Kindergarten Child Care Worker in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh

To book an activity with us we require you to participate for a minimum of two weeks. Therefore, you would need to book a quantity of two for this activity, unless you choose a separate activity to go with it. See the ‘Related trips…’ section for more options

Kindergarten Child Care Worker in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
This local kindergarten can really use your help with the day to day tasks required to service local children from ages 3 to 6 years old. You will work at a well organised and nicely run kindergarten in one of the 4 classrooms available and assist the teaching staff. Most classes have between 10-15 children.

In the morning you will pick the kids up, play some games and maybe sing some songs in the school yard and then you will lead them to their classroom. Once they are settled in, you can engage with the children with different learning activities that may include teaching English and helping them practice writing in their notebooks. You can even use other creative and fun ways to help them learn basic tasks through songs, dance or games.

At lunchtime you will help with bringing out the food, helping the children and cleaning up the eating area. After the meal is complete, you will help put the children down for a nap.

The afternoon activities of fun and learning will begin at 14:00 once the children have awakened and will continue until the day is over at 17:00 when they are returned to their parents. Weather permitting, some of these activities may take place outside, so children have space to run and play.

CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) Check
It is required that participants complete a CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to take part in this project. We can provide this service for you at an additional cost because some people may already have one that is valid (please get in touch for more details).

Gap Year and Career Break Teaching in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Soak up the sun in Southeast Asia and bask in the rich cultural history and meet amazing like minded people all whilst giving back to the local community on a volunteer teaching placement in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Despite being one of Vietnam’s most popular cities, the popular destination refuses to be spoilt by such attention and manages to retain a real sense of cultural heritage and Vietnamese charm; with beaches that remain serene and almost untouched it’s easy to let your mind wander and imagine you were the first to discover this fascinating land.

Start dates are every week of the year with your activities starting on a Monday. Saturday or Sunday between 06:00 – 21:30 to be met upon landing by our team. Flight arrivals after 22:00 will incur an additional fee for pickup. Saturday arrivals need to book one extra night at our accommodation, so arriving on the Sunday will be your better option.

Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation.

Aims & Objectives
Gain valuable experience caring for local kindergarten aged children
Gain insight into the local work ethic and culture, through interactions with local staff
Provide an extra set of hands and eyes to local teachers

Schedule
Monday to Friday
After breakfast, you will begin the morning session from 7:30 – 11:30AM; engaging in creative learning activities with children. Expect to plan and create a variety of games, activities arts and crafts to help the children learn. Afterwards you will prepare children and eating area for lunch and once this is finished help with cleanup and put children down for a nap. Lunch is usually around an hour and then at 14:00 the afternoon session begins, again engaging in creative learning activities with children which lasts until 17:00.

Location
Aside from the beautiful countryside of the north, rice fields and beaches, Vietnam is a country that is very much on the move. Roads are being upgraded, new hotels are opening everywhere and its cities are developing. Although Vietnamese culture is rooted in the ancient indigenous Dong Son culture with wet rice agriculture as its economic foundation, certain aspects of its culture have Chinese influence.

Accommodation and food
About the accommodation
The accommodation is located on a campus in a college dorm. As such, it follows certain campus rules such as a night curfew at 12AM. We also have a room reserved as an “office”, where you can go to if you want some peace and quiet. We have books and magazines available here for you to borrow. There is the nice local café next to our dorm. A beautiful and peaceful place where you can enjoy fresh juices, snacks etc.

Available room types

* On weekends brunch instead of breakfast and lunch
** Water, coffee, tea at the accommodation
*** Wifi may be unstable/ limited
**** At extra cost
***** In an effort to go green, we have installed a hot water solar system, as such, there may be a shortage of hot water during cloudy days or at night time.

Food arrangements
Basic Vietnamese meals are provided on campus. Food include some western dishes such as sandwiches, spaghetti and bread.

Facilities
There are many taxis around our campus. You can easily catch one from the main road to reach your destination of choice in Ho Chi Minh. There are several ATMs in the area where we stay. The nearest one is about 10 minutes walking distance from our campus. All necessary amenities can be found in the city, remember we are located in the country’s capital after all!

Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

• Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
• Vietnamese Do’s and Don’ts, Vietnamese Culture Lessons and Vietnamese Language Lessons.
• Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
• Lunch
• Activities with local students and more

Activities and Events
Wednesday Afternoon: Football is arranged for the participants every Wednesday together with the local coordinators.

Sights and Surroundings
Here are some interesting places to visit in your free time/weekends!

Within Ho Chi Minh
As a large city, Ho Chi Minh has a lot to offer from shops to Vietnamese water puppet shows. Here are a few suggestions:

Backpacker street
Bui Vien Street is the main street, it is called ‘backpackers area’ of Ho Chi Minh City. There are a wide variety of inexpensive restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and hotels/hostels. You can shop, dine and party on Bui Vien Street.

Landmark 81
Landmark 81 is the tallest building in Vietnam, Southeast Asia. As of July, 2018 and the 14th is the tallest building in the world.

Bitexco tower
There is an observation deck, Saigon Skydeck, open to the public daily and offering 360 degree panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City. From floors 50 to 52, there are further F&B and entertainment offerings, including a fine dining restaurant and bar/nightclub.

Suoi Tien Amusement Park
Suối Tiên Amusement Park is an amusement park in District 9, Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam. The park includes several entertainment areas. The landscaping and attractions in the park illustrate Vietnam’s history and legends.

Dam Sen cultural park and Water Park
Dam Sen Cultural Park is an amusement park located in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The park has an area of 50 hectares, of which 20% comprises lakes and 60% trees and gardens. Dam Sen Water Park is top 10 Water Park of Asia in 2014.

Thien Hau temple
The Thien Hau Temple, officially the Ba Thien Hau Pagoda, is a Chinese-style temple of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu on Nguyễn Trãi Street in the Cho Lon of District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam Quoc Tu pagoda
The Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda is located on 3 Thang 2, District 10 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The pagoda, seven stories tall, is full of colourful, oversized statues of religious figures

Can Gio Island
Also known as Monkey Island, Can Gio Island is actually a series of small islands where jut out from the mainland near HCMC. This nature reserve comprises of 80,000 hectares of mangroves and water coconut forests.

Ba Den mountain (The black virgin mountain)
The Ba Den Mountain is a part of Nui Ba Historical and Cultural Complex in Tay Ninh, Vietnam, which is famous for its artless scenery and mysterious tales. This is the highest mountain in the south-eastern part of Vietnam, 986 meters high; it is the symbol of the people and the land of Tay Ninh.

Transportation
From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):

• Mekong Delta
• Phan Thiet

Accommodation
College dorm with shared rooms (4-6 people per room); Basic but comfortable; private bathroom facilities; Communal areas for socialising and relaxation; internet access and use of a TV with international cable channels; Single and double rooms may also be available – contact us.

Airport Transfer
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early/late. You be supported at the end of your trip in your onward travel.

Food
3 meals a day are provided on weekdays, and then 2 meals per day on weekends (brunch instead of breakfast and lunch); Basic but nutritious vegetarian meals are provided. Basic Vietnamese meals are provided on campus. Food include some western dishes such as sandwiches, spaghetti and bread.

Training
A full orientation and project induction takes place. You will also receive full training relevant to your volunteer role.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Donation
Part of your fee is used to buy decent equipment for the project and community you work with. If you wish to bring further donation, please make sure that this is in the form of equipment and not monetary donations.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary; Departure transfer.

Preferred Duration
There is no preferred duration but we believe that the longer you can stay the more you will experience and benefit.

Pre-requisites
No prior experience or qualifications are required, but an interest in community projects, and a desire to help others is required. It is important that you can speak English. All participants require a CRB check to take part in the project activities.

Ideal for
Teaching and Kindergarten Volunteer Holidays and Placements in Asia; Community Work and Activity Breaks in Vietnam; Volunteer Gap Years and Career Breaks in Asia; and Student Summer Holidays in Vietnam.