Established in 1984 by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Hanoi, Tay Dang Orphanage aims at providing shelter and caring for orphans who have lost one or both parents, as their relatives are often too poor to take care of them. The centre also cares for older people who have been abandoned by their families or have no relative to take care of them. Currently, there are about 87 orphans from a few months of age to 18 years old. There are about 30 abandoned babies, over 100 homeless old people and people with mental illness.
Children under five years of age attend kindergarten run by housemothers in the orphanage, while the rest of the children go to public school 2 kilometers from the centre. The children go to the local school for half a day Monday to Friday and in the morning on Saturdays. During the day, volunteers can assist the staff with cleaning, food preparation, and teaching for about 40 children who stay at the orphanage and do not going to school but learn various trades such as sewing and carpentry. The children here especially love to practice their English.
Tay Dang has received small numbers of medical and teaching volunteers in the past. Volunteers will be assigned a class in which they will attend for the full month and assist the children with teaching English, playing sports games and creating craft activities.