Building a House in Vietnam - Not Your Typical Holiday!

Find out more and donate to future house building and poverty fighting projects with E3 Global Adventures and Community Against Poverty here:
www.makedogrow.com/e3
We love a good building project and this one was a bit of an adventure!
As part of our tour around the north of Vietnam, we hiked up into the mountains near the town of Sapa to take part in a volunteer house building project for two days.
This house build was for a local ethnic minority family living in absolute poverty. We joined a team of 16 volunteers from Tasmania and local Vietnamese to lend a hand and see how much progress we could make on the build in a short amount of time. We helped out with brick laying, foundation digging and drainage trenching while learning a bit about the local people, their customs and how a project like this can be life changing for the local people.
And to see where a project like this can end up, stick around to the end to see a past house build project that the same team worked on last year - it's pretty impressive stuff!

[@allandanguyen8214]

I spent almost 30 years in Vietnam (my husband is Vietnamese) and remember vividly my first trip to Sapa in the early 90’s. People had rarely seen a foreigner before and frankly as a blue eyed blonde I struggled with the interest and attention that was inevitable. The concept of personal space was not embraced.😂. Amazing to see the luxury of your journey compared to mine and the definite improvement in living standards. There may still be a long way to go, but I can say with certainty that the trajectory is definitely upwards. Thank you for your contribution and generosity.

[@Mrdogface12]

Thanks for your interesting story 👍

[@kwwa7982]

I know you don't do these projects for praise and admiration but I praise and send admiration for your amazing use of your vacation time. When we are witnessing a lot of unimaginable behaviors by our leaders and their followers it is truly uplifting to see your generous activity motivated by pure goodness in the hope that others in need will be able to live the life they deserve. Thank you from the USA.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

You’re right, we’re not looking for praise etc, but we do make our videos with the intent of inspiring others. Whether that’s to DO something they’ve always wanted, to MAKE a difference, or GROW as a person, it all counts 😀

[@lorimontcalm9086]

Wow, wow, wow!! So impressive!! Many hands make light work! The families must be so grateful! Thank you to all the people who volunteer their time, effort and money. This kind of story is what we need to see on the news! Hugs from 🇨🇦

[@nancibishof6462]

The woodwork is gorgeous. The difference in their quality of life in the new home is not just the safety it brings but also the beauty it brings into their every day lives. Priceless

[@jimjimgl3]

99.9% of humanity: beach vacation Kylie and Guy: donate sweat equity for a stranger

[@japersjolly8763]

99.9% donate 50 weeks of sweat equity to parasite 'employer'; deserve every second on the beach.

[@sarahlovesdonuts9601]

Ok, so now I’m crying. You are so good at so many things. Now let’s add ambassadors of this organization. I’m very tempted to look for such a project through which I can participate.🙏🙏🙏

[@janmitchell641]

What a fascinating project! It’s tremendous that you and Kylie give back in this way, especially on your holidays.

[@robynterrey7767]

What a wonderful project. Good on you for joining this team and making such a fantastic difference for families in need.

[@jorisc.8089]

What an experience this must be! Thanks for sharing your “holiday”!👍👍👍

[@shirleyrice7093]

The finished house is beautiful. I love that several generations live together.

[@mariewoodcock1244]

Absolutely bloody brilliant. Well done to all. All the best from Perth Western Australia.

[@aussiebird]

Onya guys, what an awesome gift you’ve given by working on their home 🙏

[@minnesotagal507]

Thank you for showing this adventure, if only I were younger and not dealing with cancer treatment. God bless you all

[@keagleeagle821]

Thanks for helping. The finished house woodwork is beautiful I think the world should step back and remember the self building with natural locally available materials

[@linrepboras]

What's a suntan compared to appreciation, love and feedback from those helped? Bricking a wall gives more if given to someone else.

[@judye2805]

I was so pleasantly surprised at how beautifully the new home was finished. When given many hands up, they keep reaching for the stars ! The finished home was completed far above my expectations. I'm so happy for this family and wish that it could be done for all of the families in their community. Thank you for sharing your experiences (travels and work) with all of us. ❤

[@judye2805]

Also, one of my Aunts sister used to travel all over the world climbing Mt Kilamanjo and other expeditions. She would leave a lot of her clothes at the end of the journeys for the local people. I was wondering if the groups of people you travel with do the same.

[@user-hp2il6su8r]

So wonderful that you have participated in helping this family have a safe and warm home. What a great organization.

[@linajackson4545]

Just a little cultural tip. Everywhere in Asia the right hand is used for eating and the left hand is for wiping your bottom. Never give or receive anything with the left hand as it is considered dirty and an insult to the recipient.

[@maeveskelly4686]

Fantastic project. Thanks for including us on your adventure.

[@marielenejarno423]

Quel beau projet de vacances, c'est incroyable ce que la générosité peut apporter aux autres. Les parents et leurs enfants pourront vivre en sécurité et loin de l'amiante. L'intérieur de la maison est magnifique, bravo à vous et à tous les bénévoles.👏👏👏😀

[@lindawhite5006]

This is a humbling video! We take so much for granted...GOD bless all of you!!!

[@glenyscallaghan1195]

Great holiday, just what you needed , a change of building.

[@alidabotes6264]

Did a double take when I saw you. Great that you're helping!

[@margaretlovelock7031]

We need so many more people like you on this poor planet. Well done guys, there are so many compliments that I could pay you both yet I know that you’re not in it for compliments, just keep the good work up as everthing you do is always aiming for perfection. I admire you both. I will now finish watching this so interesting video. A great big heart felt thank you to you both.👍🤗🙏

[@carolbulmer8253]

Kylie and Guy, you two are amazing! Thank you for sharing this🙏

[@mariadange06]

Wow the finished building looks like a temple with all the wood finishes. Palatial 🏯

[@vickyoakes4584]

That is a wonderful thing that is being done. You can see that the people who live there take pride in their home. ❤

[@kerrylynnparsons7879]

Extraordinary!!! I love it!!! 🥰❤️🎶🏡🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@dweamy1]

What a wonderful project and life changing for the family who live there.

[@dianeconnors6263]

This is such a beautiful project you are participating in. ❤ it must make your heart feel a bit more fulfilled helping other people. You do make such a difference❤

[@andreacrashe9894]

*Kylie & Guy, awesome video of paying it forward whilst on holiday 🙂nz*

[@heathermorgan2265]

What a fantastic hoilday if only I was younger I absolutely love the celling and door on the finish house .

[@sovereigns1grace]

Wow! The entire process is amazing. What a wonderful experience to make such a difference. Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@mathewhalpin]

Congratulations guys 100K subscribers. Very well deserved!

[@dianeleirer9878]

Imagine this video being played in a high school cafeteria while students are eating their lunches in countries /communities not experiencing poverty or hardship. Even if they only saw the images with close captioning, it could have an impact. In the city where I live, one of the high schools has a group of students actively involved in building for Habitat for Humanity.

[@laurenf1966]

That was an enlightening video. Thank you for sharing that experience and history with us. What a blessing to that family and community.

[@shehazi695]

ThaNk you 🙏🏽

[@AlyenasKitchen]

Really enjoyed watching this video! What a beautiful thing to see so much generosity of time, money, and spirit! Loved the interview you did. Very informative and your footage was so good. I’m sure everyone involved will be so appreciative! Bless you both for helping this family!🙏🏻😊🌺🌸

[@bethhasl7381]

I can’t commend you both enough! Always knew you are incredible people but this video was a masterpiece and opened mine.. and I’m sure others to the work done across the world to help those in need ❤

[@rylandjohnson7821]

I am very very proud of you both. Thank you for your humanity.

[@ruthnoronha8206]

With Kylie’s perfection you guys will be there a while.

[@LoriBrizzle]

The world could do with more people like you guys, well done to all involved. Congrats on 100k subscribers too. I don't get to watch your site as much as I would like but I was here at the beginning when you first started your channel. You work so hard so totally deserve it being a success 🤩

[@tildars]

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful involvement in this humanitarian project. Awesome and hits deep into the heart towards a caring world.❤❤

[@pamelareeves3574]

This is the best side of human beings. Thank you! I am humbled.

[@carole4119]

Wonderful just Wonderful Thanks for helping the world.. Blessings to all USA MS

[@attract1234]

Great video again folks,

[@seanmahon6236]

That's a holiday!! Fair play to them they work so hard don't they 9:52

[@elizabethmesora2558]

So encouraging to see people helping each other

[@jancioffi56]

Wonderful video. Looking forward to the next video.

[@timsecord8207]

Best vacation ever! One with purpose and meaning! Bravo!❤️🇨🇦

[@carolkar5687]

Brilliant!

[@wrenwest4887]

It's hard to believe that a single block wall of cinder blocks is sturdy enough to stand without rebars somewhere??? But they can dream, can't they? Hope they get no high winds nor earthquakes. This must be the biggest dream they have ever seen! It's dicey, but they are lucky to have you! Beautiful woodwork and carvings.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Have you been to Vietnam, or any other South-East Asian country? … many houses there are built like this, and it works. They do have regular columns that add strength to the wall

[@DerekHNorthants]

Very interesting and informative video. Thanks for taking the time to document it whilst on ‘holiday’.

[@ChanhBushcraft88]

Wow it's great when I see this video because it's exactly like my place, the region in Southeast Asia where I live, it's 100% similar. I also have the same idea as you. Have a good day and good health, my friend. I

[@bridgwll]

No cleaning windows. BONUS!

[@JadjaVanParghove444111]

Impressive ❤

[@lidijafichtner7080]

Amazing ❤

[@shuhubrafik1411]

What an uplifting video ❤️❤️❤️

[@katrinolafsdottir8734]

Thank you for showing us this part of live in our planet so sad.... what can we do... omg

[@foxglove8836]

Awesome !!

[@christianbrown6977]

Good on the pair of you …Great episode

[@sheilajoseph9953]

Amazing work from yourselves and volunteers. 💚

[@cathybrewer8958]

Remarkable! The house finished is beautiful.

[@rosaleezeier2559]

Wow! !! What a wonderful thing E2 does.

[@alisondoughty2194]

Wow,you are gems.So pleased you are known on tube. Such amazing work.🌞😄🎉

[@kiskatalin2206]

This is wonderful holiday. ❤️

[@itsmesrd8743]

WOW WOW WOW AND WOW absolutely amazing. I knew that I followed y'all for a reason

[@MariaMartins-fl1rn]

Amazing job you guys ❤

[@user-zd3jr9ur7l]

Wow!!! Thanks for taking us along on the Vietnam adventure.. So impressed with ur work ethic .. Love when u showed the finished house, that was amazing.. Really enjoy ur channel!!!

[@sashacat53]

Hi Kylie and Guy, Thankyou so much for sharing this video. You have inspired me to make contact with Nicole. We are now in contact. I can’t wait to be part of one of their projects.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Yay! I hope you enjoy whatever you get involved in as much as we did 😍

[@semapelos]

I wish I have one of this, in the country!! Marvelous work!!

[@1965gracebug]

Fabulous video and my favorite video. I do not go on vacations but I would definitely like this kind. Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing.

[@bennym1956]

I wish I could afford to travel and help people overseas. Nice work.

[@JennyGunston-uh5og]

I was wondering about the windows. Thanks for the explanation.

[@evelyngorfram9306]

What a great project! And what an amazing thing to be involved in. I have loads of questions, many of which you may not be able to answer (How is electricity provided? How does such sudden & drastic change in one family's circumstances affect the social dynamics of the village? How do you carry a sheet of corrugated roofing on the back of a motorbike?). One question that you might be able to answer, though, is about the brick walls going up so speedily. Accepted practice in Europe & North America seems to be to only lay three courses of brick at a time, waiting for the mortar to cure before laying the next three courses, & so on. Were you using an extra quick-setting mortar, or was it accepted that getting it done while your labor was available justified bending that particular rule-of-thumb, or is that the way that bricks are customarily laid in that part of the world? Many thanks for your hard work & caring.

[@patriciamurphy429]

This was very interesting to see and explain. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@lynhardie6291]

Beautiful

[@alidabotes6264]

Thank you. I really enjoyed this vlog!

[@johnwhitbread206]

If it’s possible, an update on the house you’ve been involved with would be a nice thing o see, but only if it’s not too much hassle

[@emmiewahl2842]

Wow amazing

[@user-mr2jz1gb7p]

Thank you for this video. It was very interesting ❤

[@paulacunha6792]

Extraordinário trabalho ❤❤😊

[@user-gx1rk8yw6l]

@MAKEDOGROW Thank you for bringing it all from a perspective that shows respect for the culture/society -- the PEOPLE -- who you are talking about.🙏👍🥰🥰 The concept of building bedrooms "bass-ackwards" has interesting positive sides (from any viewpoint): more privacy, for 1 thing. The centre part of the whole house forms a sort of (communal) courtyard accessible to all without negative influence on the privacy of the people living in that building. It seems a mini/micro version of a housing format common in China (a ring or square of inward-facing "apartments", each for a whole family, with the inside courtyard being the common area for shared activities such as cooking, washing, get-togethers, festivities, &c). Ummm... no outside windows keeps not only bad spirits, but also bad PEOPLE out. And insulation HIGH without the use of expensive window-treatments. This is where modern LED lights are a huge benefit, given their high efficiency.

[@shirleyrice7093]

Sticky rice is delicious, but as a steady diet it is not nutritious and it leads to heart disease. Sticky rice is boiled twice in fresh water and vitamins are removed. I love sticky rice and mango.

[@isabelfarist221]

❤

[@petrekovairena1891]

WOW

[@ChristineKelly1000]

Not your typical vlog. But very interesting.

[@ritawentworth]

What a great project. Amazing how such a simple home can look so elegant. You mentioned that the new house will experience freezing weather. What keeps the heat inside? We know concrete/cement walls transmits the cold. What else is there to keep the place warm besides the heat source. Does it stay warm, or is warm just above freezing, and is that their normal? Just curious about their way. I look forward to seeing the rest of your trip. As I look forward to watching your video every Saturday morning.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

I don’t know for sure but I suspect they simply make a bigger fire. In the homestay where we stayed during the build they had 2 open fires going - one used for cooking and one at the other end of the house just for sitting around. And I guess when it gets colder they simply wear more clothes and add an extra blanket to the bed (this is also very common in the older properties in Portugal that are uninsulated with no central heating system)

[@ritawentworth]

@@MAKEDOGROW thank you. I wasn't sure if the topic came up while you were all there.

[@Rhyies]

Amazing work, love it! Also, what insect is screaming in the background at around minute 34?

[@miroslavalewandowski7434]

100 000 gratuliere.

[@HeidiPriest]

🎉congratulations ❤100.000❤

[@tolftolfson6414]

Very nice style of doing vacation! Ps: have that been cicadas in the end? The sound I mean.

[@schoppepetzer9267]

That´s a palace, bigger than my house 😊

[@padimills1494]

How the hell did they get all those bricks way up there?

[@eugenio1542]

👍☝️❤️✌️🌍🙏

[@SailingCartagena]

I hope there's some lime in this !

[@tejolisboa]

How embarrassed I felt for being so lucky…

[@SuperHaptics]

Everything was awesome, but the mortar seemed a bit coarse and a bit too dry for laying bricks 😮. By the way i do hope the charity is a real charity by everyone involved and not like the 90% of charties which are manager salary oriented. No profits for the charity just high manager salaries. Excuse the comment please and excuse my slightly cynical view of "corporate" charities, but after the countless cases of fraudulent behaviour they have collectively created a bad name for themselves and they need to really prove themselves every time, at least to me, since to the majority of the rest of the world they can just pretend they care for people and easily get away with snatching their fat salary. Even more so now with the explosion of social media, which have opened up the billion dollar charity market. Always watch you and admire all your efforts, i am just allergic to manager charity. As i said i hope this one isn't, maybe since you guys approve it with no conflict of interest, it isn't.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

I (Kylie) also have a high level of cynicism when it comes to charity organisations. I’ve done long term volunteering in Zambia and Guatemala for children’s charities and London with the homeless … all with large organisations where too much of their money goes to ‘admin’ and salaries. And frankly sometimes the whole reason they exist is to generate salaries for the top level management. I did some serious research into these guys … they don’t pay themselves salaries but do pay a small management fee to cover their logistical work. They are also on the ground grafting with everyone else. I was impressed with their transparency and honesty, but I would always advise someone to do their own due diligence

[@SuperHaptics]

Great answer! It seems we are on the same page😊

[@jamesgrover2005]

What you on about.. Doesn't everyone use a meat cleaver for all their home DIY?🤷🏻‍♂️

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣

[@Morlock987]

First