The Food Shop program is NGO-run, partnering with local people to provide heavily subsidized, low-cost meals. It’s success relies on donations, local assistance, and our participants, whose efforts prepare and serve daily. Anyone and everyone who needs support is more than welcome to come in and enjoy these nutritious meals.
“Fill your heart……and their plate!”
Your contribution at The Smile Food Shop involves tasks such as assisting food preparation, serving, and clean-up, all aimed at bringing smiles through affordable hot meals for those in need.
Established in 2012, The Smile Food Shop was created to assist people by offering low-cost lunches priced at only 2000 VND per meal (approximately 10 cents). The shop operates under the guidance of an NGO, in collaboration with dedicated locals, and your efforts will be sincerely appreciated.
As a participant in this program, you will play a vital role in preparing and serving lunches to a diverse group of 300-500 individuals, including the elderly, local workers, persons with disabilities, students, and children. These individuals rely on the Food Shop for daily access to low-cost, high-quality, and well-prepared meals.
This program is expected to be both challenging and engaging, potentially ranking among the most exhausting experiences you’ve ever had-yet, one where you will cherish every moment.
IIt’s important to note that the Food Shop program continues to operate even during closures of the NGO-run facility, including a month-long shutdown around the Tet Holiday. During these periods, participants will prepare food on-site in our accommodation kitchen, and the free meals will be distributed to patients and local workers at a nearby hospital.
No cooking allowed : volunteers are restricted from cooking; instead, they assist with cleaning and preparation. Safety is a top concern, especially due to the proximity to cooking areas with hot pots and hazardous equipment.
This program is available all year round
Duration during the week | Budget total mission |
|---|---|
2 weeks | 940 € |
3 weeks | 1235 € |
4 weeks | 1580 € |
5 weeks | 1925 € |
6 weeks | 2270 € |
8 weeks | 2860 € |
10 weeks | 3450 € |
12 weeks | 4140 € |
The accommodation is located on a campus in a college dorm. As such, it follows certain campus rules such as a night curfew.
There are plenty of taxis around our campus. You can easily catch one from the main road to reach your desired destination in Ho Chi Minh City.
There are also several ATMs in the area where we are staying. The closest one is about a 3-minute walk from our campus.
There are nice local cafés, convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, swimming pools, and restaurants next to our dorm. A beautiful and peaceful place where you can enjoy fresh juices, snacks, etc.
All necessary amenities can be found in the city-after all, we are located in the country’s capital!
Three good Asian style meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) are provided every day of the program, and on weekends only brunch and dinner. However, meals will also be served based on your dietary requirements, but you need to inform us in advance.
As the country’s largest city, bustling with energy, innovation, and constant movement, Ho Chi Minh City—formerly known as Saigon—is the economic heart of Vietnam and the main hub of the southern region. This cosmopolitan, free-spirited metropolis combines the old and new Vietnam within a compact urban space, embodying both the city’s past and future. Ho Chi Minh City is not only Vietnam’s primary economic center but also carries numerous cultural and historical imprints from its more than 300 years of developmental history.
On the other hand, the accommodation center is located at 23/8 Hoang Viet Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. It takes you about ten (10) minutes (2.7 km) from the airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) and about fifteen (15-20) minutes from the city center.
Moreover, the center is surrounded by various facilities such as ATMs, restaurants, post office, swimming pool, gym, coffee shop and supermarkets. Therefore, you are free to relax and explore the city centers during your free time or after the program’s schedules or on the weekends and have the best times of your stay!
