Your accommodation is on a campus in a college dorm where we have our own rooms reserved for volunteers only. The dorm is on the 4th floor, but there is a lift. The rooms are shared between 4-6 participants with private hot water shower and air-conditioning. WiFi is available, but please note that the quality of the Internet access depends on weather conditions. In Southeast Asia internet accessibility is often rather unstable due to heavy rain.
There is also a room reserved as an office, where you can go to if you want some peace and quiet. We have books and magazines available for you to borrow. There is a nice local cafe next to our dorm.
All volunteers are expected to be environmentally conscious and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to participate in keeping the accommodation neat and organized. 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.
Please note:
This accommodation has a 24:00 curfew.
There is a pool available for volunteers to use free of charge at the 4-star hotel next to the accommodation.
Arrival
You will be met upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City International Airport (SGN) by our team between 06:00 and 21:30. They will be waiting outside the airport’s main arrival hall and holding a sign with either your name or "The Green Lion". If you don’t see him/her, please do not leave the airport, but wait at pole number 3 (after picking up your luggage and coming through customs). Please note that in some cases you may need to wait for several participants to arrive before the group leaves the airport.
Flight arrivals after 22:00 will incur an additional fee for pickup.
Alternatively you can make your own way to the accommodation at your own cost (with at least a 24-hour notice of your arrival plan) so that arrangements can be made to have the gate opened by the security team for your arrival.
How To Get Here On Your Own
Option A: By Taxi (easiest option)
You can take a taxi at the airport straight to our Ho Chi Minh center (address below). A ride should not cost you more than USD$5-7. Use only Mai Linh and Vinasun, SM they are trustworthy companies with taximeters and satellite maps to show you where you are. Other companies working at the airport are not official and may overcharge you.
Option B.
Prior to your arrival, you may download the Grab App, a digital app, where you can arrange private cabs or cars straight to our accommodation center with the address below. Additionally, you can input your pickup and dropoff points without needing to speak with the driver. With Grab, you can easily find the car you've booked by its green color and license plate numbers.
Late Arrivals
We discourage late arrivals as it may take longer for you to settle into your program. Any emergency or early/late arrivals need to be communicated to us via email vietnam@thegreenlion.net.
Contacts
Transfer Coordinator: +84 (0) 77 8310 910 (Ms. Anna Pham)
If you are lost or have any major concerns regarding transfer, please contact the coordinator who speaks English.
Tourist Police: Dial 113. The Touristic Police of Vietnam are trained to assist you in English. Direct any safety concerns to them.
Getting to the Project
There are no transportation costs between the accommodation and the project.
Getting Around in Ho Chi Minh
There are many taxis around the campus. You can easily catch a taxi from the main road to get to any destination in Ho Chi Minh.
Departure Information
Check-out is on the Saturday before 12:00 in the last week of your program. We can assist you in arranging a local bus or taxi back to the airport. A bus will cost around USD $1 and a taxi USD $5-7.
Three good Asian style meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) are provided every day of the program, and on weekends only brunch and dinner. However, meals will also be served based on your dietary requirements, but you need to inform us in advance.
What to Bring
Blue scrubs, closed shoes (no flip flops allowed)
Local SIM Card
We highly recommend buying a cheap local SIM card for your whole time in Vietnam for your own personal safety and for easier/cheaper communication with other participants, staff and family back home, and especially if travelling to us by yourself, this becomes especially useful. These are extremely cheap in Vietnam, costing around USD $3-5.