Vietnam

Volunteering with turtles in Vietnam

Right in the national park
work with wildlife
Varied activities

Many of the turtle species that live in Vietnam are critically endangered. In the country's oldest national park, you can volunteer with turtles for conservation and research. Take on interesting and responsible tasks and support the day-to-day running of the facility!

National Park Vietnam

from 17 years

2 - 26 weeks / from €1.650

Wednesday, Sunday

life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-VI258

As a volunteer
Vietnam

2 - 26 weeks / from €1.650
to the cost overview

Turtles in Turtles National Park in Vietnam

What's the matter?

When volunteering in the field of wildlife and animal welfare, you should make sure that the welfare of the animal and the protection of species are the top priority for the project. With our magazine article We would like to give you not only an assistance on what you have to pay attention to the project choice. We also want to show you why animal welfare is even important in tourism and during a project assignment.

Various turtle and sea turtle species make their home in Vietnam. Among them are some critically endangered species, such as the Yangtze giant soft-shelled turtle. The biggest threat to turtles in Vietnam is habitat loss caused by humans. Turtles are also hunted for their meat and shells in many parts of Asia - as a delicacy or as part of traditional medicine. Especially in the 1980s and 1990s, the illegal wildlife trade was extremely common.

As a volunteer you will work in a turtle sanctuary in the middle of Vietnam's oldest national park. The organization was founded in 1998 to protect the biodiversity of turtles in the region. Today, the facility is a pioneer in the region in this field and fortunately awareness of animal welfare is growing in Vietnamese society.

The facility is located in a national park about 100 kilometers southwest of Hanoi. Surrounded by limestone mountains, green paddy fields and traditional mountain villages, the national park offers an ideal habitat for 122 species of reptiles and 135 species of mammals. The center covers an area of 7.000 square meters. More than 800 turtles of 25 different species live here. Most were confiscated from the illegal trade.

The aim of the institution is to educate the population about the protection of turtles in order to promote species protection. Volunteers who bring a lot of motivation to support this work are always welcome in the facility as support!

Your tasks as a volunteer

As a volunteer, you support the staff at the Conservation Center in preparing the food, cleaning and expanding the tanks and enclosures. You can also help with the documentation of data and research results. In the veterinary field, too, the specialist staff on site would be happy to receive your support.

Another area of responsibility is the organization's public relations work. You update the website and social media channels. You can also guide visitors through the facility and provide educational work on animal welfare.

Work at the center usually begins at 7:30 a.m. During your lunch break you can go to the restaurant in the national park together with the other volunteers. After that, you usually work until 16:30 p.m. Normally you have the weekends off, but you may have to support us once in a while. In this case you will get another day off.

Accommodation Catering

Accommodation in the national park in Vietnam

all fotos

Guest House in National Park in Vietnam

During your volunteer work in the national park you will live in a guest house. Your accommodation is simple, but equipped with Western toilets, showers with hot running water, WiFi and air conditioning. Up to 20 volunteers from all over the world live in the shelter. You share a room with two or three other volunteers.

You will get breakfast and dinner at your accommodation. For lunch you can go to the small restaurant in the national park with other volunteers. You can get good and cheap food there.

The location in the middle of the national park offers a fantastic starting point for excursions on the weekends. You can rent bicycles near your accommodation and public transport also runs to nearby attractions such as the Tam Coc Caves.

Location

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National Park Vietnam

During your time as a Wildlife Volunteer in Vietnam, you will live in the beautiful setting of a national park, located about four hours southwest of Hanoi.

In the impressive landscape of limestone mountains, rice fields, forests and hilltop villages, this place provides an ideal habitat for 122 species of reptiles and 135 mammals.

So if you love animals and nature and want to discover Vietnam authentically, this location is ideal for you!

Your free time in the national park in Vietnam

During your time as a volunteer in Vietnam, you will live in the beautiful setting of a national park about four hours southwest of Hanoi. In the impressive landscape of limestone mountains, rice fields and dense forests you can get to know authentic Vietnam. The location in the middle of the national park is the perfect starting point for all excursions on your days off. The only important thing is that you let your volunteer coordinator know where you are going.

Rent bikes in the national park, go on trekking tours or go sing karaoke with the other volunteers and the locals. A visit to the nearby nature reserve is also worthwhile, because with a bit of luck you will see Delacour's black lagurs, a rare species of monkey.

Very close to the national park, in Bai Dinh, is also the largest temple in Southeast Asia, which you can visit. Or you can take a trip to the former imperial city of Hoa Lu with its numerous temples and buildings embedded in the breathtaking green, mountainous landscape. A trip to the Tam Coc Caves is also spectacular. You can discover the three caves on a guided boat tour.

On-site procedure

Arrival in Vietnam

For your stay abroad in Vietnam you fly directly to the capital Hanoi. It's a good idea to spend the first night in Hanoi, especially if you land later. Our team will pick you up at the airport and you will spend the first night together in accommodation in Hanoi.

On your arrival day you can relax in peace or explore the area. The orientation program begins on your second day in Vietnam. After the first part of the orientation program in Hanoi, you will go to your final project location.

Orientation program in Vietnam

Your orientation program in Vietnam starts directly in Hanoi. Together with a member of the RGV team and any volunteers who may have traveled at the same time, you will first do a city tour. You will also get an introduction to life in Vietnam and the most important dos and don'ts will be explained to you.

On your second day, you will continue to the deployment site by bus. The drive to the national park southwest of Hanoi takes around four hours. On the way you will get an insight into the breathtaking landscape of Vietnam! You can also observe the wild traffic in Hanoi from the car.

At your project location you will then receive a detailed introduction to the environment and your field of work. First you will be shown the site and you will get a general overview of the work on site. You always have a permanent contact person at your project location with whom you can discuss everything else.

Volunteer project in Vietnam National Park

Your first day in the project

After the introductory program on site, you will start your work on the project. You will be instructed in the individual activities by one of the team members or an experienced volunteer and can then support you with the various tasks.

Pricing

base fee

€ 1.650, -

2 weeks of participation
extension week

€ 410, - / week

up to 22 weeks respectively

included
Services

Before departure

Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
Non-binding flight advice
Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
RGV t-shirt

On site

Orientation program with the team on site
Support and guidance from the on-site team
RGV 24h emergency number
Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities

Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
Accommodation in guest house

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

After return

Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
Reflection course on your experiences abroad
Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion

useful additional services

not included
Services

Round trip
Private expenses on site
Excursions with microlight flights
Travel and cancellation insurance
Visa and Vaccinations
All nights outside your agreed accommodation
Public transport and extra transfers

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.

" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.

Personal development introductory course

Free of charge

Two tools to get you started on your personal development

National Park Vietnam Team
site

The head of the establishment is the Englishman Tim McCormack from Yorkshire. He holds a BA in Zoology from the University of Leeds and a Masters in Conservation Biology from the University of East Anglia.

He discovered his interest in turtles when he worked as a volunteer in the organization in Vietnam in 2002. Most of the other employees at the center are from Vietnam. Hoang Van Ha, the program coordinator, hails from near Hanoi and studied in Australia. Other senior staff are Nguyen Thu Thuy, Nguyen Tai Thang and Nguyen Van Trong.

Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!

Testimonials

Report from the turtle project in Vietnam

In summary, this is probably the best experience of my life so far. The country, the people, the culture, the food and of course the work are really worth more than just an experience.

13.11.2020

Natalie

More testimonials
Browse our magazine

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need for Vietnam?

For Vietnam, you will receive a tourist visa upon arrival, which is valid for 30 days. You can also apply for it in advance at the embassy. The costs for this are about 40 €.

If you want to stay longer, you need a business visa. This is valid for three months and costs around €50. You can also apply for this when you arrive at the airport.

What language skills do I need for the project in Vietnam?

Good knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Vietnamese is also helpful.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What are the requirements for the animal welfare project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Vietnam? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

Help with animal welfare in the turtle project in Vietnam

Close cooperation with your local employees

A turtle pond in the national park in Vietnam

More projects you too might be interested

Are you not sure yet? Think about whether a spontaneous assignment as a volunteer abroad is the right choice for you or whether you would like to Voluntary social year (FSJ) abroad want to decide.

With RGV you achieve flexible volunteer work in different countries worldwide. Maybe there is one too Internship abroad the ideal choice for you to gain valuable experience abroad.