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VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK
We are looking forward to welcoming
You in Vietnam!
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C ONTENTS
I. Goals and background
- SJ Vietnam
- History
- Activities
- Contacts
- Workcamps
- Long term projects
I I. General program information
- Arrival
- Transportation to your accommodation
- Accommodation
- Orientation day
I II. General travel information
- Visa
- Insurance
- Health
- Money
- Transportation
- Traffic
- Telephone and Internet access
- What to bring?
IV. Vietnam - general information
- Interesting information about Vietnam
- Facts about Hanoi
- Do’s and don’ts
- Vietnamese food
- Useful sentences
- Useful websites
- Map of Hanoi
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I. GOALS AND BACKGROUND
1. SJ VIETNAM
Solidarités Jeunesses Vietnam (SJ Vietnam) is an international youth NGO (NonGovernmental Organization) that promotes values of solidarity, peace, tolerance through
young citizenship projects to improve society during and after the voluntarism.
It was set up in 2004 by and for national and international young volunteers. SJ Vietnam is
an independent Vietnamese branch of SJ France, a full member of CCIVS – UNESCO
(Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) and NDVA (Network for
Voluntary Development in Asia), a partner of YAP (Youth Action for Peace) and Alliance.
SJ Vietnam is an independent, non-political and non- religious organization open to
everybody without any distinction of nationality, race, philosophy, financial resource,
education or sex.
3207 young Vietnamese volunteers are official members of SJ Vietnam. Around 360
international volunteers joined our activities each year. SJ is currently the oldest and
biggest international workcamp organization in Vietnam.
Goals
By developing International Volunteering, we aim to:
1. Work towards a society of justice, peace and solidarity.
2. Break cultural misunderstanding between people and nations.
3. Improve local and global environment, provide informal education, help to reduce
poverty and strengthen human rights
4. Encourage young people to participate actively in the society in which they live.
The SJ Vietnam slogan reads:
“Tình nguyện để sẻ chia, học hỏi và trưởng thành”, which can be translated as:
“Volunteer for sharing, learning and being responsible”. SJ Vietnam organizes short-term
and long-term workcamps and projects, actions of social integration, training activities, and
international solidarity actions. All volunteers, both Vietnamese and international, are
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warmly welcomed to join and participate in the projects provided by SJ Vietnam.
Vietnamese volunteers are sent abroad to participate in volunteering projects by partner
organizations all over the world.
2. HISTORY
SJ Vietnam was set up in December 24th 2004, with the help of SJ France, NVDA and Un
ETAI Pour Le Vietnam. The volunteering organization started as an informal cooperation
between Miss. Do Thi Phuc of the Vietnamese Youth Volunteer Club and Mr. Pierre De
Hanscutter, a Belgian UNV working for UNDP Vietnam.
In June 2006, Ms Do Thi Phuc became the official director of the organization SJ Vietnam
and Mr. Pierre De Hanscutter became the President and the official European
representative. Since then, SJV is an official member of NDVA, and a full and active
member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) based
at UNESCO Paris.
In January 2008, SJ Vietnam hosted the second NVDA meeting in Vietnam gathering all the
NVDA leaders in Asia and Europe.
3. ACTIVITIES
A. Workcamps:
Workcamps organized by SJ Vietnam aim to provide an experience of solidarity,
intercultural learning, and community life by helping street, poor and blind children, needy
children in Pediatrics hospital and disabled, old, homeless people.
Special workcamps are festivals and events. For specific events such as the International
Children’s Day, Mid-Autumn festival, Christmas and Tet holiday, SJ Vietnam organizes
events to celebrate these occasions for less-fortuned children and people to give them
equal opportunities, happiness and lots of smiles.
B. Long-term Volunteer Projects
Long-term volunteering projects (from 1 to 12 months) include: web site management,
office work, teaching, environment and social work to support sustainable development.
Long-term volunteers will live and work like local people. In 2009, SJ Vietnam hosted its
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first EVS volunteer (European Voluntary Service)
C. Training courses, seminars and conferences
SJ Vietnam organizes regular workshops, conferences and trainings for its members
or for active volunteer’s member of a partner organization abroad. These trainings
provide to young volunteers with knowledge in conflict management, leadership,
intercultural learning and volunteering skills, sexual health, etc.
D. Sending Vietnamese volunteers abroad
Through a network of international partners, SJ Vietnam offers Vietnamese volunteers
chances to join workcamps and LTV projects abroad.
STAFF MEMBERS
Director
Ms. Do Thi Phuc
Workcamp coordinators
Mr. Do Minh Duc & Ms. Dang Thu Ha
Incoming and the South branch coordinator Ms. Trieu Thu Hoai
LTV coordinators
Ms. Tran Thi Mien & Mr. Duong The Tung
Youth House coordinator
Public relations
Ms. Ha Anh
Ms. Tran Thi Hong
4. OUR CONTACTS
Office in Hanoi
Office is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm GMT +7.
Address: Suite 903, Building N01, 282 Linh Nam street, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: +84.4.22 15 49 93 Fax: + 84.4.37 52 51 90
Website: www.sjvietnam.org
Skype: sj.vietnam
(To call us for free: www.skype.com)
Emails:
Incoming information: in@sjvietnam.org
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General email: info@sjvietnam.org
Workcamps: workcamp@sjvietnam.org
Long term projects: ltvsjvietnam@gmail.com /ltv2sjvietnam@gmail.com
Public Relations: pr@sjvietnam.org
Director: phuc@sjvietnam.org
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
If you cannot find our taxi driver or get lost, please call:
For the short-term volunteers in the North
+ 84.972.219.646
+ 84.4.22154993 (Our office in Hanoi)
For the long-term and short-term volunteers in the North
+ 84.904649753 (Ms.Tran Thi Mien)
+ 84.4.22154993 (office in Hanoi)
For all volunteers in the South
+ 84 16 76 86 98 96 (Ms Trieu Thu Hoai)
Use the numbers only in case of emergency. If you experience problems with your pick
up or something, please call the coordinators first.
5. WORKCAMPS
A workcamp is neither a kind of alternative holidays nor a social-humanitarian
project! Do not expect to save the “poorest” and to understand everything in two weeks.
An international workcamp depends on the input of its participants and it is such a rich
experience that it is difficult to define it.
Partaking in an international workcamp is:
 A commitment to a group experience
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Workcamps are opportunities to explore the potential of an international group of young
people working and living together. Workcamps should not be seen first as a means for
accomplishing individual goals, such as touring a particular area, learning a language,
looking for a job, or having a cheap vacation! Volunteers should be aware of the
importance of assisting everyone in speaking the stated language of the workcamp.
Volunteers speaking the same language should be careful not to exclude other volunteers.
 A commitment to work out decisions and problems together
One local volunteer will be the camp-leader, usually together with a co-leader and they are
both unpaid volunteers. Having a leader however does not mean that she or he is
organizing
everything
for the volunteers as children’s camp. The volunteers
are
responsible together for organizing the day life (house cleaning, leisure activities, work
time table, making meals etc.), solve problems (it is not so easy to live everyday with a
group of different people), and take decisions together. Orders are not issued from
above (i.e. the workcamp leaders); rather, the group discusses and guides, while individuals
decide. It is important to take part in this process, which sometimes takes time because
different perspectives have to be taken in account.
 Attending the entire workcamp
It is strongly recommended that you do not arrive late or depart early from a workcamp. A
person arriving late misses the crucial period of orientation and the time when group
members get to know one another and the group spirit starts. A person departing early
erodes the feeling of solidarity in a group and leaves the remaining volunteers with a sense
of having been left behind for something more important. An early departure can create
among the volunteers a feeling of waiting for the workcamp to end.
 Being sensitive to the camp's place in the community
The workcamp represents a group of people who have come together for a relatively short
period. They are guests within the community and are unfamiliar with the intricate and
subtle patterns, which exist within this environment where their projects take place.
Consequently, there is a challenge in having the workcamp gracefully blend in with the
community, especially when local customs differ from the workcamp’s ones. Workcampers
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should regard those differences as opportunities to learn and not as sources of conflict.
 Being open to learning
An open mind is a far greater qualification than a particular skill. Volunteers unskilled at
certain jobs are encouraged to learn new skills. In this learning process, volunteers may
have to seek a balance between good work and mistakes made due to inexperience. A
workcamp is also an opportunity to learn from people of different ages. Generally,
volunteers are aged between 18 and 35 (average age 22); however, there is no upper age
limit and families with children are also welcomed. Volunteers may feel challenged to work
with people outside of their peer group, and yet find it refreshing to be part of a group
unified by a common purpose.
 Contributing fully to the work
The work is important. It may not always be to a volunteer's liking, nor is it merely
concocted as a vehicle for bringing people together. There are expectations by the
workcamp sponsors that the work will be done, and all volunteers should commit to do it
well. If there is a study component in the work, volunteers should get information before
the workcamp in order to add to the discussion.
 Having a strong self-motivation.
A workcamp is what each volunteer makes of it. It requires seeking out opportunities,
observing what needs to be done, taking responsibility. A workcamper should feel equally
a part of shaping the workcamp as the leaders do. Workcamps thrive on the initiatives of
individuals.
Participation Fees
For International short-term volunteers the participation fee is 160 EUR for 2 weeks
Workcamp
-FEES ARE NOT ONLY FOR YOUR FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION BUT ALSO FOR
PROJECTS AND SJ VIETNAM ADMINISTRATION!
-IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE CITY OR TO ORGANIZE EXCURSIONS DURING THE WEEK
END, YOU HAVE TO MANAGE IT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY, THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN
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THE PARTICIPATION FEE.
We spend our budget as following:
I.
O ffice + Administration
II.
Local staff costs
Staff Travel Costs
Administration
Capital Equipment
Project:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
III.
I
J
K
Fisher Village costs
Other projects
Project materials
Training
Volunteers
Accommodation & Food
Local Transport
Contingency
20%
7%
12.68%
1%
0 .41%
41%
14%
7.77%
1 0%
29%
10%
25.96%
3 .03%
10%
Please understand that you are at a workcamp, your participation fee is not to buy anything
from us and we are not sellers of enjoyable services for your holidays in Vietnam: we are a
non-profit voluntary organization. Please also understand, as a youth organization, we try
our best to have the lowest fees as possible that means that you will have to be careful
with the budget during your project. Please have this money with you at the meeting
point. You can pay in Euros or the equivalent in US Dollars. You can find ATM machines at
airport and in the city.
Registration
We only accept volunteers sent by an international voluntary organization (you can find a
list of voluntary organizations in your country at http://www.unesco.org/ccivs/). If there is no
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voluntary organization in your country, contact us: in@sjvietnam.org.
6. LONG TERM PROJECTS
LTV stands for Long-term Volunteer and it is used in SJ Vietnam to refer to all volunteers
committing to a project for more than one month. It is a serious commitment about leaving
a home country and starting something new in Vietnam. To decide to join a LTV project
means to accept to live as local people/volunteers (food, accommodation, budget, work
and social activities) and to will to integrate the way of life of local people.
How could I become a Long Term Volunteer?
There is a minimum age of 18 to become a LTV. Volunteers are expected to have a very high
motivation and certain amount of “life experience”, meaning that (s)he can look after
himself, work independently and be able to deal with common problems that might occur
abroad. The applicants should be open-minded towards the project and motivated for the
WORK of the project.
Can I join a LTV project with a friend or with a group?
People wishing to be placed in one project together should register as soon as possible
because we try to limit the number of people from the same nationality to avoid creating
groups among volunteers and to create the richest international environment mix for the
volunteers. If you wish to join a LTV as a group, then it is not anymore a LTV project but
what we call a "bi-lateral project" between your group and SJ Vietnam. Please contact us at
in@sjvietnam.org for more information.
How are long term projects organized?
In cooperation with several local partner organizations and institutes, SJ Vietnam
organizes around 20 long-term volunteering projects (LTV projects) in the North and now
has new projects in the Center and in the South of Vietnam. Long-term volunteers are
required to participate more actively in the SJV organization and the project
management. The LTV projects are a lot more intensive than workcamps and need a
higher motivation. The volunteers will have to participate actively in the management of
the project, sometimes they also supervise and support short-term volunteers.
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Remember that a long-term stay is not a holiday or a social-humanitarian project! At the
end of your work as a long-term volunteer, you may see the world from a different point
of view.
Participation Fees
For long term volunteers the participation fee is 250 EUR/month per person.
FEES ARE NOT ONLY FOR YOUR FOOD AND YOUR ACCOMMODATION!
(see in workcamp section how is split our budget)
Please read this part and think carefully before you pay!
Please understand that you are at a youth organization, not a travel agency, your
participation fee is not to buy anything from us and we are not sellers of enjoyable services
for your holidays in Vietnam: we are a nonprofit voluntary organization. Please also
understand that we try our best to have the lowest participation fees as possible, which
means that you will have to be careful and responsible with the budget during your
project.
You can pay in Euros or the equivalent in US Dollars. You can find ATM machines at airport
and in the city.
Registration
We only accept volunteers sent by an international voluntary organization (you can find a
list of voluntary organizations in your country at http://www.unesco.org/ccivs/). If you are
Vietnamese, the member card of SJ Vietnam is included in the participation fees. If there is
no voluntary organization in your country, contact us: in@sjvietnam.org
II. GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
1. ARRIVAL
Recommendations before arriving in Vietnam:
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-
For all volunteers, at least 1 week before arrival in Vietnam, give us notice of your
complete arrival details in advance by sending the confirmation slip to
in@sjvietnam.org, The most important information we need to know is the number
of your arriving flight in Hanoi or in Ho Chi Minh, the date and time of arrival. And
for people arriving in Hanoi, if you need a taxi pick-up at the airport or not!
-
For long-term volunteers, at least 2 weeks before arriving, send us a scan of your
passport and visa to register your stay at the host family, a colored portrait photo of
you to make a bus card. These things should be ready when you arrive. If you send
those later than 1 week before arriving, we do not assure to move you in your host
family or hand you the bus card right when you arrive. In this case, you may have to
pay the extra costs yourself.
-
For all volunteers, prepare some cash or a bank card to withdraw money from ATM
in the airport. You will need cash to exchange for some Vietnamese Dong right
when you arrive, at the airport. You will need that Vietnamese money to pay the
taxi or use in emergency case. It might be difficult to find an international ATM to
withdraw money and exchange to VND near your place for the first few days.
2. TRANSPORTATION
From the airport to your accommodation
Taxi pick-up at the airport in HANOI
We provide an airport pick-up service for all volunteers at the Noi Bai International Airport
in Hanoi, which means there will be a taxi driver waiting for you and take you to the
volunteer house (for short-term volunteers) or host family (long-term volunteers).
When arriving at the airport, after taking your luggage and passing the custom control gate,
please find our taxi driver who holds the card “SJ Vietnam” and your name. The taxi will
cost you 300.000 VND or around 17USD/12 EUR.
The long-term volunteers who stay in host families will be taken directly to the host
families by taxi. The taxi will be given the address of the families in advance and our
coordinator will wait for volunteers at the house to welcome and introduce them to host
families
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For volunteers who do not need taxi pick-up at the airport and are confident to reach the
house on their own, please make sure that you will be at the meeting point on time.
How to go from the HANOI airport to our Volunteer House accommodation ON YOUR
OWN?
In Hanoi:
You can go from the center of Hanoi in three ways: by taxi, by minibus or by public bus.
1. By taxi: Cost about 340.000 VND or 17 USD (only by “Noi Bai Airport taxi” for the
cheapest price and trustable services). Show the taxi driver our address of the meeting
point and go directly to there in 30-40 minutes.
2. By mini bus: Cost about 40,000VND. There are minibuses from 8.30 am to 9.30 pm. You
can buy the ticket on the bus from the drivers. Take a mini bus from the airport to go to
downtown of Hanoi. The ticket is 2 USD or 38.000 VND (12 seat car). It is 40 minutes; and
you will stop in ‘No 1 Quang Trung’ (Vietnam airlines office). Then you can take a
motorbike taxi at around 50,000VND or taxi about 80,000 – 90,000 VND to the house.
3. By public bus: Cost only 5,000VND but takes an hour. There is a bus each 30 minutes
from 5.30 am to 10.30 pm from the airport (but the last one from downtown to the airport
is 8.30 pm). You can buy the ticket in the bus from the drivers. There are 2 buses number
07 and 17 to go to downtown (we recommend you to take by bus number 17 for a shorter
trip). If travelling by bus, make sure you have with you a map of Hanoi which shows city
buses.
In Ho Chi Minh city:
The meeting point is usually included in the infosheets for the projects in HCMC, the
meeting points of these workcamps are at Ben Thanh market – the center of the city.
The easiest and cheapest way to get there from the airport is to take the bus No 152 and
get off at the last stops.
Once you get off the bus, in front of the bus station is Ben Thanh market where the
meeting point is.
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4. ACCOMMODATION
For short-term volunteers in Hanoi
Some workcamps, volunteers will stay at the volunteer place which is also our office.
Suite 903, Building N01, 282 Linh Nam street, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi, Vietnam
You will be staying in a basic accommodation but it is still much better than the average
living conditions of most Vietnamese. Volunteers will sleep in dormitory beds and share
bedrooms and bathroom with others. (Please know that not many Vietnamese families
have bathrooms in their houses, especially in rural areas, it is only in houses of big cities
and “real” bathrooms are only in rich families). Volunteers will sleep in dormitory beds or
on floors and about 6 volunteers share a bedroom. Do not compare our living conditions
with any hotel, or neither expect that we supply you a comfortable stay even though our
accommodation is in Hanoi, one of the richest cities in Vietnam. You will stay together with
other volunteers both from Vietnam and abroad.
Your responsibilities in the volunteer House
Keeping the houses clean is the responsibility of all. Please respect these few very simple
rules: do the dishes after diner, keep toilets and bathrooms clean after using it, take out the
garbage, and remove your shoes before entering the house. As volunteers, you are
responsible for everyday activities in your house such as: cleaning the house, going to the
market and cooking. You should cook meals together because it would be more
economical and especially, it is much faster and more fun too. In sum, whether the house
is a comfortable clean “home” or a dark dirty dungeon, whether you have delicious
steaming meals or dry bread and cold rice depends on you all. Make this YOUR house. We
are sure you will do a great job!
For long-term volunteers (for the ones who live in Hanoi)
Host families
LTV will stay in a host family arranged by SJ Vietnam. We believe that this is the best way
for volunteer to know more about Vietnamese culture and lifestyle. The volunteer will
stay in one private room or a private bed in a shared room. Normally, host families
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provide a much better living condition than the Volunteer House. The address of the
family will be given to the volunteer as soon as we can confirm with the family about the
stay. If the family is ready at the time volunteer arrives, the taxi will take the volunteer
directly to the house. Otherwise, the volunteer will meet the coordinator in the
Volunteer House first and then move to the host family later.
SJ Vietnam request that all host family has at least one member who can speak English to
communicate with the volunteer. Each month, the food money will be given to host
family so that they can prepare the meals for volunteers. Vegetarian catering is possible.
When living in a host family, the volunteer are expected to respect family rules like: not
coming back late at night (sometimes at weekend is acceptable, but not every day), not
wearing shoes inside the house,… Vietnamese people are friendly and hospitable; the
volunteers will be considered like a member of the family.
Accommodation at project site in other province
For volunteers working outside of Hanoi: Hai Duong, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, Phu
Yen, Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh accommodation will be arranged at project
site by local partners who host the volunteers in their project. It could be either in the
partner’s dormitory room or the partner’s guesthouse near to project sites.
5. ORIENTATION DAY
For short term volunteers:
On your arrival you will meet your ‘workcamp leader’. S/he will explain more precisely
your work, your schedule, and he will give you all the practical information. S/he will be
your reference for the entire time of your project. If you have any question, please feel
free to ask your camp leader, it is her/his task to help you!
You will start working on your project in the same day of your orientation day or the day
after.
For long term volunteers:
On your arrival you will meet your long-term volunteer coordinatoors. They will explain
more precisely your work, your schedule, and they will give to you all the practical
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information. They will be your reference for the entire time of your project. If you have any
question, please feel free to ask, it is their task to help you! You will visit also the famous
places in Hanoi or in the area of your project with our local volunteers.
Expectations
What you can expect:

To learn about a new culture

To take part in a humanitarian action

To receive support and to help others

To work in a dynamic team

To meet young people from all over the world

To learn and exchange about different countries, cultures, backgrounds…

To have a lot of fun!

An experience certificate at the end of the program which formally attests of your
participation.
What we expect from you:
We expect all participants to have read and understood this Handbook and the project
infosheet (http://infosheet.sjvietnam.org) and to have attended the preparation meeting
organized by your sending organizations. Be on time and stay the entire length of the
placement, SO PLEASE PLAN ALL THE PERSONAL TRAVELLING THAT IS LONGER THAN THE
WEEKEND AFTER OR BEFORE YOUR PROJECT. Quitting your project before the end of the
program term can cause a lot of inconvenience to the project and the people involved in it.
All Participants should:
-Cooperate with program coordinators by adapting to the country culture and for their
security.
-Participate actively to the management of the project. Do not act like consumers but
team players: when there is a problem propose a solution.
-Show interest and responsibility during the program.
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-Realize that the living conditions are completely different from the ones they have at
home (no air-conditioning, no easy access to international phone or internet, no easy
transportation, cold shower, mosquitoes…etc).
-Be open minded, flexible, leave prejudice behind, and show initiative.
-Understand that a lot of time will be spent with local people who do not speak English.
-Only English should be spoken when others are around, even if they do not join the
conversation, and volunteers should speak slowly to English beginners.
III. GENERAL TRAVELLING INFORMATION
1. VISA
A valid passport and a visa are required of all foreigners visiting Vietnam. Vietnamese
embassies and consulates in your countries will issue visas to Vietnam. Some overseas
offices of Vietnam tourist agencies are able to issue tourist visas. Entry to Vietnam may be
refused if your passport has less than six months validity. Please check with the Vietnam
embassy or consulate in your country to know more about the procedure; it may differ in
other countries.
You should apply for tourist visa at least for the duration of your project in Vietnam. For
short-term volunteers, it will be difficult for you to extend your visa. Don’t think about
extending your visa once in Vietnam, it also costs much money! Do not complete your visa
application until your travel plans are certain. You are required to state your intended ports
of arrival and departure (for example, arriving in Hanoi and departing from Ho Chi Minh
City). Changing either of these upon or after your arrival could result in a lot of red tape
and extra expense. Submit your application along with two standard passport photos, your
passport and the required fee.
You don’t need an invitation letter from us, please apply for tourist visa ONLY.
Don’t start to explain that you come here to be a volunteer, to help the poor children, etc.
Except if you want to spend three days of explanation at the embassy and not receive your
visa for “national security reasons”. Apply for your visa at least three weeks before to be
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completely sure to get it on time! Make at least three photocopies of your passport and
visa and put them in different places. Give one photocopy to your workcamp leader. Keep
the other photocopies for yourself. It can be very useful if you loose your papers. If you lose
your passport or if you over stay you will need to apply for a new visa from the
Immigration authorities in order to leave the country. This can only be done during
working hours and usually takes three to five working days. For further information, check
with your nearest Vietnamese Embassy.
With very few exceptions, there is no "visa on arrival."
2. INSURANCE
Do not travel without insurance: an emergency abroad can be extremely expensive! The
volunteers need to have their own travel insurance and medical insurance. So please make
sure you got adequate insurance coverage.
What should your travel insurance policy cover at least?
- Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad
- 24-hour emergency service and assistance
- Personal liability covers in case you are sued for causing injury or damaging property
- Lost and stolen possessions cover
- Cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover
3. HEALTH
You can find a good quality medicine infrastructure in the big cities and hospitals with
foreign doctors (at the "French Hospital" or "International SOS hospital" in Hanoi and
“French Vietnamese Hospital” or “Centre medical international” in Ho Chi Minh)
but
these private hospitals are extremely expensive that's why you absolutely need to
have a good travel assurance before to start your trip! We advise you to visit a physician
and your dentist before coming, also to check your vaccination status on time!
-Malaria / Paludism: you don’t need to take treatment pills against Malaria/Paludism; there
is NO MALARIA IN THE BIG CITIES OF VIETNAM!
-Check if your TETANUS, DIPHTHERIA, POLIO and HEPATITIS A+B vaccination are up- dated.
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Some doctors here, advice to do a preventive vaccine against fuzz (bird-flu).
-DIARRHOEA is a frequent travel problem. Even when traveling is in good conditions, it is
not always possible to avoid it. Ask advice and the correct medications to your pharmacy.
-Vaccination against yellow fever :
* Not compulsory if arriving from Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia
* Compulsory only if arriving or transiting from infected areas
-Additional vaccination(s):
* Japanese encephalitis: vaccination can be justified in case of long-lasting stays in rural
areas
* Hepatitis A: vaccination justified
* Hepatitis B: vaccination justified
* Rabies: vaccination can be justified for long-lasting stays or risky trips
* Tetanus-poliomyelitis: vaccination justified
* Typhoid: vaccination justified
We also suggest you bring a simple medical kit. Your doctor should advise you what to
include AND HOW TO USE IT; however as a minimum we suggest you bring:
* Aspirin or Paracetamol (for pain or fever)
* Cold and flu tablets
* Anti diarrhea medicines
* Medicines against nausea
* Insect repellant
* Antiseptic and bandages
* Sunscreen and lip balm
For extra info about traveling health advice:
http://www.pasteur-lille.fr/fr/sante/vaccin/desc_pays/VIETNAM.htm
You can also download from our web server an extract (163 pages) of the guide published
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by the World Health Organization called INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND HEALTH 2008 here
4. MONEY
The Vietnamese currency is the "Vietnamese Dong" (VND). The exchange rate depends on
on the market but:
1 USD = 19,000 – 21,000 VND
1 EUR = 25,000 - 30,232.55 VND
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
Be sure that you understand how to convert your national money TO and FROM
Vietnamese dong before coming! And count the cash that you receive back when you
change your money. If your currency is Euro or Yen, for sure all the change offices in Hanoi
will accept to change your money, then you do not need to buy US Dollars before coming
to Vietnam. Do not change money in the street! It is illegal and it is the best way to get fake
money. You can find ATM machines everywhere, which accept a wide variety of bankcards.
The credit cards are not used in the daily life; you can use them only to take cash at the
ATM machines and in expensive hotels and restaurants. In general, avoid paying in Dollars
(especially motorbike and taxi) use Vietnam Dongs instead.
Some prices:
One lunch: between 15.000 VND and 40.000 VND, average price between 40.000 and
200.000 VND in restaurant, 20.000 VND on the street.
One city Bus Ticket: 3.000 VND in Hanoi and 4.000 VND Ho Chi Minh
Night in hotel: between 5 USD (dormitory) to 140 USD (Sheraton). Average 10 USD
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Entrance at swimming pool: between 30.000 VND (close to SJ Vietnam House) and 150.000
VND (Sheraton)
One beer: between 3.000 VND and 25.000 VND, average price 10.000 VND
5. TRANSPORTATION
You can easily circulate in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh by city bus. One bus ticket costs only
3.000 VND. For long term volunteers we will provide a monthly bus pass. Another way to
go around Hanoi is a motorbike taxi (called ‘Xe om’). Depending where you want to go you
pay the driver around 10.000 -40.000 VND. Remember always to negociate the price. There
are of course taxis in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. If you go by taxi do not forget to tell the
driver to switch on the taxi meter. It is also possible to discuss the price before you leave.
6. TRAFFIC
Traffic in Vietnam is VERY chaotic. As you will notice it very quickly when you will arrive
here, the most dangerous thing is to cross the street. Be very careful with the road traffic,
even after a few days. Don’t be too confident!
Traffic accidents, mostly involving
motorcycles and often resulting in traumatic head injury, are a very serious danger.
Traffic moves on the right, although drivers frequently cross to the left to pass or turn, and
motorcycles and bicycles often travel (illegally) opposite to the flow of traffic. Horns are
used constantly, often for no apparent reason. Streets in major cities are choked with
motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and cyclos.
Outside the cities,
livestock compete with vehicles for road space. Sudden stops by motorcycles and bicycles
make driving dangerous.
The urban speed limit ranges from 35 to 40 km/h. The rural speed limit ranges from 40 to
60 km/h. Pedestrians should be careful, as sidewalks are extremely congested and
uneven, and drivers of bicycles, motorcycles also drive on sidewalks.
For safety,
pedestrians must look carefully in both directions before crossing streets, even when using
a marked crosswalk with a green “walk” light illuminated.
Motorcyclists and bicyclists, foreign and Vietnamese volunteers, MUST wear HELMETS.
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7. TELEPHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS
Vietnam Emergency Numbers are essential for you to know whether you are a short term
or long term volunteer in Vietnam. In case of an emergency you can call these numbers
and ask for help.
The three main important numbers are the number of the police station: 113, the number
of ambulance: 115 and the number of the fire brigade: 114.
- There is no phone line in the youth house but your friends and family can call you in our
office in the morning or in the evening (GMT +7), our phone number is +84 4 2154993 (in
emergency) in HANOI.
- You can buy a very cheap Sim-card for your mobile phone with around 75.000VND ($4.5),
it is the best solution if you want to stay in touch with your family abroad.
- Furthermore, you will find Internet café in the city with cheap price (about 3000-9000
VND/hour).
8. WHAT TO BRING?
When thinking about traveling to Vietnam, do not be misled by the cinema images of hot,
steamy jungle. Although the country is located entirely between the Equator and the tropic
of Cancer, Northern Vietnam has a subtropical climate and can be cold in the winter
months. Southern Vietnam is hot all year long with 6 months of monsoon - rainy season.
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IN THE NORTH: warm clothes if it is winter, casual light clothes for other seasons,
raincoat.
IN THE SOUTH: light clothes, raincoat and shoes that can resist water during rainy season
You should bring
 Sleeping bag, sheet and pillow
 Sun cream, hat
 Protective measures against mosquito
 Your mobile phone (if you stay here for a long time it is convenient to buy a
Vietnamese Sim-card for your mobile phone)
 Some things about your country (posters, music, postcards, map, video, food) and
your family to introduce about you to the children and other volunteers)
 Pocket money
 Personal pharmacy
 Don’t bring clothes that will attract attention such as short skirts or shorts,
sleeveless or plunging necklines t-shirts.
 If possible bring only ONE bag to have more space in your dormitory.
IV. VIETNAM GENERAL INFORMATION
Vietnam (Việt Nam), officially named the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the
easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China
on the north, Laos on the northwest, Cambodia on the southwest, and the South China Sea
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on the east. With a population of nearly 90 million people, Vietnam is the 13th most
populous country in the world.
Capital:
Hanoi
Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Population: nearly 90 million
Official languages: Vietnamese
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Time Zones: GMT/UTC +7
Country Dialing Code: +84
Internet TLD: .vn
Electrical Plugs:
220V 50Hz
Weather
With a multitude of altitudes and latitudes there's always somewhere that is pleasantly
sunny and warm if you're prepared to search for it. The weather usually is hot and humid,
around the low 30°Cs (high 80°Fs), but if you head north and along the coast they cool
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down to comfortable temperatures toward January. The weather is determined by two
monsoons; the winter monsoon comes from the northeast between October and
March bringing wet chilly winters to all areas north of Nha Trang, but dry and warm
temperatures to the south. From April or May to October, the southwestern monsoon
brings warm, humid weather and buckets of rain to the whole country except for those
areas sheltered by mountains.
Events
Some of the major religious festivals follow a lunar calendar. They include: Tet (late
January or early February), the most important festival of the year which lasts a week
(with rites beginning a week earlier), marking the new lunar year; Wandering Souls Day
(Trung Nguyen), held on the fifteenth day of the seventh moon (August), the
second-largest festival of the year, when offerings of food and gifts are given to the
wandering souls of the forgotten dead; Summer Solstice Day (Tiet Doan Ngo) in June which
sees the burning of human effigies to satisfy the need for souls to serve in the God of
Death's army; and Holiday of the Dead (Thanh Minh) in April commemorating deceased
relatives.
Facts about Hanoi
Located in the northern part of Vietnam, Hanoi is the capital of this South-East Asian
country. A thousand year old city, situated at the banks of the Red River, with an estimated
population of about 4 million inhabitants. With many colorful districts including the French
styled Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem lake, the modern New Quarter, and the more touristy
Tay Ho. Altogether,
Hanoi is a buzzing and exciting city with many interesting places to visit, a city never to
forget.
Weather in Hanoi
In Hanoi there are four distinct seasons: Spring, summer, autumn, and Winter. But it is
possible to divide the climate here into two main seasons: the rainy season from May to
September (it’s hot, heavy rain), and the dry season is from October to April (it is cold, little
rainfall).
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Facts about Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon)
Ho Chi Minh City formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam.
Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of
the independent state of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The metropolitan area is
populated by more than 9 million people. Ho Chi Minh city is the economical capital of
Vietnam and it is very busy. Among the spots to visit are famous pagodas and temples and
the Chinese quarter with Cholon market.
Weather in Ho Chi Minh
It is hot around the year in Ho Chi Minh. Annual average temperature is 28ºC. There are
two seasons in South Vietnam the rainy and the dry season. The rain season is between
April to November, the dry season from December to May. During rainy season there are
monsoon rains, very heavy rains… better stay inside a house or have a good raincoat!
Do’s and Don’ts
Vietnam is a friendly and safe place to travel. With a sprinkling of common sense, your trip
should be smooth and trouble free. Tourists usually complain about over-aggressive street
vendors, tour operators with a bad attitude and dangerous driving. However, with a cool
head and sensible planning, one can avoid these problems.
DO’S
Greetings are no different to western countries, there are no cultural formalities that as
a foreigner you would be expected to know or practice.
Vietnamese dress conservatively. Despite the heat, it’s best not to show off too much
skin. If you do, especially girls, you’ll only draw stares from the locals.
Dress well when visiting pagodas. No shorts or tatty beer t-shirts. Shoes are fine, and
rarely will you have to remove them. If unsure, just follow what the locals do.
Drink plenty of bottled water, especially when walking around sightseeing. No need to
carry huge bottles around with you, a vendor is never far away and no doubt they will find
you before you find them.
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Keep your cash, credit cards, airline tickets and other valuables in a safe place.
Remember that there is no right or wrong in cultural difference: only difference. Talk
about it, laugh about it, and share it with fellow travelers...
DON’TS
Don’t wear a lot of jewelry or take a bag/purse with you when going out. Violent crime
is highly unusual in Vietnam, but petty crime is common. If you wear a bag, or a digital
camera around your neck, you are a potential target.
When taking a ride by motorbike taxi (Xe om) make sure your bag, if any, is not on
display or easy to grab. Bag snatches, although still rare, are probably the most likely crime
a tourist would encounter, and this probability gets higher if you are tailing a camera or a
laptop in the wind.
Don’t wear shorts, skirts or dresses, or revealing clothes in temples or pagodas.
Physical displays of affection between lovers in public are frowned upon. That’s why you
may come across couples holding hands but not hugging or kissing.
Losing your temper in Vietnam means a loosing your face. Keep a cool head and remain
polite, you will have a greater chance of getting what you want.
Remember, this is Vietnam, a developing country, and things don’t quite work as you
are used to. Don’t be paranoid about your safety; just be aware of your surroundings.
Do not try to take photographs of military installations or anything related to the
military. This can be seen as a breach of national security.
Never take video cameras into the ethnic minority villages. They are considered to be
too intrusive by the local people.
Vietnamese food
Famous for its fresh flavors and artfully composed meals, Vietnamese food is the true
'light cuisine' of Asia. Many dishes are served with abundant fresh herbs and green
vegetables. Delicate soups and stir-fries, and well-seasoned grilled foods served with
rice or noodles are the main dishes of the Vietnamese delicacies. The sweet dishes for
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snacks or desserts are often a mix of fresh fruits with sweetened rice, tapioca or coconut
milk. Vietnamese cooking also reflects its Chinese and French influences. Vietnamese
food has numerous regional differences; in the south, look for plentiful fresh
seafood and in the colder north, you might find more meals with beef. In central
Vietnam, around the ancient royal capital Hue, the food may contain influences of
the former court cooks.
Rice is the most important ingredient, present in all main meals. Also very typical of
Vietnam is the fish sauce named “nuoc mam” which is made from salt and fermented
fish.
Some popular Vietnamese dishes
Pho
‘Pho Hanoi’ is one of the most famous dish and favorite food of Vietnamese. It is made
from flat rice noodles, some pieces of beef or chicken, hot soup water and special spices:
onion, garlic and coriander. You can eat ‘Pho’ everywhere in Vietnam, but it is said that the
best ‘pho’ you can get is in Hanoi.
Nem or Cha gio, fried spring rolls
‘Nem’ in the North and ‘Cha Gio’ in the South are made with vegetables,
meat,
mushrooms, noodles and some spices. These ingredients are rolled in rice paper and fried.
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Vietnamese people dip these delicious rolls usually in home made fish sauce ‘nuoc mam’.
Pho cuon or Goi cuon, fresh spring rolls
Fresh spring rolls are almost the same as ‘Nem’ but ‘pho cuon’ is not fried and included
only fresh ingredients, like salad, coriander and shrimps or cooked beef.
Banh Bao
‘Banh Bao’ is a dumpling which is usually eaten in the morning or as a snack during
the day. Inside is meat, some special spices and a duck egg.
Useful sentences
1
Xin chao
Hello
2
Cám ơn
Thank you
3
Bạn tên là gì?
What is your name?
4
Bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is it?
5
Bạn có khỏe không?
How are you?
6
Tôi khỏe. Còn bạn?
I am fine, and you?
7
Chúc ngủ ngon
Good night
Useful websites
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Our Vietnamese Maps
http://map.sjvietnam.org
Hospital and doctors in Hanoi: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/acs_medinfo.html
Hospital and doctors in Ho Chi Minh:
http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/medical_legal_advice.html
Vietnamese Music
http://www.sjvietnam.org/music
Transportation
http://gotohanoi.com
http://www.dulichvietnam.com.vn
Flight Information
http://www.vietnamairlines.com
http://www.pacificairlines.com.vn
http://vemaybay.net
Vietnam railways
http://www.vr.com.vn/english/
Accommodation:
http://www.travelvietnamhotel.com
http://www.vietnamtripadvisor.com
Money Exchange
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
Weather
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/VN_cc.htm
Time Zone
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock
Extra Information
http://www.vietnamtourism.com
http://www.footprintsvietnam.com
http://www.vietnamopentour.com.vn
Un ETAI pour le Vietnam
http://www.etai-vietnam.org
SJV INFOSHEETS:
http://infosheet.sjvietnam.org
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