Volunteer in Hanoi

Since the war Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam. The city is very picturesque, as is almost all of Vietnam. As well as well as numerous places to visit within the city itself the city is within a few hours trip of the Perfumed Pagoda and the astoundingly beautiful Halong Bay.

Volunteer Programs in Hanoi

Travel to Teach has a number of programs in and around Hanoi. Our dorm is situated in a suburb of Hanoi around 15 kilometers from the city center.

English Teaching

Children's Palace
The Hanoi Children's Palace is a children's center, established to assist children to develop themselves socially and academically through a wide range of sports, art and academic classes.

The Children's English Development Program has been running for over a year in cooperation with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Approximately 70% of the students come from disadvantaged and poor families who do not have the financial resources to access other programs. Hanoi Children's Palace is located in the heart of Hanoi, near the Old Quarter and also the tourist area of the city.

Volunteers teach students ranging from six to fourteen years old. Classes are generally in the evening, from 5:30 pm to 8:45 pm, and on the weekends (during June-August, classes are in day time). The volunteers teach basic pronunciation, reading comprehension, listening and speaking, and correct homework assignments.

Teaching in Rural Areas Around Hanoi
In an effort to assist the local community in their future development, Ha Tay Brewery Limited (HBL) is building an English learning center within the site of the brewery, named HBL English Learning Center. The mission is to provide additional English training as a gift to the children of Van Tao commune, Thuong Tin district, Ha Tay province.

This is a non-profit project and all English lessons (including curriculum, materials, and instruction) will be sponsored at HBL's cost and available to the children free of charge. It is expected that the center will bring many benefits to the children of Van Tao in terms of giving them a head start in learning the English language, preparing them for higher education and enhancing their opportunities for future personal and professional growth to compete in an increasingly international environment. The project site is about 30 minutes driving from Hanoi city. Transportation from Hanoi to the project site is by HBL’s daily buses. Volunteers five days a week with weekends free.

We also have English teaching programs within Vietnam in Nha Trang and Saigon

Caring for Disabled Children

Morning Star Center
Morning Star Center is a non-profit day care center which provides early diagnosis, care and rehabilitation to mentally disabled children in Hanoi and surrounding areas. It also aims to help parents have better understanding on how to take care and educate their disabled children and raise awareness among society about the issue.

Morning Star Center was founded by the Association of Handicapped Children of Vietnam. The Center has a staff of caretakers, teachers, cooks and doctors. Being a very caring group of people, they work long hours with little pay for the sake of the children. The Center is providing early diagnosis, care and clinical intervention, special education and vocational training for children along with counseling service for parents.

Volunteers assist the local staff in providing rehabilitation, play with the children, help fundraise and teach English to the local staff.

Teaching within Hanoi
We are currently working with number of primary and secondary schools in the outskirts of Hanoi. Children start learning English at 9 but sometimes at 6. Volunteers work together with a local teacher to help improve English skills, especially pronunciation, listening and speaking skills for children and teachers.

Thanh Xuan Peace Village
The Thanh Xuan Peace Village was established in 1991 and provides a home and education for 92 children and young people who are suffering from the effects of Agent Orange (their ages are between 2 and 22). The aim of the village is to care for these children and help them integrate into society. They are arranged into 4 special classes where they receive primary lessons as well as other vocational training classes where they can learn craft, tailing...guided by the centers 38 staff. Volunteers work as teachers within the village and there main activities will include: Help the village to improve their English (both children and staff), singing songs and playing games with the children, joining daily activities with the pupils including assisting with exercise, caring for the children, helping staff with general housework.

Environmental Work

Organic Farming
Vietnam Friendship Village opened its doors in 1993 to treat children and veterans suffering from the effects of Agent Orange. The children, whose fathers or grandfathers were exposed (causing chromosomal damage) or who were contaminated from their mother’s milk, suffer from a range of conditions including muscular dystrophy, severe crippling of arms and legs, spina bifida and other spinal deformities, dwarfism, facial deformities and hearing, speech and intellectual impairment. The veterans, who were directly exposed, suffer from conditions including various cancers, metabolic, skin and nervous disorders.

A project to promote organic agriculture in Vietnam was launched with the development goal of creating a harmonious approach to agriculture within areas of environmental and human devastation and indirectly increasing awareness of the consequences of war while demonstrating positive strategies for healing and living. Volunteers can join the local farmers in planting trees and vegetables or raising fish, play with children, and/or teach English.

Endangered Species - Cuc Phuong National Park
We have been working in Cuc Phuong National Park, teaching English in the evenings and assisting the conservation work in the daytimes. The park is home to fifteen species of langur all on the world red list of threatened species. There is also a turtle conservation center.

There are also two globally threatened species of bird - the chestnut-neck laced partridge and red-collared woodpecker - and 12 species on the globally near-threatened list. Of course the park boasts huge numbers of non-threatened plant and animal species, as well as some impressive scenery. There are some awe inspiring limestone caves, some once home to ancient civilisation's dating back 7,000 years.

Cuc Phuong is also home to the Muong ethnic minority, who live mainly on bee keeping, farming and textile weaving. Khanh village, a Muong settlement, has become very popular with visitors.

The park is situated fifty km Northeast of Hanoi. This program only accepts one volunteer at a time and only for at least four months.

We are not currently accepting volunteers for the park, but are hoping to begin the program again later in the year

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