Going to Vietnam this summer, what are some things I should/shouldn't do?

Volunteering in vietnam?

• I'm going to visit my family in Vietnam this summer and I figure I might as well do some volunteer abroad stuff. Upon research, I could only find things that made you pay to volunteer. I asked one of the programs if since I already had food, board, and transportation set if I still had to pay fees or if I could just show up to help. Their response? "Our product may not be right for you. We don't have volunteers just SHOW UP." I mean I know there needs to be some decent training but PRODUCT?! It's freakin' charity work! I'm sure there will be free local volunteer opportunities but as someone who only speaks conversational Vietnamese, I'm not sure if I will be able to find a place. What should I do?

• Answer:

  Unfortunately, every program you'd find on the web requires you to pay them to volunteer. That's because they have to hire people to administer the program and that costs money! The only thing I'd advice is to write the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese- Ho Chi Minh City at this e-mail address: [email protected] You did not give sufficient information but I assume that you'll be staying in Ho Chi Minh City?