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Child Care Volunteering Program in Hanoi
For all those loving souls who wish to do something worthy for the underprivileged and disabled children of Vietnam, this is your chance to serve them in the most meaningful manner by volunteering with the kids.
You are placed at a childcare or special education center in and around Hanoi, such as a preschool, a center for children with disabilities, or a site like the Friendship Village, which supports children living with the effects of Agent Orange. Day to day you play with the children, help teach drawing, singing, or basic English, assist staff at lunchtime, and support the general running of the center. No previous childcare experience is required, and the program suits volunteers aged 17 and above, including solo travelers and families.
Placements run for 2–24 weeks, with a new start every week on Wednesdays, next 16 Sep 2026. You live at the volunteer house in Hanoi in shared, gender-based dorm rooms, and meals are cooked at the house three times a day except Saturdays. Programs start from $906 (deposit included, $249). A specific reason to choose this placement is the chance to work alongside local staff at centers supporting children with disabilities linked to Agent Orange, gaining exposure to specialized care settings rather than a general daycare.
- Volunteer at local childcare centers to spend time with kids, teach them and engage them in different activities
- Assist local staff in day-to-day activities (such as preparing meals for kids, upkeep of the center and taking care of kids)
- Volunteer work in and around Hanoi and work with kids affected by the aftermath of ‘Agent Orange’
- A lot of children suffer from autism, cerebral-palsy, down-syndrome, physical deformity, and severe mental disabilities
- Volunteers work on weekdays, 5-6 hours a day. Weekends can be utilized to travel around in the city
- Ideal opportunity for solo travelers, gap year travelers and families to volunteer in a safe, rewarding and life-changing project
Your role on this program
- Care for and play with children, including those with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, or Down syndrome
- Teach children drawing, painting, singing, or dancing as part of daily activities
- Assist local staff in preparing lunch and feeding children at mealtime
- Teach basic English words and numbers to the children
- Keep children engaged in creative activities such as origami, gardening, or making toys
- Support local staff with day-to-day upkeep of the center
- Help with administrative tasks or networking for the center if needed
- Support charity collections for books, clothes, or shoes for the children where possible
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You support local teachers and carers and are never left in sole charge of children; supervision stays with the center's own staff throughout. You do not provide clinical treatment or specialized therapy, even if you hold childcare qualifications, and this program does not place volunteers in orphanages. Duties may vary with the placement's needs.
A typical day and week
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Wednesday – Arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam
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Thursday – An orientation session will be conducted by the local team, informing the volunteers about relative topics such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestions about things to do in Hanoi and Vietnam
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Friday – Introduction at the Childcare Project
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Saturday – Day tour of Hanoi
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Sunday – Free day for you to explore and prepare yourself for volunteer work
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Monday to Friday – Volunteer Work
If you are volunteering for the Childcare Project, you’ll have to start your day at 7.45 am and come back home around 5.30 pm. Lunch break is from 10.30 am to 2.00 pm. In certain project placements which are located at a distance, lunch is provided to the volunteers or volunteers choose to have their lunch near the project at a restaurant.
The program ends on Wednesday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day. In case you need an airport drop, you ask for assistance from the local team or mostly participants use the services of a ride sharing or taxi app to book a drop to the airport.
As a childcare volunteer in Vietnam, you can typically expect to volunteer for about 5 hours a day, although this may differ depending on the final project placement allocated to you.
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating in.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17
- No previous childcare experience or qualifications required
- Open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new environment
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining the program
- Clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of the start date
- Travel and medical insurance, your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions
- Open to volunteers of all nationalities, religions, and backgrounds
The placement, its limits and your part in it
Placements are local childcare and special education centers around Hanoi, including preschools, NGO-run centers such as Khanh Tam, kindergartens, and centers like the Friendship Village that work with children affected by Agent Orange. Each center has its own staff, routines, and specific needs, so your exact tasks depend on which placement you are allotted.
Local teachers and carers direct the work and supervise volunteers at all times; you assist rather than lead. A criminal background check is required before placement, and volunteers are never given sole charge of children. Your contribution is extra hands for daily care, play, and basic teaching support, freeing staff time rather than replacing trained educators or clinicians.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in VietnamCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $906 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,081 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,256 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,431 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,606 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,781 | |
| 8 weeks | $1,956 | |
| Each additional week | +$175 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup
- Orientation and City Tour
- Food
- Accommodation in shared dorm style rooms at Volunteer house
- Local coordinators support
- Travel and Medical Insurance(Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- Airfare
- Visa fee
- Vaccinations
- Local Transportation
- Any personal expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
You should arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi (airport code: HAN) on the selected Wednesday start date. Our country coordinator will be there at the airport to greet you and you’ll be taken to the volunteer house. You’ll be provided with further details once you book your Hanoi volunteering trip with us, in your Pre-Departure Guidebook.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Hanoi will be provided at the volunteer house, located in a quiet and friendly neighborhood approximately a 45-minute bus journey from the Old Quarter of Hanoi – which is the main tourist area. Rooms are provided on the same gender sharing basis and all rooms have AC. The bathrooms are shared and each has a western style toilet and shower. The house has a fully equipped kitchen.
Free drinking water is available 24/7. There is also a lounge where you can hang out. Wi-Fi is also available in certain parts of the house including the communal area. Each volunteer is also provided with a locker to store away valuable items and there are wardrobes to hang your clothes.
Our local team has an office on the ground floor of the house, which makes for a great atmosphere and ensures volunteers are well supported throughout their stay. There is everything you need within walking distance of the Volunteer House: ATMs, supermarkets, launderettes,chemists etc.
Note that we do not offer a private room upgrade option available in the volunteer house accommodation.
Orientation
You’ll be arriving on a Wednesday and have your Orientation on Thursday. Before you start working at the project site, you’ll have a detailed Orientation Session where the local team will provide you with all the necessary information about volunteering in Hanoi. All your doubts regarding the Vietnamese culture, greetings, locations, transportation, safety, and volunteer placements will be given during the orientation. On Friday, you’ll be visiting your project site, and have an introductory session.
Meals
Volunteers will be provided with three meals everyday except on Saturday. Local Vietnamese food is provided to the volunteers and the meals are freshly prepared by the local cooks at the house.
On weekends, you can also go out and explore the restaurants and cafes in Hanoi. Meals mostly consist of rice accompanied by a chicken, pork, vegetable or fish dish. Depending on your work schedule, you eat lunch with other volunteers or at the project or at the volunteer house.
Breakfast generally consists of toast, coffee, tea, eggs and some fruit. Lunch is taken at the volunteer house or also offered at some project placements. A typical dinner at the volunteer might feature options like pork, fish, beef, or chicken, accompanied by tofu or egg, a selection of vegetable dishes, rice, and some soup.
If you’re keen to explore local flavours, you’ll find numerous cafes and amenities nearby. For a more vibrant experience, you can easily hop on a bus or taxi to the bustling Old Quarter in Hanoi, where countless dining options await!
During Your Free Time
On the first Saturday, we shall take you out for a day tour of Hanoi. Otherwise, you can make the most of your evenings by exploring the local markets and eateries. On weekends, you can set out to explore Halong Bay or the Sapa Valley. You will have a good opportunity to travel with other volunteers on the weekends and explore the different sights of Vietnam.We recommend you to also keep a few extra days after your program to explore Vietnam further. There are many places to explore and some popular options are Danang , Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh city.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Vietnam
Airport pickup
You arrive at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) on your start Wednesday, where the country coordinator meets you and takes you to the volunteer house.
First night
You settle into the volunteer house, a shared, gender-based dorm room with AC, in a quiet neighborhood about a 45-minute bus ride from Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Orientation
On Thursday, the local team runs an orientation covering safety, culture, language, and practical guidance for volunteering in Hanoi.
First project day
On Friday you visit your project site for an introductory session before starting regular volunteer work the following Monday.
Ongoing support
The country coordinator's office is on the ground floor of the volunteer house, and the local team provides a 24-hour emergency contact throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Vietnam
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing at the childcare center?
You spend time caring for and playing with children, teaching drawing, singing, or basic English, and helping local staff with tasks like preparing and serving lunch, with exact duties depending on your placement.
Do I need childcare experience or qualifications?
No experience is required; volunteers with childcare or special education backgrounds can take on more hands-on support, but it is not a requirement to join.
What does a typical day and work week look like?
You volunteer Monday to Friday, about 5-6 hours a day, with lunch either at the volunteer house, the project, or a nearby restaurant depending on the placement location.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run from 2–24 weeks, with a new start every week on Wednesdays; the next start date is 16 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Programs start from $906, deposit included ($249), covering accommodation, meals, airport pickup, orientation, city tour, and 24-hour local support; flights, visa fees, vaccinations, local transport, and personal expenses are not included.
Where do I stay and what do I eat?
You stay at the volunteer house in shared, gender-based dorm rooms with AC and shared bathrooms, and you get three meals a day except Saturdays, cooked by local staff at the house.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, the country coordinator meets you at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) on your Wednesday start date and takes you to the volunteer house.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
The local team has an office on the ground floor of the volunteer house and provides a 24-hour emergency contact throughout your stay.
What about visas, insurance, and vaccinations?
Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions; visa and vaccination guidance is sent in your pre-departure information, as these are not included in the program fee.
Is a background check required?
Yes, a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required before you can be placed with children.
Am I ever left alone in charge of the children?
No, you always work alongside and under the supervision of local teachers or carers and are never given sole charge of the children.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers aged 17 and above, including solo travelers, gap year travelers, and families, who want hands-on, supervised childcare support rather than a clinical or teaching-lead role.
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