Childcare Volunteer Program in Honkau - Laos

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The IVHQ Laos Program is based in Honkau Village just outside of the capital city, Vientiane. Volunteers are required to fly into Vientiane International Airport (VTE), which is a 10 hour flight from most major airports in Australia. Volunteer placements are located in and around Honkau Village and the wider Vientiane region. The Laos volunteer program begins every Monday. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 1 week to 12 weeks.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Wattay International Airport (VTE) in Vientiane. Australian travellers are eligible to receive at visa on arrival for a duration of 30 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry and you need at least two free pages in passport reserved for immigration authorities. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarised letter from their parents to support their documentation.

Volunteers need to arrive in Vientiane on the Sunday before orientation. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Honkau Village. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are travelling in Laos prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Vientiane on the day before your program orientation.

There are two options for orientation in Laos. The first option is a one-day orientation that starts on your selected start date, which all volunteers will attend. This runs for a full day and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Laos, including an introduction to the IVHQ Laos program, the local team, general rules and a class on the local culture and language. In the afternoon, you’ll learn about the local projects, go on a walking tour of the local area, arrange your sim card, and finish the day planting vegetables like a local! The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

The second option is an Introduction Week, hosted by our Laos team in Vientiane. This option is very popular among IVHQ volunteers and we recommend everyone take advantage of Introduction Week, as you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the culture of Laos, a true appreciation of local life and extra time to bond with your fellow volunteers. Plus, it’s a great way to help settle the culture shock you can face when arriving in Laos.

The Introduction Week begins on your selected start date and your volunteer program will commence the following week. Introduction Week in Laos does incur an additional US$20 surcharge to cover the additional costs.

Here’s what you can expect on an Introduction Week:

Please note, this schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on the needs of the project, local and weather conditions, and unforeseen circumstances. If you wish to participate in the Introduction Week, you can indicate this on your application form when you apply for the program or you can let your Program Manager know once you have been accepted on the program.

Weekdays: After the initial orientation week, you will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day and a typical schedule is as follows:

8.00AM: Breakfast at the volunteer guesthouse.

9.00AM: Volunteers travel to their placements by bicycle, tuk-tuk or walking. Start time and daily workload depends on the project that the individual volunteer is participating on.

12.00PM: Volunteers break for lunch and travel back to the volunteer guesthouse. In some cases volunteers eat lunch at their placement. After lunch, volunteers continue with their volunteer work (where applicable).

3.00PM - 4.00PM: Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to return to the volunteer guesthouse, plan for the following day’s activities or use their free time as they wish.

6.00PM: Dinner at the volunteer guesthouse. After dinner volunteers will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as they wish.

Please note, this schedule can vary depending on the project that the volunteer is participating in.

Volunteers are accommodated in a dormitory-style volunteer house in Honkau Village, approximately 60 minutes outside of central Vientiane. The volunteer house can accommodate up to 30 volunteers and you should expect to share a room with up to 4 other volunteers of the same gender. All rooms are equipped with a fan and have a shared bathroom equipped with western style toilet and shower. Bedding is provided and volunteers will need to bring their own towels. There are staff who clean the accommodation throughout the week, however volunteers are required to keep their rooms tidy.

The accommodation is equipped with WiFi which volunteers are able to use during set hours of the day. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to access the internet.

Laotian food is very tasty and during your time in Laos, you will be sure to receive some delicious treats. Volunteers are provided with three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Breakfast is self-serve at the accommodation and generally includes tea, coffee, eggs, bread and fruit. Lunch and dinner are prepared in the guesthouse restaurant and will often include fresh vegetables, fish or meat, cooked with fresh herbs and spices, and served with plenty of sticky rice! Noodles are common at mealtimes too, as are local soups. Fresh tropical fruit is plentiful at roadside stalls and there are many street food vendors around Vientiane offering local treats. Bottled water is readily available in Laos and volunteers should budget approximately US$10 (AU$13) per week for this (2 litres per day).

Volunteers have the weekends free and there is no shortage of things to do in Vientiane or further afield in Laos. Volunteers can fill their free time with local markets, adventure activities or simply exploring parts of Vientiane. Laos is a popular tourist destination, offering beautiful nature and scenery, with great biking, kayaking, climbing, caving, trekking and rafting. Volunteers who wish to take a long weekend to travel can enjoy the beautiful limestone mountains and waterfalls in Vang Vieng, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang or even take a two-day cruise on the mighty Mekong River. Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield in Laos and neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Vientiane, with the advice and guidance of our local staff.

See our Laos Travel and Tours page for more volunteer travel options in Laos.

14-day Road Trip in Laos

If you would like to explore the best of Laos with peace of mind that everything is planned for you, our local team has a 14-day road trip that is popular with IVHQ volunteers. Experience Vietiane to Luang Prabang and all the hidden gems in between - this road trip with a difference is the perfect opportunity for volunteers who wish to combine meaningful volunteer work with the chance to see the sights and participate in some incredible adventure activities.

Your road trip through this wonderful country will include culture activities, including language lessons, cooking classes and temple visits. You’ll also enjoy social activities, such as a karaoke night and visiting the night markets, as well as outdoor adventures, including kayaking, ziplining and trekking. You’ll also be giving back to a local community - volunteering in a local school and assisting with teaching, construction and renovation.

The 14-day road trip costs US$970 and includes accommodation, transport and meals and the cost of all the activities that are included as part of the program (see the itinerary for the specific meals included).

Please contact us or your IVHQ Program Manager to sign up or to get more information about this trip.

For a full itinerary of the road trip please see the schedule below.

Here’s what you can expect on your road trip:

Sunday - Day 1: You will be provided with an airport pick up from our local team and be transported to our local team’s center, followed by a brief introduction. We know you will be tired from the long journey so after this volunteers are free to relax or explore.

Dinner is provided in the evening.

Monday - Day 2: Start off with an introduction to the local team, general rules and a class on Laotian culture and language. In the afternoon go on a walking tour around the town, arrange your SIM card for your phone if you would like to have one and finish the day with a cooking class!

All meals are provided on this day.

Tuesday - Day 3: Visit the local village in the morning and prepare a flower offering for a local temple. Then head to several famous landmarks in Vientiane such as Victory Monument, Golden Pagoda, and Wat Sisaket. This is followed by a dinner on the riverside, along with a visit to the night market before heading back to the accommodation.

All meals are provided on this day.

Wednesday - Day 4: This morning involves hiking to a scenic location that overlooks the city and a picnic lunch will be provided for you at the top! In the afternoon you will participate in a mediation lesson with local monks. In the evening you will get to ‘belt out’ your favourite tune at a karaoke night in a local Lao restaurant.

All meals are provided on this day.

Thursday - Day 5: After breakfast our local team will transfer you to Vangvieng (3 hours drive). On arrival you will get to enjoy a walking tour of the city, followed by a visit to a local temple and then in the afternoon free time to explore. During the evening you will head to the famous night market!

All meals are included on this day.

Friday - Day 6: Head on a trek to a nearby mountain and explore the caves. More adventure for your afternoon which includes a kayak trip. After dinner you will be able to relax and hang out as you will most likely be a bit worn out from all your physical activity today!

All meals are included on this day.

Saturday - Day 7: Visit the beautiful Pahom village and don’t forget to check out the view from the village cliff! Lunch is next to the river today followed by a trip to the lagoon where you can spend your afternoon swimming and ziplining. Free time after dinner to explore.

All meals are provided on this day

Sunday and Monday - Day 8 and 9: These two days are dedicated to volunteering and you will assist a local school with renovations and spend time teaching local children. After dinner on both days you have free time to hang out with your fellow volunteers and enjoy Vang Vieng.

All meals are provided on this day.

Tuesday - Day 10: Pack your bags as you’re headed to Luang Prabang - on arrival you will be provided with a delicious lunch. The afternoon will involve trekking up a mountain to enjoy a beautiful sunset at the summit. Dinner will be in town tonight and afterwards you will get to explore the world heritage town.

All meals are provided on this day.

Wednesday and Thursday - Day 11 and 12: These two days are dedicated to volunteering and you will assist a local school with renovations and spend time teaching local children. After dinner on both days you have free time to hang out with your fellow volunteers and enjoy Luang Prabang.

All meals are provided on this day.

Friday - Day 13: Spend the morning visiting temples, talking with local monks and lots of shopping while taking in the stunning views of the town. Your afternoon is an excursion to a Bear Rescue Centre followed by a visit to one of the most well known waterfalls in the country. Take a refreshing dip before you head back to the accommodation to pack your bags for an early morning departure.

All meals are provided on this day.

Saturday - Day 14: You will be transported back to Vientiane.

Breakfast is provided on this day.

Weather and climate: The climate in Laos is considered tropical monsoonal, days are typically warm and sunny all year around, with an average temperature of 29°C (84°F). The rainy season runs from May to October, and this is when humidity and temperatures can peak at 40°C (100°F). The dry season runs from November to May, and this is when the temperature is typically cooler and can get to a low of 15°C (58°F)

Volunteers who are under 18 years old will be required to provide IVHQ with parental consent and two character reference letters in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team. All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ’s local team on arrival in Laos.

Free Interactive Volunteer Training - All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training, which is available exclusively to registered IVHQ volunteers. The training is designed to build an understanding of important aspects that need to be considered before embarking on an IVHQ program. It helps volunteers to prepare in the right way by providing advice on what it takes to be a safe, responsible and valuable volunteer. Try a sample of the training here.