Long-Term Posts in Vietnam (August 2009)The Vietnam program currently has posts in regions extending the length of the country, from the rural Mekong Delta to the bustling capital of Hanoi. Each post and each region offers our volunteers a unique perspective on the culture and landscape of Vietnam. There's something for everyone! Below is a complete list of post descriptions. This list is updated every January after the Vietnam program's annual winter meeting, when volunteers meet to discuss and vote on the opening of new posts. Actual post availability is known by March 1, after volunteers in the field have notified the VIA office of their decision of whether or not to extend for a second year. Most VIA posts require a commitment through June 30, 2010. Exceptions are noted below. All volunteers will be placed depending on preference and the needs of the Vietnam program. We do our best to match your interests and skills with the best post for you. Most volunteers get one of their top three choices. View Vietnam Posts in a larger map
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CAO LANH CITY, DONG THAP PROVINCE |
Post: Dong Thap University (DTU)
VIA Post Since: 2010
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or background in: Education/Teaching
Volunteer Function: English Teaching
About DTU: In 2003 Dong Thap Teacher's Training College was upgrade to a full-fledged university and has since been building their programs in teacher education and other fields. The university strives to equip future teachers and educational managers from Dong Thap and other provinces in the Mekong Delta with the linguistic, pedagogical and research skills they need to be successful as future educators. There are approximately 800 students in teh Faculty of Foreign Languages who will graduate to become primary and secondary level teachers of English in Dong Thap Province.
Volunteer Role at DTU: This is one of the only opportunities for a volunteer to participate in full-time team-teaching in the Vietnam program. The volunteer will work closely with Vietnamese colleagues to plan and teach subjects such as speaking and listening, writing, or American Culture to students in the Faculty of Foreign Languages Education. The volunteer will also have the opportunity to organize extracurricular activities with students. The volunteer will most likely be the only foreign teacher at the school, and will thus have the opportunity to have a sizable impact on this newly formed university. VIA will place one volunteer at DTU in 2010.
Housing: The volunteer will live on-campus in a private two-room apartment on the top floor of the administrative building. There is a canteen on the ground floor where the volunteer can enjoy low-price meals and the company of other staff members. In the afternoons the sounds of student volleyball games can be heard from the balcony. The University is about 5 km from Cao Lanh City along the main road.
About the area: Cao Lanh, population 150,000, is the capital of the province but it has a comfortable small-town feel. There are a few ecological attractions outside the city that draw Vietnamese tourists, but the foreign presence is quite small. The VIA volunteer will likely be one of a handful of foreigners in the city. Cao Lanh is located about three hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City by bus.
CAN THO CITY |
Post: Can Tho University (CTU)
VIA Post Since: 2006
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching
Volunteer Function: English Teaching
About CTU: Established in 1966, Can Tho University is the top university in the Mekong region serving students from 13 provinces of the Delta. Can Tho University is comprised of 9 colleges and schools and offers 57 fields of study for undergraduates, 15 for Master's, and 5 for Doctoral degrees. Visit CTU's Website
Volunteer Role at CTU: The volunteers will spend the majority of their teaching hours at the Center for Foreign Languages (CFL). Students will primarily consist of Mekong 1000 candidates, a group of young professionals who have been identified by provinces throughout the Mekong Delta as future leaders in their fields. Their goal is to improve their English and academic skills in preparation for pursuing graduate studies abroad supported by scholarships from their home provinces. Classes may include English pronunciation, presentation skills, debate and current events, essay writing, or cross-cultural communication. Volunteers may also spend some time teaching English to university students in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. A volunteer who has attended graduate school in the US and who has some background or experience with TOEFL and/or IELTS is preferred. VIA will place two volunteers at CTU in 2010.
Housing: The two VIA volunteers will share a small on-campus house with one
other foreign teacher. The housing is located on a main thoroughfare in
Can Tho, a 2 km bike ride away from the main campus. Each volunteer
will have his/her own bedroom. Bath and kitchen facilities are shared.
BINH THUAN PROVINCE |
Post: Thien Chi Community Development Center
VIA Post Since: 2009
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Rural and Community Development
Volunteer Function: English Teaching
About Thien Chi: Formerly under the umbrella of Vietnam Plus, Thien Chi ("goodwill") is an independently operated local non-profit organization that works to create sustainable development opportunities for the people of Binh Thuan province. Projects include agricultural, economic, and educational support, among other assistance. Visit Thien Chi's website
Volunteer Role at Thien Chi: The volunteer will teach English to Thien Chi staff, English teachers, government officials and other community members in two districts of Binh Thuan Province. Most of these adult students are at beginning to low-intermediate English level. There are few teaching resources in the district and the volunteer is expected to be creative, proactive and flexible in his/her teaching. The volunteer will also have the opportunity to learn more about Thien Chi projects and accompany the staff on site visits to outlying areas of the province. Note: this post requires a volunteer commitment through August, 2011.
Housing: The volunteer will live in a small rented house near the Thien Chi office.
About the area: The volunteer will live at the project office in Lac Tanh town, Tanh Linh district. Most of the 20,000 residents of the district are farmers. The town consists of a few small streets, a market, and some shops. There are no other foreigners living in this area and practically no foreign tourists. This post will allow for a complete immersion experience. Tanh Linh is three hours by bus from Phan Thiet, a tourist hub and the largest city in the province. From Phan Thiet it is another two to three hours by bus to HCMC.
DA LAT CITY, LAM DONG PROVINCE |
VIA Post Since: 1994
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching; Rural and Community Development
Volunteer Function: English Teaching/English Resource
About UDL: The University of Dalat was founded in 1958 as a Catholic university. It was reorganized in 1976 as a state-run institution and today, is the premiere educational institution in the Central Highlands. Dalat is currently home to more than 12,000 students. VIA works specifically with the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, which is one of the few of its kind in Vietnam, training future psychologists, social workers, and community development professionals. Visit UDL's website
Volunteer Role at UDL: The VIA volunteer will fill two different roles at the University of Dalat. The volunteer will teach English to young faculty from various departments of the University with the goal of preparing them for higher education abroad and enabling them to improve their research and international collaboration. The volunteer will also spend part of his/her time working with the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, assisting with setting up international partnerships and conferences, editing faculty theses and reports, and other English language support. The university would prefer a volunteer with a background in social work, community development or psychology, and a volunteer with a Master's Degree in any of these fields will have the opportunity to organize training seminars and workshops for the department's young faculty. VIA will place one volunteer at UDL in 2010.
Housing: The volunteer at Dalat University lives in a foreign guesthouse on the edge
of the school's hilltop campus. The volunteer has his/her own private room,
kitchen and bathroom. The volunteer's doorstep looks onto the University's field house and mornings are often filled with the sounds of student activities.
About the Area: The university is on the outskirts of Dalat in a quiet and scenic area, about 3 kilometers from the city center. The city is a former French hill station, and the architecture and winding roads set the town apart from other places in Vietnam. Dalat is one of the only places in Vietnam where the climate is relatively cool year-round, due to the high altitude. Dalat is well known in Vietnam as a honeymoon destination, and is one of the best places in the country to sample a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that can only be grown in the cool climate of mountaintop farms. Lam Dong province, and the central highlands provinces in general, are home to a number of Vietnam's various ethnic minority groups, and the volunteer will have the opportunity to learn about their unique cultures.
NHA TRANG CITY, KHANH HOA PROVINCE |
Post: Nha Trang University (NTU)
VIA Post since: 2006
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching; Tourism Management
Volunteer Function: English Teacher
About NTU: Nha Trang University is the only university in Vietnam which offers undergraduate and post-graduate programs in the fisheries industry. Most students are children of local farmers and fisherman and many are from low-income rural areas. The city's tourism industry has exploded in the past few years and there is a great demand for trained tourism professionals from the region. The English program is still relatively new. VIA works with the English Department as well as with the Tourism Department when possible. Visit NTU's website
Volunteer Role at NTU: The volunteer will teach first- and second-year English majors and may also team-teach non-English majors with Vietnamese teachers. Students come from all over central Vietnam and most hope to become teachers, tourguides or interpreters upon graduation from NTU. The volunteer will also coordinate the campus English club and assist students in finding internships and jobs in Nha Trang's booming tourism industry. The University would prefer a volunteer with a background in tourism or hospitality management. A volunteer with a degree in either of these fields will have the opportunity to assist with developing new curriculum for the Tourism Department and and training new faculty in this area.
Housing: The volunteer is housed on campus in a dormitory for foreign and young Vietnamese teachers. The volunteer has a private room and bath and may have access to a shared kitchen and living area. The dormitory looks out to the back street of the campus, which is bustling with student life.
About the Area: The University is situated on a hill about 4 km from the city center, overlooking the town on one side and the ocean on the other. The area is quiet and feels quite removed from the busy tourist center. However, a wide variety of stores and restaurants are just a short 15-minute bike ride away. Nha Trang is a scenic beach city and the capital of Khanh Hoa province. While a tourist destination for Vietnamese and foreign tourists, the city maintains a slow pace.
TRA VINH TOWN, TRA VINH PROVINCE |
VIA Post since: 2008
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching
Volunteer Function: English Teacher
About TVU: Tra Vinh University is a new university, formerly Tra Vinh Community College, located in Tra Vinh Town, four hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam. Students come from primarily rural areas of Tra Vinh province and others, and many have never had the chance to speak with a native speaker. Visit TVU's website
Volunteer Role at TVU: The University has set a goal of transitioning to an English-only curriculum for all majors within the next five to ten years, and the VIA volunteers will support the university in achieving this objective in several ways. Volunteers will spend part of their time teaching English to young faculty members in various departments and the remainder of their time teaching students in the departments of Foreign Languages, Chemistry and Business Administration. These students will begin studying their majors in English-only curricula in 2011, and the VIA volunteers will establish the foundation for their success. Classes may include listening and speaking, pronunciation and American culture. In addition, previous volunteers have worked with students to design community service projects with local organizations, and the VIA volunteers are encouraged to carry on these projects. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to assist the International Relations office with outreach and partnerships. VIA will place two volunteers at Tra Vinh University in 2010.
Housing: Volunteers live in a guesthouse for teachers located about 1 km from the town center and 1 km from the university's main campus. Each volunteer has a private bedroom and bath with a small space for a makeshift kitchen. The guesthouse opens onto a courtyard with a small cafe frequented by students and faculty.
About the Area: The main campus of the University is located on one of the small town's main thoroughfares, while the guesthouse is on a quiet side street. Tra Vinh is a bustling town of approximately 100,000 people, soon to be upgraded to city status because of population and economic growth. Tra Vinh is home to one of the largest populations of Khmer (Cambodian) people of any province in Vietnam, approximately 30%, providing a unique cultural and ecological experience for volunteers. With tree-lined boulevards and numerous pagodas and monasteries, Tra Vinh is an ideal location for those who want to find a true immersion experience--the handful of foreign volunteers are the only foreigners in town. Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City are two- and four-hours from Tra Vinh by bus.
HUE CITY, THUA THIEN - HUE PROVINCE |
Post: Hue University College of Foreign Languages (Hue CFL)
VIA Post since: 1992
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching, International Relations
Volunteer Function: English Teacher
About Hue CFL: This post is one of VIA's longest-running teaching posts. The new Department of International Studies provides training for the next generation of translators, professors and researchers in the field. English Department in the newly formed College of Foreign Languages. This University is the location of VIA's Teach in Hue summer program in addition to a long-term English teaching post. Visit Hue University's website
Volunteer Role at Hue CFL: The volunteer will teach students in the new Department of International Studies, with a particular focus on American Studies majors. First and second year students learn foundational English and the volunteer may teach listening, speaking, reading and writing courses with an American studies focus. Third and fourth year students take content-based classes in English, and a volunteer with a background in American literature, history, politics, or religion will have the opportunity to design his/her own course. The volunteer will also serve as a resource for the International Studies faculty and students, hosting office hours in the department on a regular basis. The University is looking for a volunteer with a background in American studies or International studies.
Housing:
The volunteer will live
in a guesthouse for foreign teachers and graduate students. S/he will
have his/her own room and may have either a private or shared bathroom
and kitchen.
Post: Friends of Hue Foundation Xuan Phu Children's Shelter (FHF)
VIA Post since: 2007
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching, Rural and Community Development
Volunteer Function: English Teacher
About FHF: The Friends of Hue Foundation was officially founded in May 2000 for the purpose of assisting victims of the November 1999 flood in Thua Thien Hue Province. The foundation runs several programs in Hue, including the Xuan Phu Children's Shelter. The shelter currently houses approximately 40 children who do not have parents or whose parents are too poor to support them. In addition to housing, the shelter provides food, supplemental classes, and a supportive emotional and learning environment for the children, who range in age from 5-21. In 2003, the shelter established its English Village Program with the aim of teaching English skills to the children and thereby providing them with job skills after they leave the shelter. Visit FHF's website
Volunteer Role at FHF: The volunteer will teach English to children in the shelter and low-income children from the surrounding community. The English classes include Children's English (ages 6-10), Primary English (ages 11-15) and Communication (ages 16-20). The younger students are true beginners and the goal of the classes is to inspire an attitude of confidence and enthusiasm for learning English. The older students study English with the hope of using it in their future jobs and succeeding on their high school and college entrance examinations. The volunteer serves not only as an English teacher but also as a mentor for the children, organizing extracurricular activities and spending time with them outside of class. The volunteer may also have the opportunity to learn about and get involved in the organizations various other community development projects. Note: this post requires a volunteer commitment through August, 2011.
Housing: The volunteer has a small room on the second floor of the classroom building at the shelter. A shared bathroom is down the hall from the volunteer's bedroom. The shelter is comprised of two buildings, the classroom building and the dormitory building where the children sleep. Meals are provided at the shelter and the volunteer is welcome although not required to join the children. The shelter is surrounded by rice fields and is a short bike ride away from the main street of Hue city.
About the Area: The Shelter is a 15-minute bike ride from the city center in a quiet suburban area, and about 10 minutes by bike from the VIA volunteer at Hue University. Hue, the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam, attracts many foreign tourists but maintains a small-town feel. Containing the old citadel, imperial tombs and hundreds of pagodas, Hue is an ideal place for those interested in Vietnamese history, religion and culture. Hue is home to seven universities, so the city is regarded as youthful and scholarly in atmosphere. Students fill riverside coffee shops and university libraries while market vendors drive a hard bargain at the famous Dong Ba Market. Hue has a cold, rainy winter season and an hot and humid summer season.
THANH HOA CITY, THANH HOA PROVINCE |
Post: Hong Duc University (HDU)
VIA Post Since: 2009
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching
Volunteer Function: English Teacher
About HDU: Established in 1997, Hong Duc University serves students from the North-Central region of Vietnam, most coming from Thanh Hoa province. With a staff of 772 and over 6,000 full-time students, Hong Duc University is a rapidly expanding university with forward-thinking leadership who strive to provide their students with the skills to meet the growing human resources demand in the region. English education and capacity-building plays a central role in this effort to improve the quality of human resources in Thanh Hoa, thus the HDU community is hugely appreciative of volunteer teachers. The university also has a growing number of international partnerships.Visit HDU's webiste
Volunteer Role at HDU: The volunteers will work primarily with the University's International Education Center (IEC), where students and young professionals from various fields study English communication and test preparation for one year before seeking a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree abroad. Many have received scholarships from the provincial government and will return to Thanh Hoa to serve their community in the public sector upon graduation. The volunteers will teach courses such as English communication, reading and writing and American culture. One volunteer will have the opportunity to work with a newly established high school training program, building the English language level of local high school English teachers and visiting their classes at various local schools. VIA will place two volunteers at Hong Duc University in 2010.
Housing: The volunteers will live in a faculty guesthouse on the main campus of the university. Each apartment consists of a living/bedroom, a small kitchenette and a private bathroom.The housing is near the students' dormitories, university post office, and health clinic, and is only a few steps away from the main classroom and administrative buildings. Beyond the university gates is a bustling main street with a produce market and plethora of cheap student eateries.
About the Area: Thanh Hoa City, the capital of Thanh Hoa
province, is about four hours south of Hanoi. The city boasts a population of
several hundred thousand inhabitants and is a commercial and
educational hub for the province. Thanh Hoa province is one of the
largest provinces in Vietnam in terms of area, and also one of the
poorest provinces, particularly in the remote and mountainous regions
outside of the city. Because the province is close to the capital, foreign investment potential is high and the province seeks to rapidly improve their educational infrastructure to meet new human resource demands. This city has few foreign
visitors and the volunteers will be a few of the only foreign residents in town.
HANOI |
VIA Post since: 1990
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Information Technology; Education/Teaching
Volunteer Function: Information Technology teacher
About HANU: The Hanoi University is one of the top educational institutions in Vietnam. HANU provides training in 11 languages and has approximately 50 staff and 1000 students. The University has developed a unique program to train students in intensive English during the first year of study, followed by three years of major study in English. The University also houses several collaborative programs with international universities which prepare and facilitate undergraduate study abroad. Visit HANU's website
Volunteer Role at HANU: The volunteer will teach in the Department of Information Technology, a new department with young faculty and the potential for volunteer input into curriculum development. Courses may include database systems, programming, and others. The volunteer may also have the opportunity to supervise fourth-year students' thesis projects or organize internships for students with IT companies in Hanoi. This post requires a volunteer with a degree or extensive work experience in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related fields.Housing: The volunteer will live in an international dormitory on campus and will share a kitchen and living area with students and faculty from China, the US, Laos, Japan, Australia, and other countries.
About the Area: Hanoi University is located in Thanh Xuan district of Hanoi, about 40 minutes and a 3,000 Dong bus ride from the city center. Hanoi University is unique in that families have purchased homes and opened businesses within the campus walls, creating the feeling of a small, close-knit town that is sheltered from the noise and traffic just outside the main gates. With a population of over 2 million people, Hanoi is the political and cultural center of Vietnam. Past volunteers have gotten involved in musical theater performances, local non-profit organizations, and sports associations during their free time. There is never a lack of things to do in Hanoi, and most volunteers find a way to balance their work in the suberbs with some free time in the city's buzzing central districts.
HAI PHONG |
Post: Hai Phong Private University (HPU)
VIA Post Since: 2009
This post is particularly suitable for individuals with an interest or a background in: Education/Teaching
Volunteer Function: English Teacher
About HPU: In its twelfth year of operation, Hai Phong Private University received non-profit status from the Vietnamese government in May, 2008. This university is driven by student initiative and participation, and a visitor can see evidence of this from the "Student Hotel," run exclusively by student leaders, to the active classroom environment fostered by progressive teachers. Visit HPU's website
Volunteer Role at HPU: The rector of HPU has set an ambitious goal that all members of the HPU community, from the students to the cafeteria workers, will be able to communicate in English within the next five years. The volunteer will contribute to this effort by teaching English in the department of foreign languages, including classes in speaking and communication. The volunteer will likely teach English to motivated faculty members during as well. Additionally, the volunteer may have the opportunity to work with the office of International Relations in establishing partnerhips and programs with other universities and organizations outside Vietnam. VIA will place one volunteer with HPU in 2010.
Housing: The volunteer will live in the university's faculty guesthouse, a four-story building about 2 kilometers from the main campus classrooms and administrative buildings. The volunteer will have his or her own studio apartment with a small kitchen, bathroom, and balcony, and can also enjoy daily meals prepared by staff for a reasonable price both on-campus and at home.
About the Area: The faculty guesthouse is situated on a quiet side-street, and is frequently occupied by various guest lecturers and faculty from Hanoi or other countries. Hai Phong, a major port city with a population of nearly 2 million, is about 100 kilometers east of Hanoi. The city is a rapidly growing industrial center and is home to a number of higher education institutions. Although comparable in size to Hanoi, the city feels smaller, quieter, and a little more manageable than the busy capital. Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an easy day-trip from Hai Phong. Although many tourists stop through Hai Phong on their way to Ha Long, there are few long-term expatriates and the volunteer will benefit from an immersion cultural experience.
For more details on our long-term programs, please see the FAQ, Why VIA?, How to Apply, and Program Fees pages. You can also take a look at other program pages, a list of important dates or download a 2010 Application.
Contact Lillian Forsyth, Vietnam Program Director, with any post-specific questions or to be put in touch with former volunteers.