Vietnam Hill Tribe Experience

Travel to Vietnam – the jewel of Asia – and take part in a cultural exchange that will leave you forever in love with Vietnam and its inspiring people, exotic food and stunning scenery.

From the jungle-clad mountain peaks of the north that descend into lush rice paddies by the Chinese border via the pristine beaches that fringe the central coast to the south where the iconic Mekong River meets the sea, travelling through Vietnam is an incredible experience.

Beyond this there is the country's historical and cultural dimension, whether in its visible Imperial and French colonial influence or the fading tragedy of the Vietnam War, the friendliness of its people and its ever popular cuisine.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Challenge yourself with treks through epic lush green mountain paddy fields.
• Gain a privileged and unique insight into the rural village life of indigenous tribes.
• Sleep in the heart of the misty mountains and awake to stunning views across the countryside
   

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum age of 18 years

FAST FACTS

Location	Sapa, Vietnam
Activities	Trekking between villages Hike along rice paddies and hillsides Experience the rural village life of indigenous tribes Visit exceptional landscapes
Transport	Airport pick-up and internal transfer up to Sapa in North Vietnam
Accommodation	Home stay

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go	Pre-departure support Travel & medical advice & documentation Equipment advice Discounted medical kit Free Frontier t-shirt
In-country	Accommodation Food Local orientation & training In-country emergency support 24-hour international HQ back-up

QUALIFICATIONS

A variety of qualifications are available on many of our projects. For example, BTEC certificates and diplomas on our Group conservation projects and TEFL certificates and BTECs on most of our teaching projects. You may also be able to gain a CoPE to support your university application. For more information on these qualifications, please see the qualifications section of our website or ask your volunteer advisor.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

On this project you will experience the authentic village life of indigenous hill tribes that have made a living on the rural hills of Vietnam. You will live, eat and sleep with local indigenous families as you trek through the sensational surroundings. This project helps to support sustainable tourism in the area and bring an additional source of income to the local communities who find their ancient culture and way of life walk hand-in-hand with modern technology. The sheer remoteness of the location however has meant that traditional farming practices have not been abandoned; and this project continues to offer an incredible insight into this fascinating community.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

As a small group you will walk along rice terraces and up and down the rugged beautiful landscape along with an experienced local guide who will introduce you to the local flora and fauna, local customs and village life. At each village sight there will be a chance to rest and get to know your hosts and try the local cuisine. Depending on the length of your trek you could visit 3 or 4 villages during the trip, all with a unique feel and insight.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

You'll need to fly into Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, where you will be met by a friendly Frontier representative before being accompanied on the journey north to Sapa where you can rest and relax, ready to begin the trek.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

In each of the villages along the trek, there will be a hospitable homestay family waiting to welcome you to the village. They will provide comfortable basic accommodation, dinner and breakfast for you and help you settle into village life.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

Vietnamese food ranges hugely in its variety but can mostly be seen to consist of different type of noodles along with meat such as beef and pork, and vegetables in a soup meal, with coriander and spice being hugely important. Most dishes incorporate four elements, sweet, sour, salty and hot flavours, and many of the dishes are rice or noodle based.
You will be provided with most of your food throughout the experience, but please be aware participants may be required to purchase some meals, for example when visiting local market stalls.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Other experiences popular in Vietnam include the Teaching project where you can get back to being part of the community and earn your TEFL certificate along with it. You can also try some of the more adventurous activities Vietnam has to offer, such as exploring the world famous Halong Bay by boat, get fitted for tailor made clothes in Hoi An, visit the Viet Cong tunnels or the Mekong delta in the South. If all this wasn't enough, our guides are always happy to advise you on where to go next!
 

COSTS

DEPARTURE DATES

Weekly, please arrive on the Sunday.

PLEASE CHECK AVAILABILITY WHEN APPLYING FOR THIS POPULAR PROJECT!

DURATION

1 week

This project is available throughout the Christmas period

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go

• Pre-departure support
• Travel & medical advice & documentation
• Equipment advice
• Discounted medical kit
• Free Frontier t-shirt

In-country

• Accommodation
• Food/most meals
• Airport pick-up
• Local orientation
• In-country emergency support
• 24-hour international HQ back-up

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Flights

Flights are not included in our trip costs. However, we have partnered with an experienced and professional team of travel experts to help our volunteers find the best flight deals for their trips with us. This travel specialist operates in the tailor-made, long haul multi-stop travel market, arranging complex airfares and transfers for independent travellers. They provide expertise, security and a vast product range along with a Travel Butler service which is a single point of contact and support whilst you are overseas.

We recommend that you obtain a quote using the following contact details rather than book online, as our partner will offer you the most competitive fares. To receive your quote or to seek any advice for your flights, please contact our dedicated team of travel experts on 0800 082 9994 (or +44 800 082 9994 outside the UK) or email frontier@flightcentre.co.uk .

Visas

For fast, efficient and up-to-date visa advice please contact our recommended visa consultancy partner:

• For UK residents  -  Click Here
• For US residents  - Click Here

Depending on your destination country and your country of origin, you might require a visa. Please see the appropriate country consular website for details or contact our affiliate visa consultancy service. Please note that your visa will usually start on the date that you enter the destination country regardless of when it was issued. Please check with the relevant embassy or high commission. If you are purchasing your visa or paying entry/exit fees in-country you will probably need to pay in US Dollars. If you have any questions please consult the relevant embassy or high commission. Please check the visa information regularly, as changes often happen without warning.

Insurance

You'll need to buy appropriate travel insurance covering your participation on the project. You won't be able to go without the right travel insurance so double check to avoid disappointment. Please make sure that you're covered for the whole duration of your trip – from the day you leave the UK to the day you return. It's also best to get your travel insurance at the same time as paying the deposit for your project. Depending on your policy, this will cover you for any unexpected cancellations.

Your insurance should include the following:

• Medical cover, including medical emergencies and medical evacuations (up to USD$3,000,000 / GBP£2,000,000);
• Personal liability (up to USD$1,500,000 / GBP£1,000,000);
• Cancellation and curtailment of your trip (up to the value of your project contribution).

If you are going to be scuba diving you should get coverage for scuba diving up to 30m, including hyperbaric therapy treatment (unlimited). You should consider obtaining insurance to cover you for any additional activities which you plan to do during, before, or after your Frontier project. We recommend that you obtain cover for your baggage and personal effects.

---

LEGAL STATEMENT
Frontier Partner Projects and Frontier group projects are run in partnership with in-country NGOs, small community based organisations, local research institutes, academic organisations and conservation agencies. Project descriptions and information are supplied directly by our partners or field staff and are accurate at time of publishing.

We aim to keep information up to date and accurate, however, the nature of our projects and in particular the fact that they are constantly evolving and developing in response to changing needs means that project activities, travel schedules, tour itineraries and daily timetables can change overnight and without notice.

To apply for this placement, click on "Apply Now" below. Fill in the short application form and one of our advisers will then call you back to answer any questions and make sure this is the perfect placement for you. Applying doesn't cost a penny and you won't pay anything until you're completely happy and you're ready to reserve your place.