This Program is Directed by
Portia Watson
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Vietnam
Service & Cultural Exchange on the Central Coast
Travel to Vietnam and immerse yourself in a coastal community on the South China Sea during this summer service learning program for high school students. Collaborate with local government representatives and community members as you engage in construction-based service activities, and build lasting connections with your Vietnamese hosts. Experience the distinct cultures, foods, and architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hoi An on excursions with your group and cap the program off with a cruise amidst the towering limestone cliffs and lush islands of Halong Bay.
- Highlights
• Lend a hand constructing houses for Vietnamese families
• Swim and relax at beautiful beaches off of Vietnam’s central coast
• Get clothing tailored in the ancient city of Hoi An
• Explore Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter and breathtaking Ha Long Bay
• Swim and relax at beautiful beaches off of Vietnam’s central coast
• Get clothing tailored in the ancient city of Hoi An
• Explore Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter and breathtaking Ha Long Bay
“We became a family in a week—united, honest, loving, and caring. Everyone in the group accepted and respected each other. I made lifelong friends and was so sad to say goodbye to all of them.”
—Sofia M., American School Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles and fly together to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Ho Chi Minh City — 2 days
Settle into your accommodations in the center of Ho Chi Minh City as you get to know your group and learn about Vietnam’s history, food, and culture. Hold an in-depth group orientation on your time in Vietnam, with particular focus on your host community and the service projects you will complete.
Host Community — 11 days
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, and travel to your host community along the central coast by private bus. Settle into a comfortable, family-owned guesthouse that will serve as your home base throughout the program. Each weekday, help construct simple “compassion houses” together with local construction crews in an area where some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War once occurred. Bicycle to and from your work site along rural roads that wind through neighborhoods, rice paddies, and shrimp farms. Participate in Vietnamese/English language exchanges, build friendships with local families and community members who visit the work site each day, and spend afternoons unwinding with your group at the beach. During your stay in your host community, you will take several multi-day excursions to explore other areas of central Vietnam such as Ly Son Island and Hoi An.
Ly Son Island — 2 days
Take a break from your service projects and hop on a ferry to Ly Son where you will explore the island's beaches, caves, and beautiful Buddhist temples. In the evenings, head out with your group to try delicious Vietnamese crepes or a flavorful fruit smoothie from one of the many street food vendors.
Hoi An — 2 days
Travel by private bus to Hoi An, a small, historic city on Vietnam’s coast, famous for its ornate Chinese temples, wandering canals, and world-class tailors who can make clothes to order overnight. Explore the area’s lively evening markets and participate in a Vietnamese cooking class with your group.
Hanoi & Ha Long Bay — 5 days
Fly from central Vietnam to Hanoi, the capital city, and explore the fascinating Old Quarter with its narrow streets, endless shops, and night markets. Take a stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake, visit the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda, and wander the grounds of the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple that was the site of the country’s first national university. End your program with a two-night, three-day private cruise in Halong Bay where you will have opportunities to explore sea caves and floating fishing communities, and go for a kayak ride or a swim in hidden bays abutting stark, limestone cliffs.
Return — Travel Day
Fly with your group and a leader from Hanoi to Los Angeles, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles and fly together to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Ho Chi Minh City — 2 days
Settle into your accommodations in the center of Ho Chi Minh City as you get to know your group and learn about Vietnam’s history, food, and culture. Hold an in-depth group orientation on your time in Vietnam, with particular focus on your host community and the service projects you will complete.
Host Community — 11 days
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, and travel to your host community along the central coast by private bus. Settle into a comfortable, family-owned guesthouse that will serve as your home base throughout the program. Each weekday, help construct simple “compassion houses” together with local construction crews in an area where some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War once occurred. Bicycle to and from your work site along rural roads that wind through neighborhoods, rice paddies, and shrimp farms. Participate in Vietnamese/English language exchanges, build friendships with local families and community members who visit the work site each day, and spend afternoons unwinding with your group at the beach. During your stay in your host community, you will take several multi-day excursions to explore other areas of central Vietnam such as Ly Son Island and Hoi An.
Ly Son Island — 2 days
Take a break from your service projects and hop on a ferry to Ly Son where you will explore the island's beaches, caves, and beautiful Buddhist temples. In the evenings, head out with your group to try delicious Vietnamese crepes or a flavorful fruit smoothie from one of the many street food vendors.
Hoi An — 2 days
Travel by private bus to Hoi An, a small, historic city on Vietnam’s coast, famous for its ornate Chinese temples, wandering canals, and world-class tailors who can make clothes to order overnight. Explore the area’s lively evening markets and participate in a Vietnamese cooking class with your group.
Hanoi & Ha Long Bay — 5 days
Fly from central Vietnam to Hanoi, the capital city, and explore the fascinating Old Quarter with its narrow streets, endless shops, and night markets. Take a stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake, visit the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda, and wander the grounds of the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple that was the site of the country’s first national university. End your program with a two-night, three-day private cruise in Halong Bay where you will have opportunities to explore sea caves and floating fishing communities, and go for a kayak ride or a swim in hidden bays abutting stark, limestone cliffs.
Return — Travel Day
Fly with your group and a leader from Hanoi to Los Angeles, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Service
During your travels in Vietnam, you can expect to work on a construction project building “compassion houses” for families selected by the local community, and work on various side projects dictated by the community, such as teaching English to local children and teens, or participating in a beach or harbor clean-up. The focus of this student travel program in Vietnam is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared community service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. Everyone participates in the group’s projects on a rotating basis. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn how to make a favorite Vietnamese dish, organize a sports tournament with your local contacts, or interview community members about the history of the community.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program. The service work and afternoon activities can be strenuous and you can expect to spend most of each day outside engaging in physical construction labor, biking, swimming, or walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. You must be comfortable riding a bicycle to participate in this program. You must be comfortable riding a bicycle to participate in this program.
Accommodations
Accommodations in Vietnam are varied, ranging from simple guesthouses in our host community to large hotels and private boat cabins on our weekend excursions. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.
Meals
We begin each day with a simple breakfast at our guesthouse. Lunches are often our heartiest meal of the day, and are prepared near our work site by local community members and eaten family-style. During excursions, meals are eaten at our accommodations or in small restaurants. Common options include noodle soups such as pho, banh mi, stir-fried vegetables, tofu, egg, french fries, and fresh fruit.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Service
During your travels in Vietnam, you can expect to work on a construction project building “compassion houses” for families selected by the local community, and work on various side projects dictated by the community, such as teaching English to local children and teens, or participating in a beach or harbor clean-up. The focus of this student travel program in Vietnam is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared community service experience together. You should come to the summer with an open mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. Everyone participates in the group’s projects on a rotating basis. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn how to make a favorite Vietnamese dish, organize a sports tournament with your local contacts, or interview community members about the history of the community.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program. The service work and afternoon activities can be strenuous and you can expect to spend most of each day outside engaging in physical construction labor, biking, swimming, or walking. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. You must be comfortable riding a bicycle to participate in this program. You must be comfortable riding a bicycle to participate in this program.
Accommodations
Accommodations in Vietnam are varied, ranging from simple guesthouses in our host community to large hotels and private boat cabins on our weekend excursions. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.
Meals
We begin each day with a simple breakfast at our guesthouse. Lunches are often our heartiest meal of the day, and are prepared near our work site by local community members and eaten family-style. During excursions, meals are eaten at our accommodations or in small restaurants. Common options include noodle soups such as pho, banh mi, stir-fried vegetables, tofu, egg, french fries, and fresh fruit.
A Day in the Life: Host Community
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
- Morning
7:00am
Enjoy breakfast before biking from your guesthouse to the work site as a group
8:00am
Mix cement, dig foundations, and lay bricks for the houses you are helping to construct
11:00am
Break for lunch at a nearby community member’s house
- Afternoon
1:00pm
Take some downtime to learn Vietnamese with your hosts
2:00pm
Continue service work alongside the construction crew
5:00pm
Bike back to your guesthouse, stopping to take a dip in the ocean and unwind with your group
- Evening
7:00pm
Share dinner with your group at the guesthouse
9:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and the upcoming schedule
A Day in the Life:
Host Community
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
- Morning
7:00am
Enjoy breakfast before biking from your guesthouse to the work site as a group
8:00am
Mix cement, dig foundations, and lay bricks for the houses you are helping to construct
11:00am
Break for lunch at a nearby community member’s house
- Afternoon
1:00pm
Take some downtime to learn Vietnamese with your hosts
2:00pm
Continue service work alongside the construction crew
5:00pm
Bike back to your guesthouse, stopping to take a dip in the ocean and unwind with your group
- Evening
7:00pm
Share dinner with your group at the guesthouse
9:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and the upcoming schedule
“Oli came home with a deep appreciation of Vietnamese culture and the history of American aggression in the country. He worked hard, was a team player, and built strong relationships.”
—Jessica Oski, Burlington, VT
This Program is Directed by
Portia Watson
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
