"Volunteering at the shelter was an eye-opening and humbling experience. It made me deeply grateful for the life I have in the U.S. and gave me a new sense of compassion for the families and elderly individuals who struggle to access basic resources that I often take for granted. Being able to help, even in small ways, showed me how meaningful a little support can be for those in need. The experience reminded me that kindness and community can truly make a difference. I hope that everyone at the shelter continues to receive the same care, support, and compassion that I was honored to both witness and be a part of."

"My volunteer experience in Vietnam was rewarding in many different ways. It was eye opening in the sense that I’d finally witnessed firsthand the poverty and hardships I had at that point only read about in articles or instagram posts. It was fulfilling to help service struggling people by practicing generosity and charity. And it also helped to broaden my perspective on life’s struggles, making my own seem much less difficult and giving me the courage to continue persevering just like the people in front of me. Overall, the trip benefited not only the people we helped, but also myself in helping my personal growth and maturation."

"Last year, I traveled to Vietnam with my family to work with a local charity organization focused on helping and giving to the less fortunate. We began by serving food to cancer patients and their caretakers. We set up on the side of the street, cardboard boxes full of food and plastic stools, handing out food and money. It was a hot day, and I was so thankful for the shade. I can only imagine what it would have been like to be on the other side, waiting in line for food to bring to sick relatives. Our next connection was through a remote village temple where we shared rice, noodles, and medicinal oils, as well as some necessary funds, with the elderly and the disabled. The temple was beautiful. I was working with bags of rice, walking them down the steps and stacking them in a pile. Later, in another remote village, we were able to visit and help fix leaking roofs and broken walls for poorer families. I had never seen houses like these before. The roof was made of something like tin, and the sunlight spilled in a way that meant rain would as well. I am so grateful to be able to help people, and it has inspired me to continue helping people. This is a great cause to support, and I’m so happy I was able to help."

"The moment I landed in Vietnam, it was super hot—like 101 degrees! And really sticky, too. First, we went to a hotel, No AC! Then, we went on a really long car ride to a temple. We had to carry these huge, heavy bags of rice, like 50 pounds, to give to poor people there. After that, we gave out school stuff like books and pencils to the kids.

"It was a privilege to join our dear friend Cindy and the 'Improving Vietnam' team last spring to support a village in need. Their work is a testament to the power of compassion and firsthand knowledge.

By providing essentials like food and wheelchairs, 'Improving Vietnam' is making a direct and meaningful impact on a community grappling with widespread blindness—a likely legacy of environmental issues from the Vietnam War. I was deeply moved by their dedication and will never forget the look on an elderly gentleman's face when he received his package.

'Improving Vietnam' is a small organization with a huge heart. They are continuing to provide food supplies while also working to improve housing and education for the young.

I am moved to continue supporting this effort and can only urge everyone else to donate as well."

"Joining my friend Cindy on her annual charity trip to Vietnam in 2024 was not just a family endeavor, but a truly life-altering experience for the whole family. I had grown up in China in the 1980s and believed I had a solid understanding of hardship, but I was profoundly unprepared for the scale of need we observed in villages surprisingly close to a major city like Ho Chi Minh.