Arriving in Vietnam

15/09/2025 Leticia Lượt xem: 20

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh at the end of august is hot and humid!

I purchased a sim card at the airport and order a grab taxi (on the grab app, a most have, it’s like uber). Because the second of September is a national holiday I stayed in Ho Chi Minh for a few days before heading to Phan Thiet.

To go from Ho Chi Minh to the Thien Chi Center located near Phan Thiet, you have two options.

Option 1: the bus (8€)

Go to this address in Ho Chi Minh; Trung Nga bus station: 85A, Nguyen Cu Trinh, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city - Address on GG map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/89Fk4eSUStPDDPTx7.

Go to the man sitting on the computer and deliver this message meaning that they should sell you a ticket to this destination: “Bán cho bạn này 1 vé về bến Trung Nga ở Võ Văn Kiệt nha anh”

You can follow the bus on google maps and it should leave you here: (Address on GG map for the place the bus drop you) https://maps.app.goo.gl/TTY1i3tS965kxcWK8

Once you drop in Phan Thiet, a staff member will come to pick you up.

This is the option I chose, and, in my experience, I arrived at the bus station in Ho Chi Minh around 8 am and I had to wait the bus until 11am. So maybe if you have time to ask beforehand, you can save some useless waiting time. Other than that, everything went smoothly.

Option 2: taxi (100€)

For the second option, you can just book a taxi, but it is expensive as the drive there is around 3h30.

Once here, the thien chi director picked me up and showed me to my homestay.

Leticia

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Day 4 - 08/09/2025

15/09/2025

Leticia

Today I visited three families with Nguyen Thuan. The first faced severe health problems and heavy medical costs but now benefit from NGO support through microcredit and crowdfunding. The second, a single mother with two daughters, struggles to cover university fees and relies on small trade and NGO assistance. The third, a couple with two young daughters (one with a heart condition), receive scholarships and economic support, which helped them build a safer home. In the afternoon, I worked on donor research, my blog, and social media.

Day 3 – 05/09/2025

15/09/2025

Leticia

Today I attended the opening ceremony of the school year at Ham Thuan Nam High School, a prestigious school with 1,500 students. The event was highly symbolic, with flag parades, patriotic songs, speeches, and the distribution of many scholarships, including twenty from Thien Chi. Scholarships are crucial at this stage, as education costs often push families to withdraw their children from school. What stood out most to me was the strong sense of pride and resilience among students and teachers, all focused on building a better future.

Day 2 - 04/09/2025

15/09/2025

Leticia

On my second day, we visited three families supported by microcredits. One had fully repaid their loan and was now financially stable, another improved their income through dragon fruit farming, and the last struggled with health and financial issues but still benefited from support. I was impressed by the long-term follow-up that ensures families don’t feel left alone.

First day

15/09/2025

Leticia

My first day at the Thien Chi Center started with breakfast with colleagues before visiting several families supported by the NGO. Their stories were difficult but thanks to microcredits and scholarships, they are gradually improving their lives. I was impressed by the NGO’s close follow-up and the presence of community members working part-time to ensure support matches local needs. In the afternoon, I worked on social media posts, funding research, and my internship journal. The day ended with spring rolls and a small city tour with my supervisor. A very meaningful start to this internship!

Getting ready before coming

15/09/2025

Leticia

I chose this internship because of my strong interest in NGOs, which started during a short placement with Mekong Plus in Belgium. Later, while pursuing my Master’s in Population Sciences and Development, I decided to come to Vietnam, combining my thesis research with practical field experience. Mekong Plus connected me with its partner NGO, Thien Chi. To prepare, I handled visa applications, vaccinations, and flights, before settling into a homestay near the NGO’s office. Daily life here is simple and affordable, and I quickly adapted to the local rhythm.