Vietnam

Vietnam is a richly diverse country located between the Red River Delta in the north and Mekong Delta in the south.  With tourism being such a strong industry for the country’s economy, learning English is considered the key to a prosperous future and Lattitude Volunteers provide an avenue for people to learn and practice.

Placement locations

Placements are mostly located in the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and surrounding areas, click here to view a map.

Is it for me?

Vietnam will allow you to step outside your comfort zone, and embrace a truly rich cultural experience. You will be able to push yourself as you take on a position of responsibility, and teach English to people of many ages. Any shortage in resources will be more than made up for by the keenness of your students to learn.

Placements explained

Teaching placements are in colleges and universities and some primary and secondary schools. Volunteers provide students with the opportunity to practice their spoken English by leading activities such as conversation, role playing, singing and debating. A range of extracurricular activities including conversation groups, visiting students’ homes and playing games add great value and enjoyment to the placements. Volunteers may also be asked to teach the teachers and assist in enhancing their confidence in English conversation.

Sports Coaching placements are in local schools assisting and mentoring students in such sports as soccer, basketball, volleyball and badminton.

A small amount of pocket money is paid.

Accommodation & food

Accommodation is either provided on campus at the host institution, or in a nearby flat rented by the host. Food is either supplied or an allowance provided for self-catering.

Support provided

Before you go:

• We find out more about each volunteer through an interview which helps us select the right people and after a second interview, we match them to a placement that’s right for them.
• Once selected, each volunteer is allocated a Coordinator in the Melbourne office who assists them with all preparations.   They provide briefing materials, support with logistics such as flights and visas and are there to answer any questions.
• Everyone attends a briefing camp to meet other volunteers and Lattitude staff, identify their learning needs and hear from returned volunteers.
• All volunteers sign our Code of Conduct to ensure that our expectations of each volunteer are agreed and clear from the outset.

When you're overseas:

• We have paid staff based in each country.  Our Country Managers oversee the program and work with a team of Local Representatives who provide support in the local areas and develop close relationships with placement hosts.
• Each volunteer attends a combined five-day orientation and teaching skills course on arrival in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Each volunteer is visited at their placement soon after arrival by an in-country staff member to check how things are and provide additional support if needed.
• We work with Embassies and High Commissions to ensure we can respond to any situation and provide 24/7 emergency support from Melbourne.

When you're back:

• We recognise that coming home can be difficult and provide one-to-one support, with onward referrals for further professional support if needed.  Volunteers are invited to debriefing events and become part of our network of alumni.
• We undertake reviews against the learning needs identified before going overseas which may form part of a reference provided at the end. A letter can also be provided to use towards an application for Youth Allowance.

Costs

These costs are for Lattitude placements in Vietnam in 2014

Lattitude fees (exact costs):

You will also need to budget for the following (approx costs):

 
Other costs associated with your time away may include obtaining a passport, purchasing any additional clothing required and arranging travel vaccinations.

Funding

A range of funding options are available, find out more here.

Travel

The main opportunity for travel is within a one-week holiday during your placement and also at the end. The options for adventure in Vietnam are endless: kayak the hidden caves and secret lagoons of Halong Bay; spot rhinos and leopards in Cat Tien National Park; trek the mountains around Sapa; or cycle the back roads of the Mekong Delta. When it’s time to chill out, head to the beaches of Nha Trang, Mui Ne or Phu Quoc or if art, food and history are more your style, don’t miss a visit to Hue, the country’s old imperial capital by the banks of the Perfume River.