Your accommodation is tucked away in the countryside of Laos allowing you to get a true taste of Laotian sceneries. It is surrounded by rice fields and lakes and has a modern Lao restaurant at the property entrance. Rooms are single gender with up to 6 participants per room. There are no hot water showers currently, but hot water for a bucket shower is available upon request. There are occasional power outages that can affect the pump which allows the flow of water, so it is important to keep your bucket filled in your bathroom in case this happens. There is no Wifi on the campus and we therefore recommend all participants purchase a local SIM card for internet access. The bathroom facilities are shared with cold water showers and Western-style toilets. Bed linen are provided, but please bring your own towels. The rooms are equipped with fans and mosquito protection.
Arrival transfer is included. You will be met at Vientiane International Airport by one of our representatives and taken to the volunteer accommodation. Our staff member will be waiting for you in the arrival hall as you exit the main door of the airport. The airport is very small so it is almost impossible to miss. Please note that you may need to wait for other participants to arrive before the group leaves the airport. The arrival transfer is only available on Sundays and Saturdays. If arriving on a Saturday, you will need to book an extra night of accommodation.
If you are traveling to Vientiane overland from Thailand or elsewhere in Laos, please be sure to meet us at the following meeting point on Sunday at 12:00 (noon): The Amazon Cafe on the corner of Quai Fa Ngum and Chao Anou Road.
Three meals during the day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are provided and will generally take place at the accommodation and project site, unless stated otherwise. We offer a variety of local Laotian dishes. Participants may find that the cuisine is quite different from what they are used to at home, as there are very few western dishes served. Local dishes can sometimes be adapted to accommodate vegetarians, but can be a bit challenging with other dietary restrictions. Please inform the local team of your specific needs and they will do their best. However, please consider that it may not be possible to meet those personal tastes or guidelines everyday to your satisfaction. In instances like this we do suggest, bringing some of your own items to supplement the food being served. Please note that during the weekends only 2 meals per day are provided (brunch and dinner). Water, coffee and tea are available at your accommodation.
Please inform us of any dietary restrictions or intolerances during your application. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible and accommodating to the local food.
Facilities
You can find simple groceries and beverages sold in two local restaurants located next to the accommodation. There are also a few locals shops a three-minute walking distance away. Moreover, there is a local market located a 10 minute walking distance away.
There is also a lake-side makeshift restaurant just for us, where you can enjoy the evenings and order Western or Lao food at reasonable prices.
There is a pool located next to the accommodation, which you are welcome to enjoy for a small fee. Moreover, we have a sports area where you can play football or volleyball with other participants! The house is surrounded by rice fields and lakes, which you can take advantage of through activities such as swimming and boat riding.
There are bikes available for you to use to explore the area during the afternoons. Vientiane is located about 25 kilometers away and it is very easy to reach via public transport from our center and back. Anything that you might need can be found there, with its numerous shopping malls, a cinema and local markets to explore! There are also bikes available for you to use to explore the area during the afternoons.
Money
We advise all participants to bring some local currency with them for personal expenses, or use the ATM at the airport when they arrive. The closest ATM machine can be found on the main road to Vientiane, approximately 5 kilometers from the accommodation. Money can also be exchanged in Vientiane. It is important to note that the local transport stops running early, so you should check with the local team to ensure that you are returning early enough to catch it, as private transport can be quite pricey by local standards.
What to Bring
Malaria precautions, mosquito repellent, towel(s), sturdy shoes, work gloves
