Objectives: 

 - To gain deeper understanding of the country's cultural heritage, history and economic development. 

 - To appreciate historical sites, significance of historical events that took place in the country and make connections to larger world events. 

- To gain knowledge about human and physical geographical phenomena.  

- To have an opportunity to engage immersion programs, visiting 3 local schools or centers for disable children to understand their conditions and efforts to be able to do something for their lives and to contribute to the communities. 

- To have an opportunity to visit a local university to integrate with local students to learn more about the history, culture and future of Vietnam.

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI (L-D)

On arrival in Hanoi, you will be received at the airport and transferred to city centre. During the journey, participants will be briefed on the history of Vietnam and practice some conversational Vietnamese language.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Visit Ethnology Museum to allow students to learn the lifestyle and culture of Vietnamese and the different minority groups (54 minority groups). Students will have a chance to view many historical artifacts of various minority groups.

City Familarisation Tour around Hanoi, inclusive of short visit to local supermarkets/ provision shops near to hotel. Check in a hotel.

Dinner at a local restaurant

Discussion session on day activities & prepare for the next day at Hotel function room

Day 2: HANOI – EDUCATIONAL VISITS (B-L-D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Nguyen Dinh Chieu Special School for blind children.

Morning session: Visit to Nguyen Dinh Chieu Special School & Commence with Community Service

• Welcome by Nguyen Dinh Chieu Special School (NDC)
• Introduction by NDC
• Introduction by MJC
• Short sharing from NDC about teaching methods for blind students 

Tour around the School & classes (The big group will be divided into smaller groups for this tour) 

Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon session: Interaction with local students

• Sharing of knowledge about the 2 countries
• Performances by students of both schools  
• Game sessions
• Exchange gifts/ souvenirs 
• Bid goodbye & photo-taking

Dinner at a local restaurant

Discussion session on day activities & prepare for the next day at Hotel function room

Day 3: HANOI – EDUCATIONAL VISITS (B-L-D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Hanoi Disabled Children Centre 

Morning session: Visit to Hanoi Disabled Children Centre – offers help to local deaf and down-syndrome children/ orphans

• Welcome by Hanoi Disabled Children Centre (HDCC)
• Introduction by HDCC
• Introduction by visitor students
• Sharing from the Management of HDCC about the establishment and operations.
• Tour around HDCC, classrooms and facilities
• Visitor students will help to cook lunch under the guidance of local cooks.
• The HDCC will prepare food for everyone: “bun cha’ or “pho ga” + vegetable spring rolls + fruits + drink

Have lunch with the food prepared by the visitor students

Afternoon session: Interaction with local children

* The visitor students will divide into 10 smaller groups to go to 10 classes where they will learn together with the disabled kids to draw pictures, paint objects, shape clay.

* The disabled kids can be gathered in the school yard  where visitor students can play some games with the kids or give some performances

• Exchange gifts/ souvenirs 
• Bid goodbye & photo-taking

Dinner at a local restaurant

Discussion session on day activities & prepare for the next day at Hotel function room

Day 4: HANOI – EDUCATIONAL VISITS (B-L-D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for University of Languages & International Studies.   

Morning session: Visit to University of Languages & International Studies & Commence with Cultural Exchange

• Welcome by University of Languages & International Studies (ULIS) 
• Short introduction of visitor group
• Presentation by ULIS students about Vietnam culture, history, uniqueness, etc.
• Presentation by visitor students about their culture, history, uniqueness, etc.
• Interaction through quiz, games & performances
• Exchange gifts/ souvenirs 
• Bid goodbye & photo-taking
• Tour around the University facilities 

Depart to Vietnam Friendship Village. Have lunch at this place with local food.

Afternoon session: Visit to Vietnam Friendship Village & Commence with Community Service

• Welcome by Vietnam Friendship Village (VFV)
• Introduction of VFV
• Introduction of visitor group
• Talks with Vietnamese war veterans

Continue the Interaction with local children

The visitor group will divide into 5 smaller groups to go to 5 classes where they will learn together with the disabled kids to draw pictures, embroidery, fold toys, make fake flowers, make postcards.

• Play games
• Gifts/Souvenirs
• Big goodbye and Photo taking

Dinner at a local restaurant

Discussion session on day activities & prepare for the next day at Hotel function room

Day 5: HANOI – BAT TRANG VILLAGE – VAN GIANG VILLAGE (B-L-D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Bat Trang pottery village

Visit Bat Trang Pottery Village, one of the famous traditional handicraft arts of the Vietnamese.

A short walk around the village to lear how local people live and make pottery.

Have a hand-on experience - to make a simple ceramic product under supervision of local ceramic master or to paint objects.

Each student can take home his/her work.

Continue to Van Giang Village

Arrive to Mr An & Ms Mien Ancient House (about 200-years old). Learn to make spring rolls and cutting “Chung” cake with bamboo “fiber”.

Enjoy lunch prepared by the Family

Walking tour around the village to learn of local life with possibility to visit one or two homes.

Transfer back to Hanoi. Enjoy city tour, visit to Hanoi Hilton – Hoa Lo Prison which was   previously used as a prison by the French colonists for political prisoners and by the North Vietnam for prisoners of the Vietnam – American war; Hanoi Hilton Museum re-displays two darkest periods in Vietnam history through photographs, writings, sculptures and many real exhibits left behind from the war time. 

Visit the Temple of Literature which is a Confucius Temple in Vietnam.  It was Vietnam’s first University.  The university established in the temple educated Vietnam’s bureaucrats, nobles, royalty and members of the elites.

Visit the Hanoi Old Quarters – participants will take an electric car ride around Hanoi Old Quarters before starting own quest into the 36 streets of local produces.

Dinner at a local restaurant

Discussion session on day activities & prepare for the next day at Hotel function room

Day 6: HANOI – HALONG BAY BOAT TOUR – HANOI (B-L-D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Halong Bay, a world cultural heritage site.  

Arrive in Halong Bay. Lunch on board Junk Boat

And cruise around Ha Long Bay to see the karsts with different formations & islands: Fighting Cock Islet, Gom Islet, Human Head Islet followed by visits to Amazing Caves and Fishing Villages.

Thien Cung Caves: This grotto is one of the most beautiful grottos in Halong Bay.  Thien Cung is situated on the south-west side of the bay, 4km from the wharf outside Halong City.  The beauty of the grotto is made up of beautiful stalactite.  Legend has it that a beautiful young lady caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her.  They got married in the centre of the grotto.  The scene of their wedding that lasted for 7 days and nights has seeming fossilised in the grotto.

Transfer back to Hanoi

 Dinner at a local restaurant

Discussion session on day activities & prepare for the next day at Hotel function room

Day 7: HANOI – DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Noi Bai International airport

End of tour

Inclusions:

• Hotel accommodation with breakfast (based on double/ twin sharing )
• Meals indicated in the program (B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=dinner)
• All ground transport on tour with A/C coach, boat, electrical cars
• Entrance fees for sightseeing
• Local English guide
• Daily cold bottles of water and towels

Exclusions:

• International flight tickets to and from Vietnam
• Personal travel Insurance
• Vietnam visa
• Personal expenses such as: other meals, drinks, laundry, tips, etc.
• All other accounts not mentioned in the above inclusions.