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Vietnamese Food as Medicine: A Culinary & Healing Journey

The experience

đź“Ť Location: Danang or Hoi An, Vietnam
⏳ Duration: 1 week
đź’° Program Fee: $450 per person

This Vietnamese Food as Medicine Experience is part of HerKitchen, a social-impact initiative under Catalyst for Change Vietnam (C4C). Unlike typical cooking classes, HerKitchen is a vocational training program that equips single mothers with professional cooking skills.

What you offer

18 hours of help per week

Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.

Cooking: Choose the menu, pick ingredients and cook delicious dishes.

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 200 Per week

Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers and Materials for volunteer activities

Description: The Culinary Expedition: Tasting Vietnam’s Treasures is a 1-week immersive culinary experience priced at $200 USD per person. ✅ What’s Included: Accommodation at the Hoi An Mansion. Daily home-cooked meals by HerKitchen women. Hands-on cooking classes and guided market tours. Street food exploration and cultural immersion activities.

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Team Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Free Parties: Get free entrance for the best parties in town.

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English or Intermediate Vietnamese

Between 18 and 60 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

Travel insurance

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

đź“Ť Location: Danang or Hoi An, Vietnam
⏳ Duration: 1 week

Through this program, single mothers learn, teach, and earn—training international volunteers in traditional Vietnamese cuisine while building confidence and financial independence. Many of them go on to work at C4C volunteer houses across Vietnam or start their own micro food businesses.

This 1-week immersive experience goes beyond cooking—it offers a deep dive into the Vietnamese philosophy of food as medicine. Participants will:

✅ Learn the fundamentals of Vietnamese food healing traditions—balancing the body using seasonal, warm/cool foods, and herbal ingredients.
âś… Prepare and enjoy therapeutic meals that enhance digestion, immunity, and overall well-being.
âś… Visit local markets, herbal shops, and farms to explore medicinal ingredients.
âś… Engage in storytelling sessions with HerKitchen women to understand the cultural and emotional connection between food and healing.
âś… Compare Eastern and Western approaches to food and health, exploring how to integrate these principles into daily life.
This program is ideal for food lovers, wellness enthusiasts, and those interested in holistic healing through food.

Activities & Shift

Living Experience & Additional Perks
🌿 Live in the C4C Volunteer House:
Stay in shared accommodation with volunteers participating in other community service projects.
Enjoy a supportive and multicultural environment, exchanging ideas and experiences.
🍚 Daily Home-Cooked Meals:
Enjoy nutritious Vietnamese meals prepared by HerKitchen women—including soups, herbal broths, and healing teas.
Experience more traditional home-style dishes beyond the cooking classes.
Meals are balanced according to Vietnamese food medicine philosophy (cooling & warming foods).
🌊 Explore Danang & Hoi An:
During free time, relax on beautiful beaches, visit night markets, or explore Hoi An’

Rules

Volunteers are required to follow C4C's housing regulations, including adhering to Vietnamese laws, maintaining a clean living space, and refraining from returning late or staying overnight away from the accommodation.