Hi, my name is Anna, and this is my 3 month journey so far in Hanoi!
Everything started during my Erasmus student exchange. Somewhere between classes, new
countries, I had a realization: life couldn’t be only about finishing my master’s degree and
immediately jumping into fulltime work. I felt there had to be more. That thought stayed with
me, and soon enough, I found myself searching for opportunities available to young
Europeans who wanted to do something meaningful beyond the usual path.
At that time, I had only helped at a local dog shelter. I was still a student, close to graduating,
trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted from life. I applied to the European
Solidarity Corps without really knowing where it might lead me.
After completing humanitarian aid training, I felt ready to choose an opportunity that truly
matched my personality, I started to refresh the ESC page every day. That’s when Hanoi
appeared! What was meant to be my first volunteering experience abroad turned into a long-
term project, and not just abroad, but on an entirely different continent. It felt scary, exciting,
and unreal all at once.
The SASID project focuses on solidarity in action. Together with local communities,
volunteers support sustainable and inclusive development through community work,
environmental awareness, and intercultural exchange. It’s about learning, sharing, and
growing together, side by side.
My days in Hanoi began with a feeling of being completely overwhelmed. A new language I
didn’t understand, new people, unfamiliar rules, endless traffic, and a rhythm of life so
different from anything I had known before. But slowly, what once felt overwhelming became
usual, and what felt unfamiliar slowly turned into something I could call my daily life. After
one month my roommate and me looked at each other and we said “Yeah, we’re living in
Hanoi!”.
Most of my work so far has been connected to education. I’ve been teaching English at
vocational colleges and universities, helping students gain confidence and practical skills. At
the same time, I’ve also had the chance to work in a kindergarten, learning how to interact
with the smallest minds, and, ironically, learning from them too. Nothing beats discovering
how to count to ten in Vietnamese with the help of a three year old.
Another part of my routine includes shifts at the project Soci Hub Café, where we’ve been
learning how to prepare iconic Vietnamese coffees. It’s a space full of conversations, cultural
exchange, and small everyday moments that make volunteering feel alive. Alongside that,
I’ve been giving one to one English classes, which helped me create new friendships.
Beyond our regular work, we take part in many extra activities. From World Cleanup Day and
themed café nights to city trips and community events, there’s always something happening.
Right now, we’re also working on a new initiative focused on engaging the local community
in environmental action, expanding both our impact and our own understanding of
sustainability.
One thing I’ve learned very clearly is that we are not here to “help” in the traditional sense.
We are here to work together with the community, to exchange knowledge, support one
another, and grow side by side. This mindset has changed the way I see volunteering and
solidarity.
On a more personal level, these months have taught me a lot about myself. I’ve discovered
my limits, learned how to manage moments of overwhelm, and accepted that not everything
needs to be perfectly planned. I even had a great idea at the beginning to write a letter every
week to my past self, an idea that, as you might guess, lasted exactly one week (oops).
And of course, life here isn’t only about work. We still find time to travel and explore beyond
the city, creating memories that stay with you long after the trip ends. We traveled to Sapa,
where I tried paragliding — without exaggeration, one of the best experiences of my life.
Flying above the mountains, surrounded by silence (and screams of my friends) and endless
green, felt unreal and freeing. What is the best, it really helped me destress.
Another unforgettable trip took us to Ninh Binh. During a boat ride, I met an amazing older
Vietnamese woman who, without sharing a common language, shared her hat with me and
encouraged me to practice my Vietnamese. I was trying my best to pronounce what I’ve
learned during my Vietnamese classes, but she looked at me with a smile and I knew that
translator will be needed. She taught me later how to say that I live and work in Hanoi.
And just last week, we even traveled to Thailand. Experiencing yet another culture, tasting
different food, and noticing the contrasts made me appreciate Hanoi even more. It reminded
me that volunteering is also about pleasure, about exploring, comparing, and learning through
everyday experiences, not just through structured activities.
Of course there were also challenges I was definitely not prepared for. Being stuck at home
for two days with no way out because of extensive flooding. The heat of Hanoi was another
surprise, the kind that makes you sweat just by standing outside for two minutes and rethink
everything you thought you knew about summer. I wasn’t prepared for how genuine people
here would be either, for the openness and kindness that sometimes catch you off guard. And I
certainly wasn’t prepared for how much I would miss having my own space.
Moments like these are where you learn the most about yourself. Slowly, I’ve learned how to
sit with my emotions instead of fighting them, how to recognize when I need rest, and how to
find balance in situations that feel out of control. These challenges haven’t made the
experience harder, they’ve made it more real and actually interesting.
At this point, only three months in, I already know there are so many things I will miss.
Vietnamese coffee has become both a delicacy and a small addiction, I love it. The food here
is incredible, with restaurants everywhere and the possibility to eat something delicious at any
time of day. But more than anything, I will miss the people. The organization, the warmth,
and the support I’ve received so far are far beyond anything I can put into words. And I will
definitely miss the friendships I’ve already built, laughter, challenges, and everyday life in
this city.
With seven months still ahead of me, I feel excited for what’s yet to come. If these first three
months have taught me anything, it’s that this journey will stay with me long after it ends and
I can’t wait to see how it continues.
