Laos is enclosed between its big neighbors Thailand and Vietnam and you can therefore quickly see past it. Laos is completely landlocked with no coastline with about 7 million inhabitants. The country is rarely in the news and is largely separated from various Western influences. Thanks to its culture and traditions, friendly people and beautiful nature, Laos is becoming more and more popular.
The Laotian government recognizes the importance of developing the economy away from an agricultural culture and in recent years Laos has made steady progress in reducing poverty. The growth cannot be compared with that of its neighbors Thailand and Vietnam, the Laotian growth is mainly progressing thanks to mining. Tourism also contributes to growth and ensures that the country looks beyond its economic borders and thus also gets rid of its political isolation. Laos joined ASEAN (similar to EU) in 2007 and has strengthened relations with China and Vietnam. Foreign aid from NGOs and bilateral agreements have made small progress in communications, transport, infrastructure, education and health.
Despite all this, Laos still remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The majority of the population is still farmers. The education system is poorly developed and health care is still substandard. Child mortality is among the highest in the region and many residents have difficulty accessing drinking water. Despite the fact that basic health care is spread across the country, there are still problems in the field of malnutrition, dengue fever (dengue), malaria, etc. The spread of HIV is limited, but with neighbors such as Cambodia and Thailand this is still a threat.
Destruction of natural resources is another problem. Until the 40s, 70% of the country was covered by jungle, but that figure has fallen below 40%.
Laos is a one-party state led by the Communist Party (LPRP). Despite minor differences within the party in terms of economic reform, democratic change and foreign relations, the party remains united in its strong control over all parts of both government and society. Apart from the Hmong population, who largely live in the mountainous areas in the north, opposition mainly comes from abroad.
Only 34% of the population lives in urban areas. The majority of the population lives in rural areas. Even the most urbanized areas, including the capital Vientiane, feel rural.
The population consists of 49 different ethnic groups. 55% of the population is Lao; 11% Khmu and 8% Hmong. spannThere are mainly between the government and the Hmong population. this spanning descends from the Vietnam War when the Hmong fought alongside the CIA during the secret war in Laos. After the lost warlucWent a lot to Thailand or the west. The war still weighs on the relations between the various parties and the Hmong situation is controversial and taboo in Laos.
Despite human rights laws, abuse is widespread because there is nothing legal to do against government actions. Justice, like the rest of society, falls under the control of the government. This makes it particularly difficult to speak of transparency in court cases. The media is controlled by the government and is also used as a political banner, freedom of the press is not tolerated. Human Rights Watch has repeatedly expressed concern about the Hmong vlucpeople who have been repatriated from Thailand to Laos and are being held in camps against their will.
The expansion of mining, hydroelectric power, plantations, industry and poor sanitation all contribute to the deforestation of the country. Erosion, the pollution of rivers and lakes, hunting and illegal timber trade leave their marks. Laos is also regularly the victim of flooding, leaving it dependent on foreign aid.
As a volunteer you travel to the breathtaking Vang Vieng between Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Vang Vieng embodies the enormous potential of Laos. With breathtaking scenery and fertile soil, Vang Vieng maintains its agricultural culture while presenting itself as an international tourist destination. Vang Vieng is a district with about 25.000 inhabitants. The number of tourists visiting Vang Vieng is growing every year. The local government has taken steps to manage this growth for the benefit of the poor and conservation and with respect for the environment. The government has wanted to implement a master plan for sustainable development of the district. Despite all this, limited resources and high poverty mean that the challenges remain. While small-scale tourism has huge potential to reduce poverty, the majority of residents are currently not taking advantage of tourism growth.
Tourism in Vang Vieng also has a negative impact on the environment. The extra pollution caused by tourism in the rivers and surroundings cannot be underestimated. Wastewater from domestic use such as washing dishes and bathing simply flows into the river. Not only large but also small companies contribute to polluting the environment. Pollution can have serious consequences not only for the environment but also for the economy, food safety and health of local communities. Children playing among the waste and soil pollution can have an impact on the food supply. Polluting the rivers that the locals rely on for bathing, cooking and ceremonies threatens the traditional way of life.
You can choose which project you want to do when you sign up as a volunteer. All tasks are in the same location, it's a "team" in which you volunteer to complete something big. Therefore, we hope that you will be flexible to achieve this goal. We try to take your wishes into account, but in Laos everything can suddenly change (for example: spontaneous local parties, public holidays, ...).
The projects below are just general data. It is impossible to give exact details about your work. Remember that you are going to work as a volunteer in Laos where everything can change in a few hours. Being flexible is a good quality for a volunteer. Again, you are there to serve the project and not the other way around. We expect you to participate where necessary, even if this is not in the project you thought you would help. Our local partner knows best where you can be deployed at that moment in the most efficient way. For example: it makes no sense to teach English with 3 people while there is a lot of work elsewhere, every task has its value. So don't ask us to provide an aligned program. Also keep in mind that you may be performing a combination of tasks.
We expect our volunteers to be able to work independently. Remember that you can't always rely on the local people every second of the day. You go to Laos to help them, it's not the other way around.
You will stay in our own rented volunteer house. The rooms accommodate a maximum of two volunteers and each has its own bathroom (whether or not adjacent to the room). We have two "single rooms" and three "double/twin rooms" depending on availability, couples in Laos can also go, be sure to report this when applying.
The bathrooms have a western toilet, sink, mirror and shower with hot water. Keep in mind that at the end of the rainy season (April-May) water can be scarce in Vang Vieng and we are sometimes without water. Every bathroom has a water reservoir, but be careful with this water in times of scarcity. Sheets and towels are included, but they must be kept inside. For trips you must bring your own towel.
All rooms have fans, windows and sockets (European plugs fit). There is an emergency telephone and wireless internet. Drinking water, coffee and tea are available in the kitchen.
The building is located a 5-minute walk from the center of Vang Vieng where you will find plenty of cafes, restaurants and other activities.
Meals In Our Volunteer House
The Laotian cuisine is unique, very tasty, you can be sure that you can eat very well during your stay. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served every day. Our cook prepares a wide range of dishes for the volunteers.
Laotians use the proverb: “eating alone is not good”. That's why we encourage all volunteers to eat together. If you have trouble sitting on the floor, no problem. We also have a table with chairs in the volunteer house.
You usually eat in the volunteer house, but you may occasionally eat on the move.
Volunteering in Laos is much more than just working. You cannot compare volunteering to a full-time job. You have enough time to discover the area together with other volunteers and you also have a say in your hours.
Vang Vieng is surrounded by a karst mountain range with rivers and streams. There are countless caves and rice fields to discover. Nearby lagoons provide the opportunity for a refreshing swim. Volunteers and trainees can participate in typical tourist activities in the area such as: kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, …. There is a quiet atmosphere in the center of Vang Vieng. There are plenty of restaurants and bars with Laotian and Western food and you can visit a temple. Outside of this there are colorful openluchtmarkwhere you can mingle with the locals.
Ask the local team where you can go. They also have a map of the area.
Volunteering abroad comes at a cost and it is not the intention that the community you will help have to pay for it. If there were sufficient budgets to cover these costs, we would spend it on a local employee who knows the local culture and daily customs. If you want to know more about our transparent system, take a look at the transparency page.
These costs, which you pay on site, are specific to your stay, such as your accommodation and meals. Through payable locally you are also sure that your contribution will go directly to the person who organizes it and will not be left behind at various “intermediate stations”.
Note: these costs are only for individual volunteer work. For group projects, different prices apply depending on various factors
The cost of the volunteer house is only €105 per week. You will also be able to enjoy various extra benefits during volunteering. Because the Laotian currency is not stable, you are asked to bring US Dollars to pay part of the accommodation costs. This way we can keep your stay affordable. More details during your preparation.
We want to ensure that there is sufficient influx of volunteers to keep each project viable. After all, many projects require continuity from volunteers in order for the project to succeed or to create sufficient impact. Unfortunately, marketing and raising volunteers costs a lot of money. The budgets that the participating organizations collect during recruitment campaigns are used to develop projects in the south for the benefit of the local population and we therefore do not want to address these funds for marketing campaigns.
The membership fee serves to cover the costs of our volunteer platform. We ask each participant for a one-time contribution of €130. This is only the first time volunteering and only after you have been accepted. After payment of this contribution, you can do unlimited volunteer work in the future at any project (if there is room and you meet the requirements of course).
As soon as you are a member, we will inform you as soon as new projects are added to our alliance.
What is your connection fee used for?
You can read all about the possible costs on our transparency page.
We will of course not let you leave without thorough preparation and guidance. With Volunteer Abroad Allliance we have developed a system that ensures that you can sleep soundly and leave with peace of mind for your volunteer work abroad. As soon as you have been accepted and everything has been arranged, you can count on the guidance of our experts.
Once you are registered and accepted for your project, your preparation can begin. You already get a lot to read on the website, but you can also prepare for your trip in other ways. Once you have arrived, you can also count on the guidance of our local team.
Volunteering will have an impact on you and on the local population. We think it is very important to create awareness for you as a volunteer, so that you can optimally prepare for what awaits you as a volunteer. That is why you will receive the login codes for the project page after acceptance as a volunteer. Here you will find information that is important to you as a volunteer for your preparation. You can read everything about your project, accommodation, instructions for a visa application, a packing list, cultural advice for your country and much more…
Our experienced mentor will contact you and will help you with advice and answers to the questions you have. Your mentor is a member of an organization that is part of our alliance and has been working with fundraising for the project you are traveling to for years, so you can speak of a real specialist. Our mentors are members of our alliance and have years of experience in the projects. This system ensures that you receive 100% expert guidance from VAA.
Your safety during your volunteer work is very important to us. We only allow volunteers to travel to areas that we are confident are politically stable. If this is not the case, the project will not proceed. Each participating organization of the alliance closely monitors the security advisories. Of course we can also rely on the local employees of these organizations. They live and work there themselves and know the area very well.
Vang Vieng has a tropical climate with an annual rainy season. The weather is warm to hot and humid all year round. With temperatures ranging from 13°C (winter nights) to 40°C in summer. The rainy season runs from June to October. Keep in mind that it can occasionally rain during the other months. The wettest months are August and September. During the “dry” months, bring a light raincoat for the rare showers.
In every country where the organizations of our alliance are active, this project has at least one permanent employee. This employee organizes your project and your stay together with your mentor. You can always contact them during your stay; They are there for you for advice and practical information, but you can also count on them in case of an emergency.
On our team page you can look for our local team members.
When you arrive at your destination you will be welcomed by a member of the local team and sometimes even by your mentor. At some destinations you will be picked up by a local VAA employee who will be waiting for you at the airport. In other destinations it is easy to travel independently to your project from the airport. We will then give you an extensive introduction to your new living and working environment.
Once accepted as a volunteer, you will receive a detailed route description from us on how to get to your project. We deliberately do not share this information in advance. The organizations within our alliance take their task seriously, our projects are not tourist attractions. It is also very disturbing for the local employees but also for other volunteers if someone suddenly appears at the projects to take a look.
We are not doctors ourselves and we do not know anyone's personal background. That is why we advise everyone to make an appointment with your doctor or travel vaccination center in good time before traveling to your destination. You can also always take a look at the website of the tropical institute of medicine for the latest state of affairs at your destination.
Every organization within our alliance has an emergency procedure. In addition, you will also receive all emergency telephone numbers once accepted as a volunteer. You can find all this information on your personal project page.
For Laos you need an international passport. You can always arrange your visa on arrival at most border crossings and on the luchthaven. Visa costs change from time to time but you can assume that a visa will cost you around €35 for 30 days (tourist visa). You can always extend your visa in Laos. You will find all the detailed information for your visa on the secure project page.
You probably already understood after reading the foregoing that an average day does not exist during your volunteer work. Every day can be different and that is the beauty but also the challenging thing about volunteering. We ask you to be flexible and proactive at all times.
New ideas and initiatives are continuously being launched and other volunteers may need your help. There is a good chance that you will work on multiple projects. Remember, the more you invest in your experience, the more you get out of it.
What is guaranteed are the pleasant evenings and free time together with the local team and other volunteers, so that you will not get bored and make new friends.
The team speaks English but learning some basic concepts in Lao is always easy in your work but also in dealing with the population. But do it on your own time. You are there to teach them something and it doesn't have to be the other way around. We have a digital course with audio that you can find on the project page. There are volunteers who manage to speak Lao in a few months. You will have access to this course as soon as you are officially confirmed as a volunteer.
All organizations active in the alliance take their work very seriously. From general preparations to details that you never think about, but that are important to give you a safe, comfortable and meaningful experience. We spend a lot of time preparing, monitoring and executing our preparation materials, but also our on-site projects. We hope for your part that you give 100% during your volunteer work and do this in a respectful way both for us, but even more for the local population.
Be sure to read our page about our vision on volunteering abroad.
Mon-Fri: 9.00 – 17.00 CET – (Dutch & English)