and are air conditioned.
If time isn’t an issue, train travel is a relaxed way to travel. The journeys can take longer than by bus but offer more leg room and are generally less crowded. Also, unlike bus fares, foreigners pay the same as locals. Depending on your travel budget, trains range from the non-air conditioned seated variety to air-conditioned sleepers, the latter being an obvious choice if you plan to brave the 30 hour plus trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi which is often referred to as the Reunification Express. All trains require a reservation and it’s often possible to book a train from a station other than the one you are departing from.
Aside from crowded buses, taxis are good for getting around major cities. It’s advisable to used metered taxis or at least negotiate a fare before departure. Cyclos, three-wheeled bicycles, are an alternative way of traversing city streets and can be hired for a full day. For a more high-powered mode of transport, Honda Oms, motorbikes whereby the passenger sits behind the driver, are also plentiful. For both modes, it’s best to have a pen and paper to hand to write down your destination and agree on a fare prior to the journey.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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