Visions Vietnam

  Vietnam

• Hanoi: 
Hanoi
• All Other Areas in Vietnam: 
Hue,  Hoi An

Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: July 3 - August 7

Description: VISIONS Vietnam will encompass both urban and rural elements of this fascinating nation. The pulsating bustle of historic Hanoi, Hue and Da Nang, mazes of narrow, labyrinthine streets and alleys and new motos buzzing all about, aromatic markets with exquisite cuisine and vibrant hanging lanterns. The country landscapes of legendary unsurpassed beauty; stunning contrasts of lushly serene rice paddies, rolling hills, mountains and jungles, and the coast. Ancient architecture. Fascinating relics. And the rusted remnants of a war long over.

Service is the centering lens through which you'll view Vietnam. We'll spend the bulk of our time in the Ba Vi District outside of Hanoi and away from tourist districts. A key VISIONS partner is Volunteers for Peace Vietnam, which lends support to one of VISIONS' principle project site, the Thuy An Disabled Children Center. The Center is a small community enclave established to improve housing, education and health care for Vietnamese young people, many of whom have been disabled by the long-term, cross-generational effects of chemicals used in the war. There are many needs at the center and in the surrounding community, and the VISIONS' work will include construction and maintenance of housing facilities, developing a sustainable garden for the center, doing water improvement projects, and spending time with the young children who anxiously await our visit. Assisting us will be Vietnamese teenagers with whom we'll also enjoy non-work time.

Highlights: Woven into the weeks of community service will be many occasions to mingle with Vietnamese of all ages and backgrounds. Afternoons, weekends and evenings will mix a variety of socializing and exploring. Our home base of the Ba Vi District is home to more handicraft villages than anywhere else in the country, and we will be sure to visit a few. We will also explore some of the many sites of Hanoi, and one entire weekend will be spent in the stunningly beautiful Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site to the north. The last five days of our program is mostly travel exploration withan opportunity to experience the central part of Vietnam. There, we will visit the DMZ, the historic capital of Hue, a silk-producing town known as Hoi An, and the coast whose unique beauty has drawn travelers for ages.

Cost in US$: 5,250

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Vietnam Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Visions Service Adventures's Mission Statement: VISIONS offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Year Founded: 1989