Life in Vietnam

Vietnam’s history is based on colonization and war. It was invaded by China more than 4 times, and the Vietnamese people were able to defend their borders. This country was damaged and divided by civil wars for thousands of years by different peoples such as the Mongols or even the Americans.

Vietnam's last emperors were the Nguyễn Dynasty, who ruled from 1802 to 1945. In spite of this, France used the succession crisis of 1884 to de facto colonise Vietnam. The Chinese occupation and French colonization have both affected Vietnamese culture. Confucianism formed the basis of Vietnamese social customs, and the French heavily influenced Vietnamese cuisine.Despite it all, Vietnamese culture is still very different from Chinese culture as it has also adopted elements from neighboring Hindu civilizations such as the Champa and the Khmer empires. The French influence has also left some traces in Vietnamese society. It is popular to see baguettes and coffee in local communities.

Our programs in Vietnam allow our volunteers to live and participate in the natives’ daily lives and activities, while helping the ones in need achieve a better quality of life. Our projects focus on the local people and their specific needs. We work along with locals, so you can be sure that your work will help them directly. Volunteering is about giving and receiving, and we want to make sure you have an amazing and enriching experience.