Vietnam A Philosophy For Travelers

Let’s Go believes that the connection between travelers and their destinations is an important one. Over the years, we’ve watched the growth of the “ignorant tourist” stereotype with dismay, knowing that many travelers care passionately about the cultures they visit and environments they explore, but also knowing that even conscientious tourists can inadvertently do harm to natural wonders and local communities. With this chapter, Let’s Go hopes to promote a better understanding of Vietnam and provide suggestions for a more meaningful experience there.

In Vietnam, there are several different options for Beyond Tourism activities. Structured opportunities for volunteering abound, both with local and international organizations; casual volunteering is less common and easiest to find in urban centers. Studying can also be fulfilling, either in the form of direct enrollment in a local university or via an independent research project. In most cases, Let’s Go discourages working in the developing world due to high unemployment rates and weak economies; certain jobs in Vietnam, however, such as teaching English, translating or editing for publications, or low-paying development work, help more than they hurt. Indeed, you might find it easier to find a job than a volunteer position if you head overseas without a plan: Vietnam already has a number of local volunteer organizations of its own, many of which are closed to foreigners or prevent them from truly meaningful volunteering by restricting the time frame of their commitment or the degree to which they can participate. A great general online resource for programs in Vietnam is www.goabroad.com.

Much of Vietnam suffers from severe poverty. Although the economy is currently looking up, the country is still recovering from decades of warfare and economic hardship. As a volunteer in Vietnam, you can participate in projects from building local schools to teaching English to working in an orphanage, either on a short-term basis or as the primary purpose of your trip. There are also a variety of programs that incorporate travel and exploration into service projects. Later in this chapter, we recommend organizations that can help you find the opportunities that best suit your interests, whether you’re looking to pitch in for a day or a year. Regardless of your personal goals, there should be a program, charity, or venue that can help you along your way. We recommend organizing a volunteer project ahead of time; such jobs are difficult to find after you touch down in the country, given the predominant Vietnamese attitude toward letting foreigners volunteer. But we’ve heard enough stories of foreigners waltzing into a local orphanage and finding a volunteer position that we do not discourage trying. You might be lucky enough to arrange to stay and help out for more than just an afternoon.

Studying at a college or language program is also a worthwhile option. Regardless of your age, a long-term stay in a foreign country will undoubtedly have a profound influence on your life and your perspective. Study abroad programs typically provide a relatively easy transition into a foreign culture through extensive orientation, and are thus a convenient means of immersing yourself. A number of programs which focus on issues related to economic development are offered through various international institutions, but if you’re looking for something a little different, you might want to try experimenting with your culinary skills (see Cooking Schools).

Although there aren’t many jobs available to expatriates in Vietnam, a few opportunities exist in the non-profit, tourism, and information technology industries. As a general rule, the only jobs on offer are ones that wouldn’t be available to Vietnamese anyway—where local firms can hire Vietnamese instead of foreigners, they nearly always will. Americans can research potential employment avenues via InterAction: American Council for Voluntary International Action (www.InterAction.org). Most available positions are directed toward those willing to stick around for at least a year. It is best to have Vietnamese language skills if you’re in the market for a job that isn’t teaching English, and plan ahead—don’t count on arriving and finding a non-teaching job waiting for you. At the same time, you shouldn’t have too difficult a time finding job teaching English once there, and it might save you time dealing with bureaucratic red tape. You might also keep an eye out for editing jobs, which are often paid under the table. If you do land a job after arriving, you’ll have to leave the country (head into Cambodia or Laos) and return a few days later in order to transfer the status of your visa.

As far as accommodations are concerned, most programs that you register for beforehand will take care of housing. Some programs coordinate homestays, which provide a unique opportunity for a more comprehensive immersion in the local culture; others help in the apartment search process or house students in their own facilities. If you take on a job or volunteering position after you arrive, no need to worry—housing is typically pretty easy to find and refreshingly inexpensive in Vietnam . While apartment searching in the bigger cities, you need not worry about racking up inordinate expenses; there are plenty of budget hotels and hostels available listed in the book you’re holding right now.

Of course, you’re welcome to zip through the country admiring all of the diverse marvels it has to offer, but if you really want to get to know the culture, it’s best to stay a while and engage with it. We’ve listed here plenty of alternatives to tourism to suit a range of interests and goals, but it’s up to you, the independent traveler, to take the initiative to see Vietnam for all it really has to offer.