Vietnam
Service & Cultural Exchange on the Central Coast
Travel to Vietnam and immerse yourself in a coastal community on the South China Sea during this summer service program for high school students. Collaborate with local government representatives and community members as you engage in construction-based service activities, and build lasting connections with your Vietnamese hosts. Experience the distinct cultures, foods, and architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hoi An on weekend excursions with your group. Cap the program with a cruise amidst the towering limestone cliffs and lush islands of Ha Long Bay.
- Highlights
• Teach English and participate in language exchange with local children and teens
• Swim and relax at beautiful beaches in the afternoon
• Explore Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter and breathtaking Ha Long Bay
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles and fly together to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Settle into your accommodations in the center of Ho Chi Minh City as you get to know your group and learn about Vietnam’s history, food, and culture. Hold an in-depth group orientation on your time in Vietnam, with particular focus on your time in the host community and the service projects you will complete.
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, and travel to your host community along the central coast by private bus. Settle into a comfortable, family-owned guesthouse that will serve as your home base throughout the program. Each weekday, help to construct simple “compassion houses” together with local foremen in an area where some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War occurred. Bicycle to and from your work site along small roads that wind through neighborhoods, rice paddies, and shrimp farms. Participate in Vietnamese/English language exchanges, build friendships with local children and community members who visit the work site each day, and spend afternoons relaxing on beautiful beaches. During your stay in your host community and take several multi-day excursions to explore further afield.
Take a break from your service projects and hop on a ferry to Ly Son where you will explore the beaches and many Buddhist temples scattered throughout the island. In the evenings, walk to local food stalls to try delicious Vietnamese crepes or a flavorful fruit smoothie.
Travel by private bus to Hoi An, a small, historic city on Vietnam’s coast, famous for its ornate Chinese temples, tailors who can make clothes to order overnight, and beautiful beaches.
Fly from central Vietnam to Hanoi, the capital city, and explore the fascinating Old Quarter with its narrow streets, tiny shops, and night markets. Cap your experience with a three-day, private cruise on Ha Long Bay to explore sea caves and floating fishing communities, and go for a kayak ride or a swim in the warm, calm waters.
Fly with your group and a leader from Hanoi to Los Angeles, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles and fly together to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Settle into your accommodations in the center of Ho Chi Minh City as you get to know your group and learn about Vietnam’s history, food, and culture. Hold an in-depth group orientation on your time in Vietnam, with particular focus on your time in the host community and the service projects you will complete.
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, and travel to your host community along the central coast by private bus. Settle into a comfortable, family-owned guesthouse that will serve as your home base throughout the program. Each weekday, help to construct simple “compassion houses” together with local foremen in an area where some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War occurred. Bicycle to and from your work site along small roads that wind through neighborhoods, rice paddies, and shrimp farms. Participate in Vietnamese/English language exchanges, build friendships with local children and community members who visit the work site each day, and spend afternoons relaxing on beautiful beaches. During your stay in your host community and take several multi-day excursions to explore further afield.
Take a break from your service projects and hop on a ferry to Ly Son where you will explore the beaches and many Buddhist temples scattered throughout the island. In the evenings, walk to local food stalls to try delicious Vietnamese crepes or a flavorful fruit smoothie.
Travel by private bus to Hoi An, a small, historic city on Vietnam’s coast, famous for its ornate Chinese temples, tailors who can make clothes to order overnight, and beautiful beaches.
Fly from central Vietnam to Hanoi, the capital city, and explore the fascinating Old Quarter with its narrow streets, tiny shops, and night markets. Cap your experience with a three-day, private cruise on Ha Long Bay to explore sea caves and floating fishing communities, and go for a kayak ride or a swim in the warm, calm waters.
Fly with your group and a leader from Hanoi to Los Angeles, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
During your travels in Vietnam, you can expect to work on a construction project building “compassion homes” for families selected by the local community, as well as work on other projects as dictated by the community’s needs, such as teaching English to local children and teens. The focus of this student travel program in Vietnam is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared community service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. Everyone participates in the group’s projects on a rotating basis. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn how to make a favorite Vietnamese dish, organize a sports tournament with your local contacts, or interview community members about the history of the community.
This is a physically active summer travel program. The service work and afternoon activities can be strenuous and you can expect to spend most of each day outside engaging in physical construction labor, biking, swimming, or walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. You must be comfortable riding a bicycle to participate in this program.
Accommodations in Vietnam are varied, ranging from simple guesthouses in our host community to large hotels and private boat cabins on our weekend excursions. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.
We begin each day with a simple breakfast at our guesthouse. Lunches are often our heartiest meal of the day, and are prepared near our work site by local community members and eaten family-style. During excursions, meals are eaten at our accommodations or in small restaurants.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
During your travels in Vietnam, you can expect to work on a construction project building “compassion homes” for families selected by the local community, as well as work on other projects as dictated by the community’s needs, such as teaching English to local children and teens. The focus of this student travel program in Vietnam is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared community service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. Everyone participates in the group’s projects on a rotating basis. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn how to make a favorite Vietnamese dish, organize a sports tournament with your local contacts, or interview community members about the history of the community.
This is a physically active summer travel program. The service work and afternoon activities can be strenuous and you can expect to spend most of each day outside engaging in physical construction labor, biking, swimming, or walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. You must be comfortable riding a bicycle to participate in this program.
Accommodations in Vietnam are varied, ranging from simple guesthouses in our host community to large hotels and private boat cabins on our weekend excursions. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.
We begin each day with a simple breakfast at our guesthouse. Lunches are often our heartiest meal of the day, and are prepared near our work site by local community members and eaten family-style. During excursions, meals are eaten at our accommodations or in small restaurants.
A Day in the Life: Host Community
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
A Day in the Life:
Host Community
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
This Program is Directed by
Portia Watson
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
This Program is Directed by
Portia Watson
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!