Helping Hand Food Tour con visitar el orfanato Hoi An

Our family wanted to truly experience Vietnam — not just by sightseeing, but by connecting with the local people and enjoying authentic local food. We spent our a half day exploring local food spots (everything was so delicious! And tour guide Rosie was so lovely)and also took time to visit an orphanage. It was a touching experience — we got to see firsthand how the local welfare system works and how people come together to care for one another. We brought along some sport gifts from Australia, and it was such a joy to share them. Seeing the kids’ smiles made our trip extra special. Some people in Vietnam are still living with the effects of Agent Orange and require 24-hour care, which was a humbling reminder of the challenges they continue to face. Overall, this tour wasn’t just about the ordinary tour— it was about compassion, connection, and community. 🌏✨

I'm not sure where to begin, other than with Rosie. She has the biggest heart. Rosie met us at White Rose Restaurant, and we had the most famous dumplings in Hoi An. They were absolutely incredible and they honored our no seafood food restrictions. We just let Rosie know about this ahead of time, and she handled everything. Afterwards we went to a market, at which point we picked up special treats for the orphanage, which we would pass out once getting there. She knew the special treats that the residents would be excited about! Once arriving at the orphanage we were greeted with the best hugs from the teenagers, who then helped us pass out the special treats to the elderly community who also receive care there. Most of the teens had some sort of special needs but they were like a family and they each cared for one another, and looked out for each other. We learned that those with disabilities are rarely adopted, and will likely live their whole lives in this facility. We wish we could have taken everyone home with us! My teenage girls immediately connected with the teens there and shared their bracelets with them so they would know they had friends, in them, forever. When it was time to leave to continue the food tour, we asked Rosie, if instead we could stay longer, because it all felt so meaningful. Upon returning to the United States, we plan to help raise funds for the facility to help them get air conditioning and possibly create a job program. If you go and would like to go the same, reach out! Rosie let us stay for a long time and STILL took us out to eat afterwards. I hope that she enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed her! We hope to raise awareness for this facility, and this unique 1-day volunteer experience that truly made this trip more meaningful.