Working with the disabled is one of the greatest areas of need in Vietnam, but also the value of good English language skills within the Asian market means that volunteers that can teach English in Vietnam, or help local teachers to build their own English skills, too.

Other common placements for volunteer work in Vietnam are at orphanages. Help is also widely needed within the area of social development, law and human rights, the healthcare industry, and eco-tourism. Vietnam also has a surprising number of conservation initiatives. The nation’s rapid development and growth socially is not reflected in its environmental practises, and now organizations focusing on the natural habitat and indigenous wildlife of Vietnam have become more popular places to volunteer in Vietnam.

Volunteer projects in Vietnam that support children abound due to the after effects of Agent Orange and the disabilities it inflicted. The prevalence of Street Kids, children who have run away from home to escape abuse or violence, is another reason volunteering with children is needed. Also, because the education system in Vietnam isn’t free, poorer families don’t have the same access to education and rely on outside programming for support. Some schools are entirely run by those who volunteer in Vietnam, many of which provide English lessons for low-income children.

Short-term volunteer opportunities in Vietnam exist for as little as two weeks, and longer term six month stints are available across a wide range of industries too.