Medical Volunteer Program in Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam

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IVHQ has volunteer placements located in and around Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam.

Volunteers begin the IVHQ Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh program on each Monday of every month. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 1 week to 24 weeks.

The program orientation begins every Monday, and volunteers need to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on the Sunday before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Vietnam prior to your volunteer program, you will need to make your own way to the volunteer accommodation on the day before your program orientation.

There are two options for orientation in Vietnam. The first option is a one-day orientation that begins on your selected start date, which all volunteers will attend. This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Vietnam, including an introduction to the Vietnam 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, and arrange your sim card. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

The second option is an Introduction Week, hosted by our Vietnam team in Ho Chi Minh. The Introduction Week begins on your selected start date and runs for the first five days, then your volunteer program will commence the following week. This option is very popular among IVHQ volunteers and we recommend everyone take advantage of Introduction Week in Vietnam, as you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Vietnamese culture, a true appreciation of local life and have 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 Vietnam. Introduction Week does incur an additional US$25 surcharge to cover the additional costs.

As part of Introduction Week, you can also add-on the opportunity to explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels for an additional US$20.

If you wish to participate in the Introduction Week and Cu Chi Tunnel visit, 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 into the program.

The Introduction Week schedule is outlined below:

Please note, this schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on the needs of the project, local and weather conditions, and unforeseen circumstances.

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

7.30 AM: Breakfast at the college restaurant.

8.00 AM: Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at.

12.00 PM: Lunch break. Lunch is served at the college restaurant or at the placement. However; volunteers are free to buy their own lunch​ at their expense​, which will usually cost between $2-$4.

2.00 PM - 5.00 PM: Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing.

6.00 PM: Dinner at the volunteer accommodation.

Volunteers are accommodated in a volunteer dormitory with other IVHQ volunteers at ​a Tourism College ​​approximately 30 minutes by taxi from the tourist area of Ho Chi Minh City. Rooms are comprised of bunk beds and you can expect to share a room ​with up to 8 other volunteers. Living conditions are basic, however there is electricity, running water, air conditioning and fans for the hotter months. While bedding is provided, it is recommended that you bring your own sleeping bag/silk liner (these can be purchased in Vietnam) and a mosquito net if you wish to travel during the weekends.

WiFi is available in the volunteer dormitory, however the connection can be slow so we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Vietnam. The local team can assist you with purchasing a SIM card during your program orientation so you can keep connected.

Some placements are located relatively close to the volunteer accommodation, however in some instances, volunteers may need to travel by public bus for 30​ to 40​ minutes to their placements. If this is the case, you will be accompanied by a member of the local team for the first 2 or 3 days to ensure that you know where to go and can find your way around easily.

Volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City are served three meals per day (two on weekends) at the college, which are typically traditional Vietnamese and includes a wide variety of rice, noodle and soup dishes with plenty of vegetables, meats and fresh herbs. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you.

“Thank you so much for all of your help throughout the whole process. I’m sure you hear this all the time but I really did have a wonderful time. Volunteering is so rewarding and having the chance to combine that with travel makes it a once in a lifetime experience.” - Allegra Boccabella (Special Needs/Childcare Volunteer in Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh)

Read more reviews from IVHQ volunteers in Vietnam here

During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of Vietnam. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to engage in tourist activities, such as trekking, joining Vietnamese history tours and visits to temples and visiting the Mekong Delta.

See our Vietnam Travel and Tours page for more volunteer travel options in Vietnam!

Weather and climate: Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate, with humidity averaging 84% throughout the year. However, because of differences in latitude and the marked variety of topographical relief, the climate tends to vary considerably from place to place.

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 Ho Chi Minh City. Additional requirements apply for Teaching English and Medical volunteers, please read the projects descriptions below.

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.