For any enquiries please visit 1-440-975-9691
© 2024 Rustic Pathways LCC. All Rights Reserved.
Learn more
Read & Watch Their Stories
Shop the programs
Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
Work alongside community members on service projects in Vietnam, experience Vietnamese culture, and explore stunning caves and islands.
Explore the action-packed and charming streets of Hanoi, sampling delicious Vietnamese dishes on every corner. Journey to beautiful Hill Tribe communities in the mountains among the rice paddies of Hoa Binh. Work alongside community members and local professionals to contribute to ongoing service initiatives. Row through the intricate waterway system of Trang An grottoes in Ninh Binh and learn about the deep history of Vietnam’s ancient capital city. Bike through green rice fields and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Overnight aboard a private junk boat in magnificent Ha Long Bay, stopping to explore caves, karsts, and islands as you go.
Students love the vibrant landscapes and rich culture of Vietnam!
Travel this program in the future
Ecuador: Wild Galápagos Eco-Service
Once-in-a-lifetime eco-adventure
Age 14-19
$6095 plus Airfare
Northern Italy Adventure
Venice, villages, and country charm
Age 14-18
$3395 plus Airfare
Relax and prepare for a world-class trip. Once you arrive at your international departure city, our Airport Coordinator will help you get checked in to your international flight. Meet your Flight Leader, who will escort you to Vietnam! Get acquainted with your new friends before boarding your flight to Southeast Asia!
Today is lost as you cross the international dateline. Fear not—you’ll get this time back on your way home.
Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! Hanoi celebrated its 1,000th birthday in October 2010 and is one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia, with a vibrant mixture of colonial French and traditional Vietnamese architecture, narrow tree-lined streets, and beautiful lakes. Meet your Rustic Pathways Program Leaders after passing through customs. Settle in for a program orientation, and discuss the week ahead.
For the next 2 nights you will be staying at a comfortable hotel in Hanoi. Students will stay in shared rooms with ensuite bathrooms, hot water, and Western-style toilets.
Wander the old colonial streets with shops selling everything from Buddhas statues to bamboo chopsticks. Visit Confucius’ Temple of Literature, home to the Imperial Academy and Vietnam’s first national university. Explore the history of the Vietnam War while touring the Hanoi Hilton, the Vietnamese POW prison that held Americans during the Vietnam War, including Sen. John McCain. Learn about the country’s 54 ethnic groups at the Museum of Ethnology, visit the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Along the way, enjoy ice-cold fruit shakes, delicious bowls of noodle soup, and other wonderful northern Vietnamese delicacies. Experience the rambling streets, busy markets and old world charm of this bustling city.
The landscape as we drive through mountainous cliffs towering above lush rice fields is truly breathtaking. Up we go through the hills to our service village. The Hill Tribe villages are located inside Ngoc Son-Ngo Luong Nature Reserve and are really, REALLY, off the beaten path. After a four hour drive, arrive at the village and have lunch at the home of a local family before trekking the remaining 7 km to your home for the next few nights.
Students will stay in home-stays in traditional village houses for the next 5 nights. Multiple students will share each home-stay home, with students staying in shared rooms separated by gender.
Rise early to the smells of freshly cooked breakfast and start to feel the remoteness of your surroundings and appreciate the simplicity of village life. Head to your service site to assist with an ongoing initiative. These projects have been designed by a community-based association to support the protection of the area’s natural and cultural resources, create alternative income opportunities, and to improve infrastructure of the surrounding villages. Before dinner, explore the surrounding rice fields or simply relax and enjoy the scenery. On the final night in the village, end your time with a community celebration showcasing traditional Muong culture through song and dance.
Nam Dinh, a coastal province in the southern Red River Delta, is the sacred land of Vietnamese and the native land of the Tran Kings and national hero Tran Hung Dao, the spirit of Tran Dynasty. Stop at a local homestay and learn farming techniques, including how to plant rice. Enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with the host family to end the night.
Settle in for the night to a comfortable hotel. Students will have shared rooms, separated by gender, with Western-style toilets and hot water.
Ninh Binh is typical of rural villages of the Northern region with vast green paddy fields, surrounding mountains, and a nearby river. The capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries, Ninh Binh is a venue of relics that reflect its 1,000 years of history and development. Visit Bai Dinh pagoda, known as the largest temple complex in Vietnam. Board bamboo row boats to visit Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and cruise along a tiny stream through the system of grottoes. Explore the countryside and surrounding valleys by bicycle. See Thung Nham bird park, home to thousands of birds belonging to more than 40 different species.
For the next 2 nights you’ll be staying in a comfortable hotel in Ninh Binh. Students will stay in shared air-conditioned rooms, western-style toilets, and hot showers.
Drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and climb aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat for a cruise among the jagged limestone karsts. Explore Sung Sot Cave and swim at Titop Beach, then settle in for a night under the stars. Continue your loop around Ha Long Bay, kayaking in Luon cave and stopping by Bai Tu Long Bay and Fire Island to see the exotic birds, monkeys, and antelope.
Students will be staying overnight on a boat in Ha Long Bay. Students will stay in 2 or 3 person rooms with Western-style toilets and hot water showers.
Say goodbye to the cruise and head back to the bustling streets of Hanoi. Enjoy a traditional water puppet show, sample local Vietnamese delicacies and wander around Hoan Kiem Lake.
The last two nights of your Vietnamese program will be spent at a comfortable hotel. Students will stay in shared air-conditioned rooms, western-style toilets, and hot showers.
Visit Bat Trang Ceramic village and learn how to make pottery. Head to the Vietnam Military History Museum, one of the oldest museums in Hanoi, to learn about the country’s history of fighting for independence. Exhibits date to the early Hung Vuong Era, which is considered the start of Vietnam as a country. Enjoy the hustle bustle vibes of Hanoi’s Old Quarter for one last time.
After two incredible weeks, it’s time to say goodbye to Vietnam and journey onward. For students connecting to another program in Southeast Asia, say goodbye to your group in the morning as you head to the airport to begin your next adventure.
Fly home if you’re headed back to the United States. All students on our group flights arrive home on Fridays.
Here is a detailed packing list for your time in Southeast Asia this summer. Packing the right gear (and not too much of it) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Remember that you’ll be responsible for carrying your belongings everywhere you go, so PACK LIGHT! If your bag weighs more than 35 pounds, you’ve overpacked!
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think! Consider no checked bag. We strongly recommend that you consider packing only a carry-on size bag. This prevents your luggage getting lost or separated from you, keeps your bag manageable, and helps you be more mobile on your travel day. Bring the right clothes. Pack clothes that are culturally appropriate for your destination and acceptable for service projects. This means bringing long shorts (think Bermuda and basketball shorts), t-shirts with sleeves to cover shoulders, and appropriate footwear. Leave your valuables behind. While traveling, it’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep any prized possessions safe at home. Check with TSA. Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on. Useful tip: Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security. Extra paperwork? If you need additional forms filled out to get credit for your service hours, no problem! Bring these forms with you so they can be completed in-country.
Weather in Southeast Asia
Summer in Southeast Asia is known as the “rainy season” or the “green season”—days are generally hot and humid, with brief and refreshing showers that keep the land very lush and green. Temperatures sometimes cool off once the sun goes down, making for more pleasant evenings. Because of the heat, you’ll need to drink a lot more water than you’re used to drinking to stay hydrated! Your clothes should be able to get wet, dirty, and / or destroyed during service work and program activities.
Our Dress Code Expectations in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian cultures are very conservative. Despite the hot climate, people in these parts of the world show less skin than in many Western cultures, and you’ll rarely see low-cut shirts or short shorts in rural communities. As we seek to respect and preserve the culture of the communities we work with, we ask that our students dress conservatively while in country. If you’re not wearing proper attire, we’ll ask you to change your clothes or abstain from the service project of the day.
To dress respectfully in Southeast Asia, please bring loose-fitting pants or shorts that cover just above the knees (think basketball length). Bring basic t-shirts that cover your shoulders, and please leave all tank tops, cut off shirts, low-cut, see-through, or crop tops at home. As mentioned in our packing lists, yoga pants and leggings are not appropriate because they are too form-fitting.
Temple Visits
Personal hygiene is important in Southeast Asia, so when visiting temples we want to clean up more than while doing service. Wearing modest, clean clothes that cover the knees and shoulders is a must, as per usual. Being respectful is the name of the game!
Laundry
Access to laundry can vary, but most programs find access once a week, though not guaranteed. If you’re getting laundry done in a village or rural town, expect to pay $1-2 per kg. If you’re at a hotel, it can be up to $20 per load.
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for daily activities and outings.
• Passport – you cannot get on the plane without this! • Airline tickets – you cannot get on the plane without these either! • Vietnam visa inside your Passport Consent to Travel Letter (for students under 19, recommended by the US State Dept but not required) • Wallet / money / ATM card – with about $100 emergency money • A travel wallet that can be hidden under clothes is a good idea. • Photocopy of your Passport – one additional copy should be kept in your luggage. • Pens and journal • Book • Snacks • Phone • Chargers • Outlet power converter • Camera – don’t forget to bring your chargers, batteries and memory cards! • Earbuds / Ear plugs • Reusable water bottle. Fill up at the gate and stay hydrated on the plane! • Sunglasses • Medication – must alert staff, but keep these in your carry-on in case of lost luggage! • One change of clothing
A 40-50 liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothing
• 2-3 pairs of lightweight pants, jeans (too hot to wear often) or capris; leggings are not culturally appropriate as they are too form-fitting • 2-3 pairs of long, loose-fitting shorts/skirts for service project work. Something that provides coverage and protection while keeping you cool • 5-7 tops (t-shirts and sports shirts) – they can be cotton, or quick-dry shirts like capilene or polypropylene; tank tops are generally not acceptable unless for time at the pool or beach; keep in mind you’ll find cool t-shirts and other clothing at markets you’ll visit throughout the summer, which can supplement the tops you bring over • 1-2 light, long sleeve t-shirts – breathable is best for the sun and certain areas of the region can get buggy or chilly (if you’re lucky!) at night • 1 lightweight hoodie – most likely needed on flights, in movie theaters, or in airports. Most people will be fine without one • 8-10 pairs of underwear – quick-dry material is best • 4-6 pairs of socks – lightweight cotton or quick dry athletic socks are best • 2 swimsuits – two piece suits are fine but need to be very modest • 1 sarong / shawl / lightweight towel (not white!) – many accommodations will have towels for you to use, but it is handy to have something of your own for sitting poolside or visiting a waterfall • A nice casual outfit – for special end of program dinners.
Important Items
• Flashlight or headlamp – rechargeable batteries are preferable • Ultra-lightweight rainproof jacket – fear not if you don’t have one; ponchos are widely available and do a better job! • Hat – for the sun • Strappy sandals – like Tevas or Chacos • Comfortable flip-flops or crocs – footwear that is easy to clean and easy to take on and off (you’ll be amazed at how often you’ll be taking your shoes off and on!); cheap flip-flops and crocs are widely available in Asia for a fraction of the cost • Closed-toed athletic shoes – shoes that dry quickly, that you can hike short distances in and that protect your feet are best; shoes will get muddy and dirty, so don’t bring your favorite pair. • A color photocopy of your passport
Toiletries
Most general toiletries are available throughout the region at a fraction of the cost. We suggest packing all items that could leak in a plastic or ziploc bag.
• Deodorant • Shampoo and soap – you may want to bring biodegradable or natural soap and shampoo, but they’re not required • Toothpaste and toothbrush • Lip balm • Insect repellent – we suggest a natural option or something with DEET • Hydrocortisone/anti-itch cream or after bite • Hand sanitizer – 1 small bottle; we don’t want you getting sick this summer! • Contact lenses and solution – widely available in and inexpensive in Southeast Asia. • Oxybenzone-free sunscreen and aloe vera – good quality sunscreen is not readily available in Southeast Asia and is expensive! • Feminine hygiene supplies – tampons aren’t widely available in Southeast Asia; past staff have suggested trying a diva cup; we recommend you bring what you think you will need for the duration of the program
Additional and Optional Items
• Local language phrasebook • Deck of cards, portable games • Digital camera – waterproof style shock resistant cameras are great for our programs; again, do not depend on your phone – we encourage our students to disconnect from their phones while on program.
• Please cover your shoulders and knees while in Southeast Asia.
• Dressing respectfully is very important. Southeast Asian culture is conservative, with ancient customs based mostly on Buddhism. Regardless of gender, Rustic students should be wearing loose Bermuda or basketball length shorts or pants. Please leave short-shorts at home, as well as leggings, which are too form-fitting. T-shirts should cover the chest and shoulders, nothing low cut, and no undergarments should ever be showing.
Hotels: For the majority of the program students will stay in modern and comfortable 3-star hotels with air-conditioned rooms, western-style toilets, and hot showers.
Home-Stay: Students will be in home-stays in traditional village houses during service.
Overnight Boat: Students will stay on an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay. Students will stay in 2 or 3 person cabins with hot water and Western-style toilets.
Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.
Infrastructure Service: You will be working alongside local communities within Tu Do Commune, located in Ngoc Son Ngo Luong Nature Reserve – Hoa Binh Province, assisting them with infrastructure improvement service projects. You can expect 18 hours of service. Past projects include building a water tank, building bathrooms, school facilities, concrete roads, etc.
Cultural Service: In Nam Dinh, you will take part in cultural immersion service activities with your host family, such as learning how to plant rice.
This program involves service and adventure activities that require students to be physically active.
Vietnam is home to amazing cuisine! Throughout the program, there will be a mix of international and local food. Meals will be served family style or as individual dishes. Meals include soups, noodles, meat, fish, stir-fried vegetables, sticky rice and curry.
Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – Vegetarian options are always available. Most restaurants feature a wide variety of dishes, so most diets can be accommodated. However, because we can’t fully control each restaurant kitchen, this program may not be suitable for some severe food allergies. Please make sure to include allergies and dietary requirements in your medical form so that our staff can prepare accordingly.
You will be drinking bottled water throughout the program. In order to limit waste, we recommend bringing a refillable water bottle with you.
June through August is the rainy season. Across most of Vietnam, the monsoon rains are fairly predictable and short-lived, making them fairly easy to plan around. The weather can get very humid–even if it is not overly hot–so students can expect to work up a sweat every day!
Flights: SWe offer group chaperoned flights from New York (JFK) to get to Vietnam. International flights departing from the United States will arrive to Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN).
Internal Travel: There are no internal flights on this program. This program travels to a few core places while moving every 3-4 days which offers students a good chance to get to know a few places well.
Internet and phone access is possible during limited intervals. Students are allowed to use the internet at select times during the program, but we challenge students to spend most of each day–and every meal–away from their phones to make sure you are fully engaged with the experience.
All activities mentioned in the itinerary are included in the program cost. Checked luggage fees, souvenirs, laundry, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included in the cost of the program. We recommend you bring $150-$300 USD of spending money.
Laundry will be available throughout the trip. The cost is approximately $2 per kilogram.
Vietnam has a conservative culture. In order to be responsible travelers, it is imperative to wear culturally appropriate dress. We have formed great bonds in the communities we visit, and we want to remain respectful.
Appropriate attire for service projects: All students should be wearing Bermuda or basketball length shorts or pants. T-shirts should cover the chest and shoulders- nothing too low cut, and no undergarments should ever be showing.
Appropriate attire for touring: Students will be visiting important landmarks throughout their program and will need to have more conservative clothing. All students will be expected to have their shoulders and knees covered. Please be sure to bring at least one pair of lightweight capris and t-shirts that are modest (no v- neck or low cut tees).
Ensuring the safety of your teen as they travel with Rustic Pathways is a top priority. Please review our Health and Safety measures.
Our Travel Protection Plan helps protect our participants, their belongings, and their travel investment in those unforeseen circumstances that may arise during travel. Learn more about the plan offered through our partner.