Vietnam Gap Year

Hanoi

Your journey will start the French-colonial city of Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River and home to a special combination of faded classical buildings and ancient pagodas. Here you will spend your first five days.

A vibrant place to explore markets, food stalls and museums before heading out to verdant landscapes, traditional villages, and the iconic Ha Long Bay.

Upon landing in Hanoi at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your lovely friendly family run guest house in the city centre which will be your main base. From here you head off to explore the old town, sample some local delicacies and navigate the tuk tuks.

For the second five days you will travel North to discover the small ethnic minority villages, set amongst stunning emerald-green rice paddy fields, that are cocooned by beautiful mountain landscapes.

- School construction projects; building a kitchen or toilet
- Painting and tiling the school yards and surrounding area
- Help setting up a library and fixing chairs and tables
- Teaching English to the children
- Teaching personal hygiene to the children
- Playing different sports and games

Mai Chau

For the second five days you will travel North to discover the small ethnic minority villages, set amongst stunning emerald-green rice paddy fields, that are cocooned by beautiful mountain landscapes.

- School construction projects; building a kitchen or toilet
- Painting and tiling the school yards and surrounding area
- Help setting up a library and fixing chairs and tables
- Teaching English to the children
- Teaching personal hygiene to the children
- Playing different sports and games

Accommodation

Stilt House Home Stay

Food

3 meals a day

River cruise

After saying goodbye to your new friends and the incredible smiley and friendly local people that you have befriended, you will travel back to Hanoi and then onwards to the World Heritage area of outstanding natural beauty – the iconic Ha Long Bay. Known for its emerald waters and vast limestone islands topped with rainforests - straight out of a movie set.

Here you hop on board a local junk boat for 2 nights to explore the lagoons, secluded beaches, and floating villages.

Accommodation

Gorgeous cabins on Oriental Sails Junk boat

Food

3 meals per day from the set menu

Protect the endangered

wildlife heritage and enchanting scenery.

The Endangered Primate Rescue Centre was established in 1993 and is a non-profit rehabilitation, breeding, research, and conservation centre of Vietnam’s endangered primate species. The centre is home to around 150 primates representing 15 species. Seven of these species are kept only at the EPRC, and at no other facility in the world.

For 7 nights you will live in the park to learn about primate conservation whilst supporting the wildlife keepers with their daily jobs such as:

• Preparing the food, feeding, and cleaning enclosures.
• Repair and construction of cages
• Giving tours to visitors to the EPRC
• Gardening and upkeep of grounds
• Updating animal records
• Assisting in design and distribution of promotional materials
• Assisting in data collection and collation

Accommodation

The EPRC is located inside Cuc Phuong National Park, and all accommodation is within walking distance. You will stay in an EPRC bungalow or a National Park room, depending on what is available at the time of booking. All accommodation is equipped with private bathrooms, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.

Food

3 meals per day

Time to sight-see

Hoi An is a city on Vietnam’s central coast known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals.

The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shop houses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda.

Embrace the history of this iconic destination then wind down on the beautiful beaches. The perfect combination.

Accommodation

Home Stay

Food

Breakfast only - giving you flexibility to explore.