From Hardship to Lasting Hope.

We create sustainable, community-driven solutions for Vietnam’s most vulnerable populations.

July 2026 Mission • A Lưới, Vietnam

Change a Life,
Including Your Own.

The Hong Lien Foundation is a charity dedicated to developing sustainable, community-driven solutions that uplift Vietnam’s most vulnerable populations. Our primary focus is on regions affected by hunger, poverty, and the lasting health effects resulting from the legacy of Agent Orange.

Through strategic partnerships and organized volunteer trips, we provide essential aid across three core pillars: Health Access, Food Security, and Education. Our collaborative efforts build foundations for enduring growth and self-sufficiency, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

Join the Hong Lien Foundation for an international volunteer journey into the heart of the Annamite Mountains. We are looking for dedicated individuals to help bring healthcare, food security, and hope to the underserved communities of Central Vietnam.

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Mother and Child in Central Vietnam
A Lưới, 2026
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What Will It Take to End Poverty in Vietnam?

The World Bank Group describes Vietnam’s poverty reduction over the past decade as "remarkable" and "significantly successful," noting that the lower-middle-income poverty rate dropped from 16.8% to 5% between 2010 and 2020, lifting over 10 million people out of poverty. However, the Bank warns that the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and persistent inequality among ethnic minorities pose ongoing risks, requiring new strategies for sustainable income equality.

This is where the Hong Lien Foundation exists—filling the gap for ethnic minorities who remain underserved because poverty reduction has been uneven. These communities experience poverty rates far above the national average, especially in mountainous rural areas they exceed over 20%. The terrain and accessibility issues create a "geographic poverty trap" that directly contributes to this income inequality. Our focus is dedicated to the ethnic minorities in the A Lưới region of Central Vietnam.

Our Aims

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Food Security

– ensuring reliable access to nutritious food

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Expanding Healthcare Access

– delivering essential medical, dental, and vision services

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Educating Children

– empowering youth through access to secondary education

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A Lưới District: First Voluntary Trip to Vietnam in 2026

An indigenous woman from the A Luoi region in central Vietnam wearing traditional outfit.

The Current Crisis

  • A Lưới is home to approximately 52,000 residents and lies 70 kilometers west of Huế city. The district faces persistent economic challenges and hunger due to natural disasters and deforestation. In some of its most vulnerable communes—Hồng Thủy, Hồng Vân, Trung Sơn, and Hồng Kim—the poverty rate exceeds 20%.

  • A Lưới has also been deeply affected by the legacy of Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used during the Vietnam War. Around 4,000 residents suffer from cancer, birth defects, and other disabilities linked to dioxin exposure and genetic damage,

  • The remoteness of A Lưới district is the primary driver of its health crisis, creating formidable barriers for residents seeking care. Even when essential services are available, the majority of people lack the financial means for transportation to distant health centers, which often requires a full day's journey and costly travel. This challenge is compounded by a severe lack of resources, including trained specialists, thus forcing them to forgo care entirely or face impossible choices between their health and financial stability.

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two smiling village boys from central Vietnam region of A Luoi embracing.

Program Updates

  • The Foundation plans to implement complementary programs to the existing cancer screening program implemented by Heart for Hue and their associated partners, targeting the four communes in the Central Provinces of Vietnam — A’Luoi Town, Hong Kim, Hong Bac, and Quang Nam.

    This inaugural program will complement existing cancer screening and support programs for Agent Orange-affected individuals by introducing wraparound services across the foundation’s three core pillars: Fight to end hunger, healthcare access, and educating children.

    The Inaugural program is planned for Summer 2026.

  • Due to the number of requests to volunteer in 2026, we have expanded our volunteer program for new volunteers who would like to join us in Vietnam in 2027. Become an overseas healthcare volunteer in Southeast Asia and Join Us in Vietnam in 2027!

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  • In response to these challenges, Hearts for Hue, in partnership with Hue Central Hospital and A Lưới Medical Center, and with funding from the D.O.V.E. Fund, launched the program “Empowering Health and Well-being for Agent Orange-Affected Individuals in A Lưới District.” To date, over 1,000 individuals were screened for cancer, with 64% receiving a definitive diagnosis and follow-up care. The project continues to provide vital medical support, with the goal of reaching all affected individuals in the district.

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Donation FAQs

90% of your donation directly supports our programs: Ending Hunger, Expanding Healthcare Access, and Educating Children. 10% funds essential administrative costs (eg: fundraising, operations, compliance) to ensure the programs are executed efficiently, compliantly and sustainably.
Your donation funds community driven solutions. We work directly with local leaders to identify their most pressing challenges. We use local knowledge and our global experience to ensure the most practical and necessary support, whether it's a bag of rice, a pair of glasses, or tuition fees. This grassroots approach ensures maximum impact and minimal waste.
Yes! We are dedicated to keeping our donors informed of the lasting change they create. You will receive regular updates through our newsletters and impact reports. These reports often feature stories and photos from the communities you support, highlighting the success stories of children who receive an education, families who gain reliable access to food, and individuals who receive vital healthcare. We believe in showing you the direct results of your generosity.
Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with the IRS. Check your country-specific rules related to donation.
Our Employer Identification Number is 39-4809837

Volunteering FAQs

Due to high demand for 2026, we have opened registration for 2027 to the A Lưới District in Central Vietnam. As a volunteer, you will support the foundation’s three core pillars:
  • Health Access: Assisting with medical, dental, and vision services, particularly for those affected by the legacy of Agent Orange. Overseas healthcare professionals and general volunteers are encouraged to join this mission to provide wraparound services in remote communes.
  • Food Security: Helping implement programs and distributing non-perishable food items to ensure reliable access to nutritious food.
  • Education: Supporting initiatives that empower youth through secondary education.
You can click the Join Our Mission to start your application.
While the foundation highly values overseas healthcare volunteers (doctors, dentists, and specialists) to help address the health crisis in remote areas like A Lưới, there are opportunities for others to contribute as well. Volunteers support a holistic range of "wraparound services" which include food security programs and educational initiatives. If you are passionate about community-driven solutions and uplifting vulnerable populations, you can visit the “Get Involved” section of the website to learn how your specific skills can help.
Volunteers must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond their stay with at least two blank pages. Most international volunteers (including U.S. and Australian citizens) will need an E-visa, which typically allows for a 30-day stay. The foundation recommends applying for your visa well in advance of the Summer 2026 departure.
Sustainability is a core pillar of the Hong Lien Foundation. We work directly with local leaders to identify pressing challenges and use local knowledge to implement programs. For example, our food security and education initiatives are designed to build "foundations for enduring growth," moving beyond temporary relief to help families achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
The Hong Lien Foundation addresses the legacy of Agent Orange by providing specialized healthcare access and nutritional support to more than 200 affected families in Central Vietnam. You can support these initiatives by joining our 2027 volunteer missions or contributing to our the medical evaluation fund.
Hong Lien Foundation's food security initiatives include:
  1. Monthly nutrition packages for rural households.
  2. Emergency food relief.
  3. Sustainable agricultural support.
The Hong Lien Foundation offers annual volunteer opportunities in Central Vietnam focusing on health and dental screenings, and educational resource distribution.