Add-ons and experiences available in Vietnam

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program finished? IVHQ makes it easy to be flexible with your arrival and departure dates and offers extra nights of accommodation that you can pre-arrange before you depart. 

You will be accommodated in the same volunteer house that you will be staying during your time on the program so you can settle right in with no need to be moving around. Please note that the maximum you can book for is one day before or after.

Introduction Week is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and local life, and have extra time to bond with your fellow volunteers. You’ll also get to see some of Ho Chi Minh’s notable landmarks, visit markets and take a Vietnamese cooking class. Plus, it’s a great way to help ease any culture shock you might feel when arriving in Vietnam.

Introduction Schedule

DAY 1 - Start off with an introduction to the Vietnam program, the local team, general rules and a class on the local culture and language. In the afternoon, learn about the local projects, go on a walking tour of the local area, and arrange your sim card.
DAY 2 - Start the morning off visiting some famous places in Ho Chi Minh City, such as the Reunification Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Spend the afternoon  visiting the Opera House, Walking street, last stop at the famous Ben Thanh Market symbol of Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 3 - Spend your morning learning the art of Vietnamese cuisine at a cooking class. Your afternoon consists of bracelet making, followed by a visit to the local markets which are near to the volunteer accommodation.
DAY 4 - You will have the opportunity to visit one of the most popular museums in VietNam " War Remnant Museum" , after that discover a religious site, the Vietnamese National Pagoda. Next visit will be the beautiful Flower Market and the last stop is Local street food market. It's time for you to enjoy your real local food
DAY 5 - You’ll spend the day visiting the most famous historical site in the city - the Cu Chi Tunnels, a must to see in Ho Chi Minh city. Here you will experience and learn about the North Vietnamese soldiers lives during the Vietnam War. After the tour you will begin your introduction to your volunteer placement and receive the placement-specific orientation.

Important note:
The Introduction Week is offered as an extension to your program duration and runs as a comprehensive orientation for the first 5 days of your stay. Once you complete the Introduction Week, you’ll be ready to start volunteering on the following Monday. This means that if you want to volunteer for 2 weeks and you add the Introduction Week to your itinerary, you’ll be hosted by the local team for a total of 3 weeks.

Exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels is an immersive journey into Vietnam's history during the Vietnam War. Here's a brief overview of what you can expect on the tour:

Included in the Tour:

Recommended Items to Bring:

With these essentials in tow, you're all set for an unforgettable exploration of the Cu Chi Tunnels and the remarkable stories they hold.

The Foodie tour focuses on street food dishes that most people outside of Vietnam have never had a chance to experience. Unlike most other Vietnam food tours, we won't serve you Pho, Spring Rolls, Vietnamese Pancakes, or Banh Mi Sandwiches. We also won't make you eat dog meat, bugs, organs, raw food, or anything too weird. All food and drinks are included in the price!

This is not just a food tour but also a great way to see parts of the city that the majority of tourists don't get to experience. Most visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are stuck in district 1. On this tour, we'll take you to other popular districts and show you how real Vietnamese people live, work, and eat!

The tour includes 2 unique sightseeing stops with 3 amazing food venues and lasts about 4 hours. The sightseeing stops provide you time in between each food stop to rest your stomach so you can eat more delicious food.

The tour lasts around 3-4 hours and is only available on Wednesdays beginning at 5PM.

Want your airport drop off organized for you for the end of your IVHQ Vietnam trip? We can book an airport transfer for you from your volunteer accommodation back to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) at an affordable price. 

Without knowing what the right price is to pay in Vietnam for an airport transfer, you can easily get overcharged, or spend a long time trying to haggle a decent price. Enjoy a stress free ride back to the airport arranged by our local team. 

You’ll be picked up from your volunteer accommodation in Vietnam at your chosen time, and driven directly to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) with plenty of time for your flight. Transfers to other destinations can also be arranged if you are heading somewhere else. 

If you are sharing this ride with a friend or family member only one of you will need to add this to your itinerary and pay for it.

If you arrive outside of Saturday or Sunday between 6am to 9.30pm before your program begins), your airport pick up is not included in your Program Fee. In this case, you can either make your own way to the program or book this add-on so the local team can organize your airport pick up.

If you are travelling with a friend or family member, only one of you needs to select and pay for this add on.