Today there are about 75 million people in Vietnam. Eighty percent of these are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups.

The richness of Vietnamese origins is evident throughout its culture. Spiritual life in Vietnam consists of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Tam Giao, which is a blend of Taoism, popular Chinese beliefs, and ancient Vietnamese animism.

Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. On the country's east coast lies the South China Sea.

To Volunteer in Vietnam on a short term volunteer vacation or on a gap year break is an experience of a lifetime! Volunteering in Vietnam at projects such as orphanages will not only be helping the people of Vietnam but being a volunteer in Vietnam you will also get to know the real Vietnam and its wonderful people in a much more meaningful way.

One of the most popular volunteering destinations in Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon, is a very exciting city and a great city.

Volunteering is a great way to contribute to the Vietnamese community and gain a wonderful and lasting experience. Whether you would like to take a short volunteer vacation or engage yourself for a longer term, there are some very affordable volunteer programs in Vietnam.

Here are some great volunteer projects in Ho Chi Minh City.

Shelter for children : This is a shelter for street children in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. They provide education, recreational activities and opportunities for the street children to learn a job so that they can go back home to integrate with their own families.

School for children with special needs : This is a school for children with special needs and learning disabilities. The children are aged 3 to 18. The school has about 50 children, both girls and boys. There are many possibilities for volunteers at this school such as taking care of the children, teaching English, classes in drawing, playing games with the children.

School for the Blind : The School for the Blind is a private charity which supports blind children, teenagers and adults. The total number of the people this place supports is 55. There are different possibilities for volunteers at this school such as teaching English, teaching Life Skills, presenting your country and culture, games and activities and day trips.

Soup Kitchen : This is a private charity which provides free meals for poor people and poor patients at some hospitals. They provides about 1,500 free portions of meal for the poor everyday. The volunteers help in the afternoon preparing and delivering meals for the poor.

Volunteering in Vietnam will give you a chance to make an important contribution to the people of Vietnam, and to gain an in depth experience of the country and its culture that will stay with you the rest of your life.