Cat Ba is the largest of the 366 islands spanning 260km2 that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago, which makes up the southeastern edge of Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam.

Cat Ba is the largest island in the Bay and approximately half of its area is covered by a National Park, which is home to the highly endangered Cat Ba Langur. The island has a wide variety of natural ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial, leading to incredibly high rates of biodiversity. Types of natural habitats found on Cat Ba Archipelago include limestone karsts, tropical limestone forests, coral reefs, mangrove and sea grass beds, lagoons, beaches, caves, and willow swamp forests.

For all of its natural beauty, Cat Ba Island faces numerous environmental problems. Increases in tourism and recent developments threaten the ecological integrity and biodiversity of the island, reducing and fragmenting the natural habitat for Cat Ba's numerous species. Illegal hunting and poaching, overfishing, and water pollution in Ha Long Bay continue to threaten the ecological health of the island. The island is a national park of Vietnam and was recognized by UNESCO in December 2004 as a Biosphere reserve of the world.

Organize activities for the children, small renovation at school, activities to raise awareness of youth and local people about environment, climate change, protect white-headed langur at Cat Ba National park...etc

Cat Ba island, Hai Phong city.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Volunteers will stay with the host families. Meals are self-prepared.

Flash light, sleeping bag, prove-water clothes, raincoat, gift from your country for host-family, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel has become the 900th site to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the centre of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.

Lesson of basic principles and techniques of archaeological excavation for children at world heritage site. Workshops, discussion and other creative activities should be added to share learning experience of volunteers with the local youth or student at university.

The Imperial citadel of Thang Long, Ha Noi city

Noi Bai international airport (HAN).

Volunteers will stay at the volunteer’s house with basic accommodation. Meals are at the local restaurant.

Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, toiletries. Toys for kids are appreciated as well.

Ky Quang Pagoda is a charity organization where more than 200 children including newborns spend their lives. The children are not only orphaned but also disabled, having-AIDS or suffering from fatal diseases. With their golden hearts and nonstop contribution, 17 mothers and monks have been devoting their time and effort to the care of the children. They not only take care of and guide the disabled children to practice their body to be rehabilitated physically, but also give lessons including Braille for the blind children to help them know to read and write in order to integrate into the community normally. Ky Quang Pagoda has gradually turned into a full house where the disabled children, poor orphans or beggars to ask for joining.

Organize activities for the orphans who live in a pagoda, support the monks in feeding and taking care of the kids, especially disabled children. Sometimes we will help with small constructions at the pagoda.

Volunteers will stay in basic accommodation at the guesthouse. Western style bathrooms, wifi are available. Meals are provided at a local restaurant nearby the site.

Ky Quang pagoda, Ho Chi Minh city.

Tan Son Nhat international airport (SGN)

Public bus

Sleeping bag, info materials and pictures of your country, presents, toys and activities materials for the children if you have prepared any.

Background BUOC-village is a small village of Thai-people (an ethnic group came from southern of China) with very pure landscape. As you can see on the above map, this area is placed by only green color and a lot of mountain. Because of this natural condition, Thai-people here rely mainly on agriculture. In the past, the village was located adjacent to streams and people in the village used water of the stream for gardening. During the rainy season water from the mountain goes down through the streams and washes everything away, making it very dangerous to live close to the stream. For this reason, the government has helped residents here to move to higher lands, and build permanent \traditional houses with wood. 10 years have passed since the new BUOC-village was reconstructed in 2002. Currently, firm houses, concrete roads, electricity have become the basic-living-condition of every villager. Although the stream is very beautiful it is dangerous. Despite the good aspects of new infrastructure, villagers still lack a lot of education and understanding about modern society. Therefore, it would be very helpful to help and stay with BUOC-villagers.

Help local people to garden and repair traditional houses (if needed), organize leisure activities for their children and cultural exchange with the villagers.

Buoc village, Hoa Binh city.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Volunteers will stay together in the bamboo house; western toilets and bath room are available. Meals are normally served by the local people with the help of volunteers.

Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow, prove-water clothes, raincoat, info materials, pictures, specialties and traditional clothes of your country, you are encouraged to bring along small gifts for the local people and the children and volunteers of your camp.

Since the Youth Centre project was launched 9 years ago SJ Vietnam has succeeded in meeting their first target goals due to the support of our local and international partners and endless hard work of our coordinators and volunteers.

SJ Vietnam had sent most of the disadvantaged, poor and street children to public school and vocational school where they can acquire a proper education and get integrated into the society. Nevertheless the school fees, provided entirely by SJ Vietnam, are rather expensive and need to be covered. SJ Vietnam will therefore continue to provide education to the children staying at the Youth Center but will also participate to activities to raise funds to cover the children school fees. The Centre demonstrates the important role of volunteerism and public-private partnerships in social development.

gathering together to establish this center for disadvantaged, poor and street children; create a space for people to exchange ideas, have a chance to study vocational skills and to be integrated in the community. We also want this center to be a place for Vietnamese youth to exchange their knowledge, experience and culture with international volunteers via workshops and everyday exchange. The Youth House school has now become a Youth center.

Organize activities for disadvantaged children who live illegally in the Red river and at the school nearby Youth center.

Volunteers will sleep in volunteer’s house at SJ Vietnams office. Meals are at local restaurant. Volunteers will have lunch at the Youth center with children and the other volunteers.

Hanoi

Noi Bai Airport (HAN)

Sleeping bag; sleeping mat. Toys for kids are appreciated as well.

Phu Yen is one of the CEC is an environment for children aged from 6-15 years old and an English supportive center for adults who take part in in-service training and associate training courses with universities and colleges throughout the country. In Phu Yen, volunteers will teach English to children and support the teachers to improve the english teaching methods.

Organize a play scheme for the children during summer. Different workshops such as painting, sport, art, dancing will be held by volunteers. Teaching some basic English to the children through games, songs, activities. Small renovation for classroom at the kindergarten.

C&C center, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen province.

Nearest International airport: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN).

Tuy Hoa airport

Volunteers will stay at the center with basic conditions. Volunteers will share a toilet in the room. Meals are cooked by volunteers.

Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raincoat, swimming suites, info materials and pictures of your country, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.

Background BUOC-village is a small village of Thai-people (an ethnic group came from southern of China) with very pure landscape. As you can see on the above map, this area is placed by only green color and a lot of mountain. Because of this natural condition, Thai-people here rely mainly on agriculture. In the past, the village was located adjacent to streams and people in the village used water of the stream for gardening. During the rainy season water from the mountain goes down through the streams and washes everything away, making it very dangerous to live close to the stream. For this reason, the government has helped residents here to move to higher lands, and build permanent \traditional houses with wood. 10 years have passed since the new BUOC-village was reconstructed in 2002. Currently, firm houses, concrete roads, electricity have become the basic-living-condition of every villager. Although the stream is very beautiful it is dangerous. Despite the good aspects of new infrastructure, villagers still lack a lot of education and understanding about modern society. Therefore, it would be very helpful to help and stay with BUOC-villagers.

Help local people to garden and repair traditional houses (if needed), organize leisure activities for their children and cultural exchange with the villagers.

Buoc village, Hoa Binh city.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Volunteers will stay together in the bamboo house; western toilets and bath room are available. Meals are normally served by the local people with the help of volunteers.

Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow, prove-water clothes, raincoat, info materials, pictures, specialties and traditional clothes of your country, you are encouraged to bring along small gifts for the local people and the children and volunteers of your camp.

Giao Xuan is one of the poor villages in Nam Dinh province. Villagers’ lives are associated with sea including salt production, marine aquaculture. This hard work depends on the weather; therefore, villagers face many difficulties for their lives. More than 90% of the villagers are poor farmers and fishers, which makes them difficult to build good facilities for children in the village. Giao Xuan kindergarten is not an exception. The kindergarten was established in August, 1990. Experiencing 25 years, it is now in a bad condition such as cracked and moldy walls, leaky ceiling. However, there are still more than 100 children coming to this school every week. Although this is the only school of the commune, the living conditions of the children here are very poor and are in need of renovation.

Help to paint the rooms at kindergartens; organize games and leisure activities for the poor children; teach basic English through games, activities, songs…

Giao Thuy commune, Nam Dinh province, 150 km from Ha Noi.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Volunteers will stay with the host families. Meals are self-prepared.

Flash light, sleeping bag, prove-water clothes, raincoat, gift from your country for host-family, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.