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6 Reviews
95%Overall
Rating
Program Description
UBELONG - Responsible volunteering in Vietnam - fees from US$390/2 wks
Description
UBELONG offers 2-week to 6-month volunteering opportunities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) . There are over 20 projects in different fields, including: business development and microfinance, caregiving, education, health and NGO support.
Highlights
-Extremely affordable fees
-Flexibility: You choose what to do, when you start and for how long you volunteer. The projects run year-round.
-Extensive pre-departure preparation.
-Field orientation.
-24/7 field support.
-Housing and meals included.
Ratings and Reviews
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I volunteered for a month in Hanoi and it was my best experience eve!
80%Overall
Rating
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Volunteering in Hanoi - Jennifer Du Mond
100%Overall
Rating
Volunteering in Vietnam through UBELONG was a life-changing experience for me. For years I had wanted to participate in some sort of international volunteer work, but none of the programs that I looked at quite matched what I wanted. Some wanted a lengthy time commitment, some were too expensive, and most of them didn't have the types of projects I was looking for - which was anything health or HIV related. Raul solved that problem when he found ME and suggested that I check out his organization.
At first I was skeptical of the complete stranger suggesting that I should send him money and then fly to a foreign country, but I decided to start by looking at the website, and I became progressively more and more secure about what UBELONG was offering. Each of my concerns about other organizations were addressed quickly by the website - great flexibility for length of stay, the most affordable option for volunteering that I've found, and most importantly, a wide variety of projects, with details up front about what was expected by the organization and what could be expected by the volunteers.
I quickly found a project that I found incredibly appealing - public health volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam. I had just applied to Master of Public Health programs for the following fall, and I was looking for an opportunity to get some experience in my new field before diving into my studies. I applied to the UBELONG program called "Promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness", but my application went in right around the time of Tet in Vietnam and UBELONG was having trouble getting through to the host organization. UBELONG responded by preemptively talking to the organization hosting the other public health project in Hanoi and finding a place for me there, and when they called me a couple days later, I was given the option to keep waiting for the HIV project or accept the one that was already happy to take me on, and I chose to do just that.
Over the next couple months, while I was making all of the necessary preparations for the trip, I was in regular contact with Raul. UBELONG has a set of several standard emails and skype conversations that they have with every volunteer, but Raul quickly responded to all of my additional emails, answering in detail every question I could think to ask. He even found time to meet with me in Washington, DC while I was there for an unrelated trip. By the time I left for Vietnam, although I was still nervous, I felt like Raul had prepared me incredibly well.
Throughout the trip, Raul was in contact with me to see how things were going. I received check-in emails from him immediately before and after my flight to Vietnam and approximately every two weeks after that. We also had a phone/Skype conversation while I was there and he has listened to all of my concerns and suggestions and has quickly made appropriate changes, as necessary. I am incredibly grateful for his work as my mentor, and his support made the experience of traveling to a completely foreign country where I didn't know the language at all much easier. I would highly recommend UBELONG to anyone else considering international volunteering (and I have suggested it for a few friends already).
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Experience of a Lifetime
90%Overall
Rating
I volunteered for three weeks as an English teacher in Hanoi, Vietnam through UBELONG. What initially attracted me to UBELONG was the organization’s genuine philosophy and passion regarding international volunteering and the outstanding affordability of their programs. I continued to be impressed by how thoroughly they prepare volunteers beforehand and how quickly Raul (co-founder and my volunteer mentor) responded to all of my questions and concerns.
The pre-departure Skype interview with Raul also provided a wonderful opportunity to better familiarize myself with UBELONG and the people behind the organization. I felt like I really got to know Raul and he took a genuine interest in getting to know me and my motivations for volunteering in Vietnam. The entire process confirmed to me that I had definitely chosen the BEST organization and program for my international volunteering experience.
Overall, I had am amazing time in Hanoi and I can’t say enough about how pleased I am with UBELONG. If you are looking into volunteering abroad, my advice would be to take this opportunity right now in your life and DO IT! You will gain friends, memories, and skills that will last you a lifetime. And in choosing a program through UBELONG, you definitely will not be disappointed with the quality of their organization and the support you will have along the way!
6 of 17 people found this review helpful
Great Summer Experience
100%Overall
Rating
My summer volunteer experience in Vietnam was one full of great insight. I learned the ins and outs of living in a South East Asian country. My volunteer work allowed me to interact with the local people and learn about the problems that face that country now, and problems they foresee in the future. If I wasn't at work or exploring the unique beauties of Hanoi, I was travel around the country. I saw sights that could only be explained through picture. I was lucky enough to meet a great friend while I was there. We still talk to this day. Even Though we are thousands of miles apart, we pick up our conversation right where we left off. I own a large amount of my enjoyment to Ubelong. They allowed me to relax and enjoy my time while it lasted. They took great care of me, my happiness was their first priority and I never felt like I was abandoned. I would recommend Ubelong to anyone looking for unique summer experience.
10 of 20 people found this review helpful
Great summer experience
100%Overall
Rating
My summer volunteer experience in Vietnam was one full of great insight. I learned the ins and outs of living in a South East Asian country. My volunteer work allowed me to interact with the local people and learn about the problems that face that country now, and problems they foresee in the future. If I wasn't at work or exploring the unique beauties of Hanoi, I was travel around the country. I saw sights that could only be explained through picture. I was lucky enough to meet a great friend while I was there. We still talk to this day. Even Though we are thousands of miles apart, we pick up our conversation right where we left off. I own a large amount of my enjoyment to Ubelong. They allowed me to relax and enjoy my time while it lasted. They took great care of me, my happiness was their first priority and I never felt like I was abandoned. I would recommend Ubelong to anyone looking for unique summer experience.
17 of 30 people found this review helpful
UBELONG: Two Thumbs Up!
100%Overall
Rating
Vietnam, however far you live from it, is worth the trip. Its beauty is often underestimated, as its gorgeous beaches, vibrant markets, and friendly people make for a whirlwind of an adventure.
Surviving Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the tropically humid rainy season may be a challenge to some, but the fast-paced city life will definitely keep you on your toes. The crazy motorbike traffic, people sitting on the side of the street, and the street vendors offering sugar cane juice and lychee contribute to the excitement of the city. In general, the Vietnamese are incredibly welcoming to foreigners, which facilitated my transition to the new environment and thus lessened the impact of culture shock.
As nervous as I was for my trip, UBELONG was completely supportive and helpful from day one. They made sure to give me all of the knowledge and skills that I needed to succeed in my teaching and living experiences there. I am so thankful to have chosen such an outstanding program with which to volunteer abroad!
Alumni Interviews
Read our interview with Ai Yamasaki, another UBELONG Vietnam volunteer alum
GO:Why did you decide to volunteer with UBELONG in Vietnam?
Ai: I heard about UBELONG through a friend of a friend (essentially a stranger), which is not always a reliable source, but I decided to go for it and apply to the program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I wasn't sure what to expect, but from the very first email that UBELONG sent me, I could tell that I had made a good choice. They were so helpful, attentive, and supportive, even connecting with me on Skype to make sure that I was adequately prepared to embark on my journey. They talked to my parents, answered all my questions, and calmed some of my fears before I left to immerse myself in a new culture. I could not have been more satisfied with the way UBELONG guided me through!
GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Ai: In Ho Chi Minh City, my day-to-day activities included: grabbing a home-cooked breakfast, catching the bus, teaching an English class at a local elementary school in the city, eating lunch, going to another site to teach English to local volunteers, then coming back home and taking a rest. Some days I would also have a Vietnamese lesson, where the same volunteers would teach me common phrases in their language. Usually I would have one day off per week, and I used the weekends to travel out of Saigon to the Mekong Delta, to Da Lat, etc. It was very easy and cheap to plan such tours, which were typically bus tours with food and hotels booked in. During the evening hours, I often met up with my fellow volunteer teachers at a nearby cafe to relax while brainstorming ideas for the next day's lesson.
Ai volunteering with elementary school children in Vietnam
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Ai: In high school, I had dreamed of volunteering abroad, but I never thought that I would be able to do so. I love kids, I love to volunteer, I love to teach, and most of all, to travel. Being a bilingual first generation Asian American, I have always been fascinated by new languages and cultures. On this trip, not only did I have the chance to learn about Vietnamese culture, I also made friends with the other international volunteers from Britain, France, Ireland, and Australia. I was proud because I even had several chances to correct European stereotypes about Americans.
The month I spent in Vietnam was not only an eye-opening experience, but it was also a push for me to grow as a person. At home amongst my peers, I was relatively shy and reserved, keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself. Being a role model to the children and a cultural ambassador with the volunteers, I found myself becoming more confident and outwardly compassionate. I learned how important it was to express yourself, to have an open mind, and to love! What makes us fundamentally human is our ability to think, share, create, and of course, to change; although I feel as though I am still in the process of self-discovery, my experience in Vietnam definitely put a whole new perspective on my true self. I am eternally grateful for UBELONG and all of the people I met in Ho Chi Minh City for such an incredible trip!
I volunteered for a local NGO in Hanoi, Vietnam for a month this past December and it was undoubtedly the best learning experience of my life thus far! Not only did I get an opportunity to see how NGOs in Asian countries function but I also got the chance to go out into the field - the beautiful Khe Ro forest in the outskirts of Hanoi - and explore this site's ecotourism potential.
I picked UBELONG because of its affordability and the wealth of precise and detailed information that they provide about their programs. Additionally, my volunteer mentor, Raul, was exceptionally helpful and made sure to answer any query and concern that I may have had. The Safety Meeting that Raul conducted over the phone with me made me absolutely sure about my choice of organization! In UBELONG, you can find a support system that is constantly there, no matter which country in the world you may be volunteering in.
Volunteering in Vietnam through UBELONG was the best decision that I have ever made and I look forward to volunteering this summer again… perhaps in South Africa! Thank you, UBELONG, for a fantastic experience!