ABOUT THE PROJECT
The YESD medical project, “YESynDrome”, aims to partner with international medical organizations to provide general check-up services for ethnic minority groups in the mountainous region of Ha Giang.
Project Site
Phuong Tien commune, located in the north of Vi Xuyen district, Ha Giang, had an average income of $1584 in 2023, significantly lower than Vietnam’s national average of $4284.
The Phuong Tien health clinic, serving 3,080 residents from eight villages, plays a key role in disease prevention, maternal and child healthcare, and medical treatment. It has made notable progress, handling 2,846 medical cases in 2018 and achieving high vaccination rates among children.
However, healthcare access remains hindered by several factors. Many locals, especially from ethnic minorities, rely on traditional medicine like herbal remedies and shamanism, which can delay effective treatment for serious conditions. Additionally, the region’s challenging geography, with poor road infrastructure and hazardous conditions during the rainy season, further limits access to healthcare.
A mobile medical clinic is vital to overcoming these barriers, bringing modern medical services to remote areas, and encouraging the adoption of conventional treatments. This medical project would help bridge the gap in healthcare access caused by geography and traditional beliefs.
Trip Highlights
- You have the opportunity to work in a local clinic/hospital in Ha Giang, Vietnam.
- Work under professionals and contribute to the healthcare of the underserved in the Vietnamese community.
- Ideal for medical and nursing students in their final/third year of study.
- Be actively involved in the daily procedures of the hospital, taking rounds of the wards, maintaining files, and doing routine patient checkups like measuring Blood pressure, checking fever, etc.
- Explore Vietnam and visit Ha Giang’s famous attractions on the weekend.
Program Requirement
- Good at English. Have a basic understanding of Blood pressure, Blood sugar, First Aid, and Medical Care
- Be able to use a Sphygmomanometer and Blood Glucose Meter.
- Prepare your medical uniform, Sphygmomanometer, and Blood Glucose Meter.
- Other things depend on the group activities (will be discussed)
- Customize it to your preference.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
1. Patient Intake
- Takes vital signs
- Sets up and takes down the area each day
- Greets patients and gets them signed in
- Collects patient health history and chief complaint
2. Medical Care Provider
- Sets up and takes down the treatment area each day
- Conducts physical exam based on the patient’s chief complaint and medical record and makes a diagnosis
- Suggests treatment
- Review health education and preventative measures with the patient
- Writes script if applicable
3. Well Care Provider
- Sets up and takes down the treatment area each day
- Review any health concerns with the patient
- Conducts physical exam
- Directs the patient back to the triage staff if something is noted that needs a medical care provider’s attention
- Provides one-on-one health education (asks questions, offers tips based on the answers)
- Writes nonprescription-based scripts ( vitamins, antacids, analgesics, etc.)
4. Pharmacy Staff
- Sets up and takes down the pharmacy daily
- Processes scripts
- Explains to patients how to use and store the medication
5. Communication and Education Staff
- Sets up the community education area
- Skills of crowd control
- Creates class schedule
- Organizes attendees
- Introduces the topic and the instructor
- Organizes teaching aids and giveaways for each class
YESD Vietnam x Discover Internship: How to Help Us?
YESD and Discover Internships have joined hands for this medical project. This project focuses on bringing medical care to ethnic minority communities in Ha Giang.
The YESynDrome project needs support to continue our mission. One of the biggest needs is funding for medication. Many people in Ha Giang cannot afford medicine. Through this collaboration with Discover Internships, we are raising money for a Medication Fund to provide essential medicines to those in need. So, this is how you can contribute:
- Donate to the Discover Interships Fund: Every contribution helps us buy important medicines. You can find out more here!
- Spread the Word: Share this project with your friends and family to help raise awareness!
Customer Reviews On YESD Tours
Ha Chiang loop for an old boy
Well what can I say about my Ha Chiang loop trip I did with Yesd. They were excellent from start to finish. As a 54 year old man I did the loop solo with my driver Chinh as I wanted to avoid the happy water and karaoke aspect. Chinh understood this perfectly and took me on a fabulous trip. We took local routes when he could, avoiding some of main routes. He kept ahead of the ‘Mongolian army’ as he called the throngs of other loopers and often arrived at view points before they arrived …
An authentic and sustainable experience
It was a unique experience that allowed me to truly experience sustainable tourism. The activities took place in breathtaking landscapes and gave us the opportunity to learn firsthand about the traditions and lifestyle of the local communities. The team was very attentive and took care of every detail to ensure we enjoyed our stay to the fullest.
Realmente lo recomiendo! es una manera hermosa de descubrir Ha Giang y, al mismo tiempo, contribuir a un turismo responsable.
A memory for life
An amazing experience! Incredible guides! You almost feel privileged compared to other groups. The accommodation is top-notch; the house, the welcome, the meals—everything is perfect. The mountain trek is magical, the motorbike trek is insane (beware of sore bums by the end!), incredible views the whole time, and super enriching stories. It really puts things into perspective compared to our European comforts—it feels great! To conclude this review, thank you again to the entire YESD Travel team; they are truly wonderful people.
Amazing Trek + Ha Giang Loop Tour
We recently did a trekking + Ha Giang loop tour with YESD and were blown away by their service level and professionalism. We like YESD’s mission of responsible tourism while supporting the local community and empowering locals with employment. A portion of the profits also directly go back to supporting the communities and local infrastructure.
Our stay at Mr. Thien’s homestay was amazing! The place was homey and relaxing. Mr. Thien and the people working there were so friendly, warm and hospitable …
>> See Mario’s experience with YESD on TripAdvisor
4 Days 3 Nights Ha Giang Loop
Our trip to Ha Giang Loop with YESD was the highlight of our trip to Vietnam.
We were 3 couples and took a private tour some of us on bikes and others in car.
Booking with YESD was easy and Tuyet was so attentive with our needs and always replied promptly.
We stayed 3 nights in home stays all great experiences with the most generous host families.
All had our own rooms / bungalows with bathrooms.
YESD are socially and environmentally conscious with travel …
View 485+ reviews of YESD on TripAdvisor >>
Check out all of our reviews on TripAdvisor. YESD Travel is a part of YESD Social Enterprise which was established to help the disadvantaged youth and communities in Vietnam. With a background of working for non-governmental organizations, they gained many experiences in community development projects. Explore more responsible tours in Ha Giang, Sapa, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Ha Noi, Cao Bang, Bac Can, and Nam Dinh.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project location
Volunteer Work Schedule
DAY 1: Orientation Day Briefing:
– Overview of Vietnam and its culture. (traffic, food, money expenses, culture…)
– Go over the whole program.
– Vietnamese lesson – Q&A.
DAY 2: Transfer day to Ha Giang.
DAY 3+4: Observational visit at Ha Giang General Hospital – Orientation with the director of the hospital.
– Visit the patients in each ward, and speak to them to learn about their condition.
– Shadow the doctors in examination rooms.
– Shadow the doctors in the operating room/ ICU/ Pharmacy.
NOTE:
- Dress code: wearing nursing clothes, covered footwear/sandals.
- Based on the operation time of the hospital, some workshops will be arranged for the group to discuss with the patients, local nurses, and doctors.
Charity Activity: Cooking charity porridge and offering it to difficult patients at Ha Giang General Hospital.
DAY 5: Observational visit at Phuong Tien health clinic
– Orientation session with the nurses at the clinic, Medication learning session
– Set up your mobile clinic
NOTE:
- Mobile clinic’s location: Phuong Tien Community House
- Dress code at the working station: Wear nursing clothes and covered footwear/sandals. No shorts/tank tops at the village.
- Medical equipment for the next working days: stereoscopes, blood pressure, scales, flashlight, gloves, masks
- Station set up for the next working days:
- Registration table
- Number – Scale – height – weight measurement station
- Assessment table
- Table for the local nurses
- Pharmacy
- Crowd control student
DAY 6: Clinic Day 1 – Working station at the community house
DAY 7: Clinic Day 2 – Working station at the community house
DAY 8: Clinic Day 3 – Working station at the community house
DAY 9: Clinic Day 4 – Working station at the community house
DAY 10: Clinic Day 15 – Working station at the community house
DAY 11: Day off (Free activities)
DAY 12: Clinic Day 6 – Working station at the community house
DAY 13: Clinic Day 7 – Working station at the community house
DAY 14: Clinic Day 8 – Working station at the community house
DAY 15: Clinic Day 9 – Working station at the community house
DAY 16: Clinic Day 10 – Working station at the community house
DAY 17: Day off (Free activities)
DAY 18 (Suggested activities): Day for girls (& boys)
Sex Education and reproductive health education for girls and health promotion for boys at the local secondary & high school.
DAY 19: Local Cultural Exchange Day – Getting an insight into the local.
DAY 20: Departure day back to Ha Noi.
Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the Noi Bai International Airport by the local coordinator (YESD Vietnam). Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in Hanoi will be picked up from the hotel or at a meeting point decided beforehand.
Accommodation
Volunteers are provided with accommodation in the volunteer house or in a family-operated and centrally located guesthouse in Ha Giang.
The volunteer house is located in Ha Giang near the local market. The house provides volunteers with a comfortable, simple, and relaxing place to live.
Presently, the volunteer house can accommodate more than twenty volunteers in five rooms. Rooms in the house are shared. Rooms have fans and AC. If the volunteers need any help or assistance, they can always come to the local team office, which is in the same building and literally right next door.
Wifi Internet is available at the volunteer house.
Participants also have the option to choose to upgrade to a single private room at an additional charge at the guesthouse accommodation. In case of non-availability at the volunteer house during busy periods, participants are provided accommodation in a guesthouse.
For those participants wishing to stay at a homestay, local hosts are also available.
Orientation
An intensive orientation will be provided by the YESD project leader. Areas like culture, greetings, locations, transportation, safety, and volunteer placements are explained during the orientation. Volunteers are given a local tour of Ha Giang as well as a welcome dinner.
Meals
Vietnamese cuisine is famous among other countries in the world. Local food will be a great choice for people who love Vietnamese cuisine. During your stay at the volunteer house, the local family will provide food. A cooking team follows the group to take care of food hygiene.
The menu will offer for selection of the foods you prefer:
- Breakfast: Start from 6:00 AM -7:30 AM, foods such as banh mi or crepe, tea, coffee, and fresh fruit are included.
- Lunch: Start from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, foods such as soup or stir-fried with a main dish consisting of rice, noodles, fresh vegetables, chicken, beef, or pork.
- Dinner: Start from 5:40 PM – 7:00 PM, food is similar to lunch, so you typically come together to eat with others.
- If you are a vegetarian or have special requests (eg, food allergies). Please notify us in advance for support.
Weekend Activities
Ha Giang is a mountainous province in northern Vietnam known for its stunning landscapes, including rugged peaks, deep valleys, and terraced rice fields.
It’s home to diverse ethnic minority communities, each with unique cultures and traditions. Popular for motorbike tours (Ha Giang loop) and trekking, Ha Giang offers an authentic and off-the-beaten-path experience for adventurous travelers.
WHY TRAVEL WITH YESD?
Authentic
We give local people employment, income and learning opportunities so they are directly involved in your tourism experience. Our guides and hosts will give you a special insight into culture and life in Vietnam.
Responsible
We aim to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and the local community while contributing positively to local economies. We don’t just talk responsible tourism, we act!
Tours that translate
10% of all profits from our tours go towards a community fund. This money allows us to make infrastructure improvements and provide other important resources to those in need.