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 in 2027 for an international volunteer journey into the heart of the Annamite Mountains. We coordinate international medical missions, bringing together overseas doctors, dentists, nurses and specialists to run free mobile field clinics. We are looking for dedicated individuals to help bring healthcare, food security, and hope to the underserved communities of Central Vietnam.

Mother and Child in Central Vietnam
A Lưới, 2026

What Will It Take to End Poverty in Vietnam?

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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 this historic poverty reduction has been uneven. In the remote, mountainous valleys of the A Lưới region of Central Vietnam, difficult terrain and accessibility issues have created a harsh 'geographic poverty trap' where local communities face poverty rates that climb far above the national average, frequently exceeding 20%. We believe dignity isn't a privilege—it is a baseline. In the quiet shadow of these historical and geographical disadvantages, families have been stripped of a fair chance at health, food security, and education. Named in honor of a legacy of quiet sacrifice, our foundation exists to right these wrongs—not by offering top-down charity, but by standing as true allies alongside resilient communities, delivering the resources they need to break the cycle, reclaim their independence, and write a new future.

Our Aims

Apple Style Native Swiping Panel

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. See “How your gift changes a life”, a story of one family’s love for their child, who is born with a birth defect as the result of Agent Orange.

  • 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.

$0 Raised Goal: $10,000
0%

13 children funded! Just $300 more to provide a life-changing evaluation for child #14.

mother with birth-defect child due to Agent Orange
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 for Agent Orange-affected individuals by Heart for Hue and their associated partners, targeting the four communes in the Central Provinces of Vietnam —A Lưới, Hong Kim, Hong Bac, and Quang Nam.

    This inaugural program will provide dental care in addition to 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. See how our planned initiatives and your contributions will have made an impact to the region as we set our sight on the mission to A Lưới District.

See Our Impact

  • 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!

Join Us in 2027

  • 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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INTERACTIVE

Discover Your Impact Style

"Everyone connects with charity differently. Are you a hands-on builder, a financial enabler, or a curious observer? Take our quick 2-minute 'Heart Check' to see how your unique strengths match our mission."

HEART CHECK
Question 1 of 7

If you have a completely free Saturday afternoon, you are most likely to...

What makes you feel most profoundly connected to a humanitarian cause?

When you think about the concept of 'charity,' what word jumps out first?

If a close friend asks you to support a movement, how do you prefer to show up?

Which aspect of the Hong Lien Foundation's pillars resonates most with you?

When you support a charity, what is your favorite way to hear updates about their work?

Ultimately, what do you think is the best way to change the world?

THE CATALYST

Your heart beats for direct action.

You are a hands-on builder who thrives on raw human connection. You want to see change manifest with your own two eyes and prefer to give your energy directly to the frontlines. Your strengths are a perfect match for our community engagement groups.

Want to donate instead? Explore Volunteer Options
THE PILLAR

Your heart beats for strategic enablement.

You recognize that lasting, systemic change requires reliable architecture and fuel. Your approach is highly practical—you want to empower doctors, secure food infrastructure, and build generational scholarship pathways through targeted financial backing.

Read our latest stories Support Our Mission Now
THE WITNESS

Your heart beats for truth and legacy.

You value deep structural understanding, history, and community narratives. You believe that before a culture can heal, its struggles must be fully honored and remembered. By standing as an ally and carrying these lessons forward, you play a vital role.

Support with a gift Visit Our Blog Center

Curious to what the book is about?

?

The Princess of a Factory Floor.

How does a 12th-generation royal from Vietnam end up sanding cabinet doors in a Midwest factory? This book isn’t just a biography—it’s a blueprint for cultivating a legacy of generosity in your own family, born from seasons of scarcity.

Are you ready to turn your family history into a mission?

Click away to close.

  • Our Commitment to Your Privacy

    At the Hong Lien Foundation, we value the trust you place in us when you share your information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled with the same integrity that guides our mission.

    Information Collection and Use

    We collect minimal personal information, such as your name and email address. Your information is stored securely and will never be sold, traded or shared with third-party marketers. We only provide you with updates regarding eBook(s) or any educational resources.

    We do not use your data for any purposes outside of our foundation. You may opt out of our communications at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails.

Donation FAQs

First and foremost, the foundation thank you for your valuable contribution to our 501(c)(3) charitable organization. To donate please click the Donate to help our mission.
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.