The minimum stay for short-term volunteers at SAE LAO is two weeks.
We usually accept new volunteers on Sundays, so please arrive in Vang Vieng by Saturday to join the transport to the project site on Sunday morning.
If you need to arrive on a different day, let us know in your application—we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
We also welcome interns from around the world! If you’re interested in an internship of at least 8 weeks, we’d love to hear from you—get in touch to explore the possibilities.
As part of our community, everyone helps with the daily upkeep of the site.
We ask volunteers to contribute around 5 hours of work per day, though this may vary depending on the season and number of volunteers. Most people are happy to help a bit more when needed.
Teaching English is our main afternoon activity, and most volunteers take part. If you prefer not to teach, just let us know—we rely on volunteers to keep these free classes going.
Outside of work hours, you’re free to relax or explore the nearby villages and beautiful surroundings.
As a volunteer, you’ll stay in our on-site dormitory. If you prefer more privacy, we can arrange a low-cost room at our nearby guesthouse (subject to availability).
We have bedding, drinking water, mosquito nets, but below are some suggestions for what to pack:
Optional:
Bonus:
If you have room to spare, we’re always grateful for donated items that support our work. Some helpful contributions include:
Our volunteer orientation takes place only on Sunday mornings, so please apply for a Sunday arrival.
Plan to arrive in Vang Vieng at least one day before—by Saturday. You likely won’t make it to Vang Vieng on time if you leave from Vientiane or Luang Prabang on Sunday morning.
On Sunday at 10:30 AM, we’ll wait for volunteers at Mad Monkey — please be ready outside. If needed, you can take a tuk-tuk from Vang Vieng to the Sae Lao, typically costs around 150,000 kip (~$7) per person/group.
We have been self-sustaining since it began, thanks to the support of our volunteers. To keep the project running and growing, we ask each volunteer to contribute a small daily fee.
This cost covers:
We ask that volunteers pay for the minimum 2-week stay before arrival. If you’re staying longer, the remaining balance should be paid within your first week.
Refunds are only issued under exceptional circumstances, as we count on your commitment just as much as you count on ours.
Support SAE LAO and help build a brighter future in rural Laos. You can volunteer to teach, farm, or support community projects—or donate to keep our programs running. Every bit of help makes a real difference.
MITTAPHAP-Siem Reap Project is located in the Preah Dak village, 12km away from Angkor Wat, Siem Reap.
Located in the quiet Nathong Village, 7km outside of Vang Vieng in Lao PDR. Next to Blue Lagoon 1.