Volunteering in Vietnam: Reflections from a Journey of Connection
Spoiler: I didn't plan this. A friend nudged me at the AIESEC July LCM and somehow 'volunteer in Vietnam' went from just another chit chat to boarding pass within a month. The next thing I know, I was peeking through the airplane window just to get hit by the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh’s night market glow. I still remember stepping out of Tan Son Nhat Airport and being hit by the warm air and the smell of street food. I didn’t know it yet, but this country was about to change me.
Somewhere between lectures, exams and university chaos, I felt like I forgot who I was. Life has become a to-do-list. Wake up, attend lectures, study, sleep, repeat. I wanted to feel excited about my life again. To feel connected to something bigger than my own routine. To step out of my comfort zone. Volunteering felt like the perfect opportunity to do just that. It seemed like it would open doors to explore something meaningful, something I haven’t explored or felt before, something that would make me forget all my problems.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I mean, catching a flight to a whole new country alone isn’t something that I have done before. First night in Vietnam was absolutely terrifying. I was even considering leaving before completing my 6 weeks project. I was overthinking every possible worst-case scenario. I have never been so far away from my loved ones. I was stranded alone in a country where I could barely communicate without Google Translator. Thankfully I had my Exchange Partner Manager from AIESEC in Colombo South and my Exchange Partner Buddy from an AIESEC entity (HCME) in Vietnam along with my project’s host to assure me that everything is going to be alright.
Eventually, all the fear gave way to curiosity. And that curiosity is what kept me there.
My first week in Vietnam felt like stepping into a movie I wasn’t prepared for. The roads were filled with motorbikes flowing like a river with no rules, yet somehow everyone knew exactly where they are going. Street vendors called out in a language I didn’t understand but the welcoming smiles of theirs was universal. It didn’t take long for me to get comfortable with Vietnam.
I met my host family soon after, or more accurately the people who became my second family for the time being. I didn’t waste much time in getting into my volunteering work. It’s much more complicated than this but let me try to put it into simpler words. Basically, my project was to travel and market travelling. My host owned a hotel in this not so touristy town called Bao Loc. My task was to promote travelling to Bao Loc and promote his hotel. To be completely honest, Bao Loc is a hidden gem in Vietnam. I don’t understand how such a beautiful city is not crowded with tourists.
Although I was by myself in Vietnam, I never felt alone. AIESEC members in HCME was there to welcome me right when I set foot in the airport, locals of bao loc was there to guide me and give me tips about both the city and food whenever I felt lost, fellow backpackers were there to prevent me from feeling lonely when I decided to travel to other cities alone for weekends. I did not expect this much company, I physically and mentally prepared myself for 6 weeks in solitude. But no, I made some of the most genuine friendships through out those 6 weeks. I still remember how the locals would smile so hard and nod to greet you when you randomly make an eye contact with a local. One nice old lady at a small café taught me how to use chopsticks. I had no prior experience using chopsticks but I learned it within a week. We didn’t speak the same language, but every morning this grandma at my host place smiled and handed me a hot bowl of pho like it was her love language. I have so much love for every single person I met in Vietnam.
My working days were mostly on the weekdays, so I had the freedom to do whatever I want to do in the weekends. I would be a fool if I didn’t use that time to travel around in Vietnam and explore this ridiculously beautiful country. I travelled to 3 different cities from Bao Loc. Da Lat, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh. From the cold breeze in hill side Da Lat to the warm ocean air in Nha Trang it was all just magical. I think it would be for me to say that I truly did live my best life and gained the most cherish-able memories in those cities. Mario Karting, Zip Linning, Parasailing, Paragliding, Sea walking are only a few of the many activities I did through out my travels. Oh, and I’m not even going to get into the amazing places I visited because I could talk for days about those. The bus ride back to Bao Loc from those cities gave me so much time to think about the time I spent in those cities and although I felt a little sad leaving those cities, I always realized that I’m feeling so much alive. From flashy night markets to gorgeous views that made hikes worth it, it all made me felt alive like never before.
No journey is perfect and honestly, I think that’s what gives it its soul. Things go wrong. Plans change. And that’s where the growth happens. I would be lying if I claim my journey was perfect. I had to overcome so many struggles and challenges but looking back at them, I’m glad I faced them because without them it would be boring. The confusion you face when you land in a whole new country itself is the first challenge I overcame initially. Now combine that with homesickness and language barriers. Sounds like hell? Well, that’s because it is hell. Homesickness is something I overcame by making the people around me my second family. Everyone was so nice and kind so it was pretty easy to feel belonged with them. Language barrier was something I never fully overcame. I had to use Google Translator. A lot. I thought volunteering meant I would only be doing my project’s work. But most days, it was more than that. I learned a lot from this experience. And each challenge I overcame only made me stronger and tougher for the next challenge to come.
I came to volunteer. I left with friendships, stories, and a softer heart. I realized that growth doesn’t happen in comfort, it happens when you step into the unknown and let yourself be changed by it. I left with teary eyes but I still ask myself, “did I truly left Vietnam?” because there haven’t been a night where I wasn’t wandering around the streets in Ho Chi Minh city and hiking for the most satisfying views on earth in Da Lat in my mind since the day I came back to Sri Lanka. Best 6 weeks of my life and I would do it all again without a second thought if I get the chance to.
Written by Kavindu Jayalath
