30/09/2026
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer as an English teacher in Hanoi with Volunteers for Peace Vietnam and Plan My Gap Year. One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was feeling that I was able to give something back to the community while also learning so much from the people and culture around me.
During my three-week programme, I taught a class of primary school children, mostly aged 6–10, covering everything from English tenses to popular conversation topics such as travel. My favourite part was making lessons as interactive as possible through group games, call-and-response activities and conversations that encouraged the children to actively use what they had learned.
I also took part in 1:1 English speaking sessions with college students and young professionals. These sessions involved spending an hour or more discussing topics chosen by the students themselves, giving them the chance to practice their conversational English with a native speaker in a relaxed environment.
I made the most of my time in Vietnam outside of volunteering by travelling to Da Nang, Hoi An, Ninh Binh and Sapa, immersing myself in the beautiful landscapes and culture of Vietnam.
As my first experience of solo travelling, this trip pushed me far outside of my comfort zone. I became more confident navigating unfamiliar environments, communicating across language barriers and adapting to situations I hadn’t encountered before.
I’m incredibly grateful for the people I met, the students I taught, and everything this experience taught me in return. It’s an experience I will always look back on with a very fond heart. 🤍
Zahra G
