Vietnam: Food Shop Project

Introduction

The Food Shop is a small, community-run kitchen with a big mission — to provide healthy, affordable meals to people in need across Ho Chi Minh City. Since opening its doors in 2012, the shop has become a daily lifeline for hundreds of locals, offering nutritious food for just 2,000 VND (about 10 cents).

Each day, the shop serves between 300 and 500 people, including elderly residents, students, children, people with disabilities, and low-income workers. The meals are simple but hearty, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

As a volunteer, you’ll play an important role in supporting this effort. While cooking is handled by trained staff for safety reasons, your help with food preparation, serving, and keeping the kitchen clean ensures that operations run smoothly.

This is a hands-on role where your contributions are immediately visible and appreciated. You’ll be working side by side with local volunteers and NGO staff, becoming part of a team that’s making a real difference in the community.

During the Tet Holiday, when the Smile Food Shop closes, volunteers continue the work by helping prepare meals at the accommodation and delivering them to nearby hospitals — ensuring no one goes hungry during this important time of year.

Daily Life

The daily schedule on the project starts with breakfast and continues at the food shop where you will assist in the preparation of the food including cooking, cleaning and serving. After you have lunch you will head back to the accommodation and will enjoy your free time in the afternoon.

Travel and Accommodation

As a volunteer, your main responsibilities will include helping prepare ingredients, serving meals, and ensuring that the kitchen and eating areas are clean and safe. You won’t be doing any actual cooking, but your support is vital to keeping things running efficiently.

You might spend the morning chopping vegetables, organizing ingredients, or assisting with plating meals. Once the food is ready, you’ll help serve customers and ensure they receive their meals with a smile. After service, you’ll help tidy up and get things ready for the next day.

It’s a fast-paced environment, but the team is friendly, and there’s always a sense of purpose and teamwork.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18.
• Passion and enthusiasm to get to know the country, lots of energy and creativity, and not scared to get your hands dirty!
• No previous skills are necessary, however, you will need to speak English at a conversational level.
• Minimum 2 weeks commitment – 30+ hours a week
• CRB Police check (or equivalent) showing that you have no previous criminal convictions
• Necessary vaccinations.
• Necessary flight & visas.
• Full travel & medical insurance. Full assistance will be provided in getting everything you will need ready if you choose our Premium Support.

Costs

£400 GBP per week

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Placements are confirmed with a 1 week deposit

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes food, accommodation, airport pickup, orientation, in-country support and project activities.

Private rooms are available for an additional €100 per week.

What’s not included:

Flights, insurance, visas (if applicable) and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.