Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
- We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
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JULY 9
Xin chào! (Hello!)
We are excited to share that the majority of our group has arrived safely in Vietnam! 🇻🇳✈️ We’re looking forward to welcoming Esme tomorrow evening. The students are settling into home base here in Hanoi, getting to know one another, and enjoying the much appreciated air conditioning. It’s hot and humid here in Hanoi, but spirits are high!
Over the next two weeks, students will embark on what will be the adventure of a lifetime. Together, we’ll explore all Vietnam has to offer, have amazing experiences, and engage in meaningful service projects that will make a real difference.
Today, we kicked things off with a visit to the local market- and it was quite the adventure! Our students were incredibly adventurous, sampling new snacks like seaweed treats 🌿 and even a sealed chicken foot 🐔🦶! One student even got paid in candy 🍬during a market interaction (definitely a story for the books). It was wonderful to see everyone step out of their comfort zones, embrace the local culture, and have fun with it.
To keep you connected throughout the journey, students will be sharing regular blogs filled with stories, reflections, and photos posted every couple of days. This way, you can follow along and see firsthand the unforgettable experiences unfolding here. From volunteering at the Friendship Village, learning about everyday life in Vietnam, strolling through the Old Quarter, kayaking in Ha Long Bay, and learning about community-based tourism, every moment is packed with excitement and discovery.
The entire group is eager and ready to dive in! We look forward to sharing all the highlights with you soon.
Hẹn gặp lại! (See you again!)
Kasia and Peggy
JULY 10
Hi everyone! It’s Rachel and Kieran, and today we are the Leaders of the Day! for the first official day together in Vietnam.
We started the morning by waking up by 8 and having breakfast. After we ate, we headed to the conference room for our orientation. We learned all about GLA conduct guidelines and went over the dos and don’ts of being in Vietnam. It was really interesting to hear about different cultural expectations and how to be respectful during our time here.
After our orientation, we walked over to a nearby pho restaurant for lunch. The pho was amazing. On our way back, the group split up a bit; some of us grabbed boba while the others went to get coffee. It was a fun little outing before heading to our next activity.
In the afternoon, we visited the Friendship Village. The friendship village is an organization that hosts kids and veterans affected by agent orange and have varying disabilities. We got to meet the director and hear about the inspiring work they do there. Spending time with the children was such a meaningful experience. Even though it’s only our first day, moments like that remind us of why we chose to be here.
When we got back home, we all rested for a bit. Later we led our icebreaker game for the group. We played The Cold Wind Blows! It was a fun way to get everyone moving, laughing, and learning more about each other. At the end of the day we did our first leadership activity Social Sync and finally our last member of our group arrived: Esme! We are now complete! ☺️
Overall, we had a great first day as Leaders and are so excited to keep exploring, serving, and growing together in Vietnam. ❤️
With love,
Rachel and Kieran
P.S. We had our last student arrive, Esme!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 11
Greetings from Hanoi,
We continue to dive deeper into this amazing country- its culture and its history.
This morning, we revisited Friendship Village, a community that supports individuals affected by Agent Orange. Many GLA leaders shared afterward how moved they were by the resilience, kindness, and joy of the individuals they met.
In the afternoon, we had the honor of meeting several Vietnamese veterans who shared their personal experiences from the Vietnam War. Hearing their stories firsthand was a humbling and emotional moment. It offered students a deeper understanding of the war’s long-lasting impact and the importance of peace, reflection, and healing. The conversation sparked thoughtful discussions among the group, and many students reflected on how much they still had to learn.
We ended the day with something a bit lighter—a fun outing to the Hanoi Night Market. Many students tried their first bánh mì, and it was a hit! Between the delicious food, colorful souvenirs, and lively atmosphere, the night market gave us a real taste of Hanoi.
Bye bye,
Zane and Daniel
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
Hello from Ruby and Jazzy!
Today was an excursion day so we had lots of outdoor activities and adventure. It was gorgeous but by the end of it we knew we would all sleep great tonight!
We woke up bright and early to leave the hotel for a two hour bus ride to Ninh Binh! The drive was beautiful as we entered the forests of Vietnam. We arrived and started our journey up the steep mountain hike with 500 steps. Despite sweating from the Vietnam heat, we made it to the top with breathtaking views all the way up. Danielle’s portable fan came in very handy, which she generously shared throughout the day. We knew that it was definitely worth it once we saw the overlooking cliffs that displayed the beautiful mountains, rivers and rice fields.
After taking in the scenery for awhile and catching our breath, we started the way back down. Once we got to the bottom we explored some caves around which felt very nice and cool since they were out of the sun. While in the Dancing Cave, Rachel showed us her dance moves. After taking in the beautiful views held in and under the mountains, we headed to the bus to get lunch. We each got personal pizzas to eat and cold drinks to hydrate us after our hike up the mountain.
After, we headed to the Saokhe river for a boat tour of the land and water. We paddled along the river and took in the beautiful view of the mountains, vegetation, even passing through a couple of caves. We even passed the set of the movie Skull Island, where they set up straw huts, as well as statues of animals and people. It was very interesting to see the mountains and recognize scenes from the movie! We stopped halfway down the river to visit a temple, and then we continued our way towards the landing to head to dinner.
For dinner we had Bun cha (noodle soup with grilled beef patties) which was very delicious! Finally, we headed back home for the night and were all very excited to shower and get to bed. Overall, today was a very exciting adventure and we are all excited to see what else awaits!!
With love,
Ruby and Jazzy
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
Greetings from Esme and Greta in Hanoi!
We began our day by departing the hotel and making our way to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi—a captivating institution that offers profound insights into the nation’s ethnic and cultural diversity. The museum intricately showcases the lives and traditions of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups.
As we moved through the exhibits, we gained a deeper understanding of the various regions of Vietnam and the unique customs, lifestyles, and belief systems that define each community. A particular highlight was the outdoor exhibition area, where we explored full-scale replicas of traditional homes, each authentically constructed to represent architectural styles from different ethnic groups.
Following our visit, we enjoyed lunch at a café with a compelling backstory. The café’s owner had once lived in an area with near a factory with excess waste and plastic, which led to alarmingly high cancer rates. Motivated by that experience, the café was thoughtfully designed using entirely recycled materials, reflecting a deep commitment to sustainability. The ambiance was both inspiring and innovative, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and artfully presented.
After lunch, the group headed to the Hoa La Prison Museum, which was a fascinating display of how prisoners have historically been held in the northern region of Vietnam. Long ago, the prison was for political prisoners, and included torture. However, during the Vietnam war, the prison was used much more humanely, holding American war prisoners. Because these people were treated with such dignity at the prison during this era, the prison was called the “Hilton Hanoi” because of its similarity to a hotel. We visited the gift shop at the museum, and then headed back to the hotel to change into our bathing suits. At a local pool, we completed a swimming test.
After resting, we went to the Essence of Tonkin water show, eating dinner prior to an amazing dance show on the water. The show included stories of the farming and fishing done in this region, as well as traditional folktales about more spiritual concepts, such as the significance of the four seasons and the importance of water. Finally, we headed back to the hotel for the night.
See ya next time!
Esme and Greta
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
Rose and Sofia here!
The day started with a visit to the laundromat, where we all dropped the dirty clothes we had used so far. We then came back to the hotel where our bus was waiting for us and we headed to Friendship Village for our last two hours session with the children.
For lunch, we went to the very cozy volunteer cafe and ate Japanese bento boxes. Later on, the Director of Volunteer for Peace sparked our curiosity with a short presentation and quiz about Agent Orange and Vietnam’s history. We also went over what we could expect from our visit in Da Bac and other future cultural activities that we will do with local children and teenagers in the following days.
After our delicious lunch we had 3 hours of peaceful siesta time at the hotel. Once rested we left the hotel and went over to the old quarter of Hanoi for an hour of shopping. For dinner we walked from our shopping to a nearby Indian spot where the garlic naan was particularly tasty! After dinner we went out for ice cream in the French quarter at Kem Trang Tien, the oldest ice cream shop in Hanoi. Right across the street we stopped for snacks and drinks at the Circle K. Once we got back to the hotel we packed for Da Bac and got excited to travel to our new home! See ya tomorrow!
à bientôt,
Rose & Sofia
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
Xin Chào! It’s Ruby and Kieran.
Today we started our day with a new group of students at a community class, where we helped teach them English! We focused on school supplies vocabulary using games, pictures, and pronunciation practice. It was such a fun way to meet new people, and the kids were so happy to have us there!
After lunch, we set off on our bus ride to Hoa Binh in the mountains. The drive was beautiful (though definitely a bit winding) as the road narrowed and we climbed higher. Our bus driver did an amazing job keeping us safe, and we even got to stop at a rest area/café with an incredible open view of the landscape.
A little while later, we arrived in the village and were shown around our accommodations, followed by a tour of the small village itself. We were all in awe of the cozy bed setups, perfectly arranged for us. It started to rain for a bit, but it only added to the beauty when a rainbow appeared during dinner.
That’s all for today, but we’re feeling very lucky and excited for the new projects ahead in this beautiful new place. Goodbye until next time!
Love,
Ruby and Kieran
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Greetings from Jazzy and Danielle!
Today we spent most of our time in the village doing our service. This morning, we woke up to the sound of roosters and began the day with a traditional breakfast of sweet potatoes and corn, with the addition of instant noodles to keep us going for the day of hard work ahead of us.
After breakfast, we walked down to the site, where we began our work helping to repair a damaged waterway that supplies water to the local rice patties. We began by moving rocks to begin rebuilding a wall that was damaged in a flood. We stacked the rocks with layers of concrete to create a sturdy base, taking breaks in between layers to have some snacks and drink water. After creating the initial foundation, we headed back to the home stay. Danielle and Sofia volunteered to help the local chefs to cook lunch for us, which consisted of chicken, vegetables, and rice! After lunch, we all took some time and napped until 2, the we headed back out for more work.
After resting and lunch, we went back to the construction site where we kept building the water canal while watching the beautiful rice fields before us and listening to music. The water canals in the village were ruined by floods a year ago. After finishing the construction and building for the day we had an hour for hanging out. Dinner was made and served by Rose and Zane in one of the many home stays in the village, which included a variety of meats and vegetables.
We concluded our evening with an incredibly interesting conversation with the GLA director about the community, later we used this conversation at our evening activity where we had a debate regarding communities, traditions, culture and how they are affected by tourism.
Good night!
Chúc ngủ ngon!
Danielle and Jazzy
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
Hi! This is Esme and Zane.
At 7:00 this morning, the group met downstairs in the homestay for breakfast, enjoying delicious home-cooked crepes and crispy fried potatoes that had been thoughtfully prepared for us. It was a cozy, relaxed start to the day, with everyone chatting and fueling up for the work ahead. After breakfast, we made our way down the hill to the service site, taking in the cool morning air and mountain views along the way.
Once there, we jumped back into our ongoing project: improving the local irrigation system. We spent about three hours digging, clearing, and reinforcing the channels, working as a team to ensure the water flow would be strong and sustainable for the farmers in the area. It was hard work, but super rewarding to see our progress!
After our morning shift, we returned to the homestay for a short break. Greta and Ruby took the lead in the kitchen, preparing lunch with some help from our host family. We then walked over to a nearby home where we enjoyed a hearty, traditional meal together- complete with fresh vegetables and homemade tortillas. The hospitality was so warm and welcoming, and it felt great to be part of the community.
Following lunch, we had a bit of downtime to relax and recharge. In the afternoon, we made our way back to the service site for one last push to complete the irrigation channel. After a few more hours of focused work, we finally finished it! Everyone was so proud- we took a group photo by the finished channel before heading back uphill to the homestay.
Back at the house, we took well-deserved showers and got cozy while Rachel and Jazzy helped prepare dinner alongside our hosts. The meal was delicious (again!) and full of laughter and shared stories.
The evening wrapped up with a cultural night hosted by the local community. They performed several beautiful traditional dances in full costume, which was such a treat to experience. In return, we shared a bit of our own culture through dance- yes, that included a spirited rendition of the “Cotton-Eye Joe” and the “Macarena”! The night ended with an all-out karaoke session where everyone joined in, singing and laughing together until we finally called it a night.
Until next time!!
—Esme and Zane
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Hi everyone! It’s Greta and Rachel writing as today’s Leaders of the Day.
This morning we woke up early and had breakfast together one last time in Da Bac. After eating, we headed straight into one of our favorite things to do spend more time with the children in the village.
Some of us sat down and made lanyards with the kids, weaving together colorful threads and helping them create little keychains/bracelets. Others passed around a beach ball, chasing it around and not letting it touch the ground it was a game that needed no translation. A few of us made paper airplanes and had mini flight competitions, while others joined a coloring station, filling in flags from around the world and talking with the kids about different countries. It was a really heartwarming and beautiful way to connect through simple play, creativity, and smiles.
After our time with the children, we had our final lunch in Da Bac. we are grateful for the memories we’ve made, but also a little sad to say goodbye to such a special place.
In the early afternoon, we packed our bags and boarded the bus back to Hanoi. The drive was long but we stopped at a rest stop to enjoy matcha, get snacks and look out at the view.
Tonight, we participated in a cultural exchange night with a group of Vietnamese teenagers. It was such a fun and meaningful experience we shared aspects of our own cultures and learned about theirs in return. We swapped popular slang phrases, and talked about our favorite foods and traditions. some of us tried durian while others had to step outside because of the smell. It was so interesting to see both the similarities and differences between our everyday lives, and everyone left with smiles, new friends, and lots of laughter.
Can’t wait for what’s next!
— Greta & Rachel 💛
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Xin chào! It’s Ruby and Sofia to catch you up on what we did today!
We woke up in Hanoi and got an early start to get on a bus to Ha Long Bay. It was a 3 hour bus ride with views getting more and more pretty as we neared the water. We made a stop along the way at a cultured pearl center for a small tour and then got back on to go catch our boat. Once we got on we enjoyed some yummy food for lunch and took in the views from the water. Unfortunately during lunch it began to rain. Then we got ready for some adventuring in the rain. We took a smaller boat over to Titop island beach and got to swim. There were so many people and boats there! We swam around for a little while until we had to get out of the water due to weather.
While we were washing off and getting ready back on the main boat the power went off but fortunately came back on again soon after. Before dinner we had a little snack of fruit and rice crackers followed by some relaxing down time. Dinner was a delicious spread with lots of different seafood dishes and veggies. After dinner we had the chance to fish for squid off the boat. Despite our efforts, the squid weren’t snapping at that time but it was still fun and pleasant to sit outside. After setting down our rods, we got ready for bed and an early start tomorrow!
Can’t wait for another day at one of the Wonders of the World!
Love,
Ruby and Sofia
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
This is Kieran and Rose,
Right after breakfast, we took a small boat to Sung Sot Cave. Just as we arrived, it started to rain. Thankfully, we entered the cave quickly and stayed dry for the most part. After exploring every nook and cranny of the majestic cave, we returned to the hotel boat and participated in a cooking class with one of the crew members. Not only did we learn how to make fried spring rolls, but we also got to eat the ones we prepared for lunch, our last meal in Ha Long Bay.
After lunch, our boat sailed into port, and we disembarked. Then we began the long drive back to Hanoi. Once we arrived, we took part in a group activity where we set OMG goals for ourselves and for our group as a whole. The GLA staff surprised us with boba teas and coffees, which we really enjoyed after a long day! After resting for a while, we headed to the mall for dinner. Dinner was delicious. Afterward, we shopped in the mall for two hours. Most of us bought snacks. After shopping, we returned to our hotel to sleep, and enjoy our snacks.
See you tomorrow!!
The Canadians 🇨🇦❤️
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Leaders of the Day: Jazzy and Rachel
Our last day in Vietnam was packed with memories, creativity, and a lot of love.
We started the day with a trip to the pottery village, where we got to shop for handmade pottery and learn about the long, beautiful history behind it. After exploring, we each had the chance to try throwing our own bowls on the pottery wheel some of us found our new calling (and others just got a little messy).
After making our bowls, we had the option to paint them downstairs or head upstairs to paint recycled ceramic keychains.
we then went to sushi lunch! it was sooooo good and a great fueling for our final shopping adventure. With just a few hours left, we decided it was time to use up the rest of our dong—aka we spent it like Monopoly money. From snacks to souvenirs, we made sure nothing went to waste.
We returned to the hotel for our closing activities and reflections. We shared stories, laughs, and highlights from the past two weeks. It was bittersweet, but it reminded us how far we’ve come and how close we’ve grown as a group.
After that, we packed our bags and got ready for our farewell dinner. We walked together through the city and sat down for one last delicious meal with our incredible local directors, Quay and Phuong. The dinner was filled with gratitude, and memory’s as we said our thank yous.
To wrap up the night, we made a quick stop at a photo booth and a bakery.
Now we’re back at the hotel, all packed and (mostly) ready for our early departure tomorrow morning. It’s hard to believe this chapter is ending, but we’re leaving with full hearts, new friendships, and unforgettable memories.
Vietnam, thank you for everything!❤️
