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 meet Vietnamese war veterans to understand their  perspectives of the wars in Vietnam.

- To have an opportunity to visit 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. 

DAY 1: ARRIVAL HANOI (D)

PM 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.

Then transfer to hotel for check in (official check-in time: 14:00)

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: HANOI (B- L-D)

After breakfast, exploring the fascinating city of Hanoi where old and new things blend together, Vietnamese, Chinese and French cultures mix together.

Activities: a pleasant walk around the peaceful Ho Chi Minh area, visit HCM Mausoleum (close on Monday & Friday, Oct – Nov), HCM’s stilt house and garden, the One Pillar pagoda. Take another pleasant walk at the beautiful Temple of Literature. Lunch at a lcoal restaurant.

Afternoon: visit some former war sites: the Huu Tiep Lake where there is still some remains of a B-52 Aircraft shot down by Vietnamese troops in 1972, the Thang Long Ancient Citadel – a new world heritage site of Hanoi where the group can learn about the history and development of Vietnam from the XI – XVIII centuries, see some ruins, especially visit the house D67 and an underground tunnel where Vietnamese leaders (including General Giap and General Dung) stayed and worked and organized important meetings during the Vietnam War. If time permitting, the group can visit the Museum of Victories over attacks by B-52 Aircrafts.

Enjoy a fantastic trishaw ride through the bustle and hustle of Hanoi Old Quarter and shopping.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3: 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

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 4: HANOI – VISIT THE VIETNAM FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE – MEETING WITH VIETNAM WAR VETERAN CLUB AND VICTIMS OF THE WAR – NIGHT TRAIN TO HUE (B-L-D)

Breakfast at hotel, check out the hotel

8:00 Transfer to visit the Vietnam Friendship village http://langhuunghi.vn/?lang=1

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 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
• Bid goodbye and Photo taking

Lunch at restaurant

More city tour of Hanoi: Visit Hoa Lo – Hanoi Hilton prison, Shopping in the Old Quarter

17:00 Transfer to the train station

17:30 – 18:30 Use rooms at the train station to take a shower (included)

19:30 take SE1 night train to Hue departure

4 persons sharing 1 air-conditioning cabin of 4 sleeping berths

Overnight on the train

Day 5: HUE (B-L-D)

8:50 arrival at the train station in Hue. Transfer to the hotel for breakfast

Early check-in is possible if rooms are available. If rooms are not available, store the luggage at the hotel and start sightseeing

10:00 Transfer to visit King Tu Duc Tomb, the Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel where the last monarchy of the Nguyen Dynasty was seated. You will have great chance to learn about the Vietnamese history and traditional architecture as well as enjoy the meditative atmosphere of this place. Visit the Dong Ba market.

Hotel check in and rest

Dinner at  restaurant.

Overnight in Hue

Day 6: HUE  - DMZ ( B-L-D)

7:30 transfer the group to the DMZ

8:30 Visit the holy La Vang Cathedral which witnessed many fights

9:00 Continue to the battle field of Khe Sanh on the historic Road 9 linking with Laos and historic sites such as The Rockpile base, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, visit a village of Van Kieu tribe.

Arrival at Ta Con Airfield. Visit a museum with remained aircrafts, tanks, fortresses, etc.

12:00 Transfer to Dong Ha city for lunch

14:00 Continue to Vinh Moc tunnels. On the way, visit the 17^th parallel monument, Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River.

Visit the Vinh Moc tunnels which were the shelters for  the Viet Cong and the villagers of Vinh Linh during the U.S.-Vietnam War.

18:30 Transfer back to Hue. Dinner at a restaurant. Back to the hotel for relaxation.

Overnight in Hue

Day 7: HUE – MARBLE MOUNTAINS – HOI AN – MOTORBIKE TOUR  (B - L - D)

7:00am Morning enjoy scenic drive to Hoi An via the Lang Co beach and Hai Van pass.

Stop in Danang to visit the China beach, a former airfield of American soldiers

Then visit the Marble mountains, climb to the Huyen Khong Cave on the mountain where Viet Cong troops sheltered and used as a field hospital.

Continue to Hoian, a very charming ancient town, another World Heritage site in Vietnam. Check in a hotel.

Afternoon enjoy a motorbike ride (with or without driver) through the countryside of Hoian, visit the Tra Que vegetable village and learn how local farmers live and work. Continue by motorbike to a riverside to take a boat ride and learn interesting fishing activities.

Visit a local home of a fisherman, taste some local sweet, drink green tea, and chat about local life. Ride motorbike back to Hoian

Dinner at restaurant

Overnight in Hoian

Day 8: HOI AN – MY SON (B-L-D)

Morning transfer to visit My Son ruins, a World Cultural Heritage site. Enjoy the scenic landscapes and mysterious Cham arts and architecture at My Son. Transfer back to Hoian for lunch at Restaurant

Afternoon, pleasant city walk to visit the Hoian history museum, Fujien Chinese temple, Tan Ky ancient house, the famous Japanese pagoda bridge, Hoi An Market and shopping with much variety, low costs and friendly hosts.

Overnight in Hoian.

Day 9: HOI AN – MY LAI – HCMC (B- L-D)

Morning transfer to visit My Lai Massacre. Lunch at My Tra hotel restaurant. Afternoon transfer to Danang airport to take a flight to HCMC

VN 125  DAD  SGN  17:30  18:45

Upon arrival, transfer for hotel check in. Dinner at restaurant  

Overnight in HCMC

Day 10: HCMC – VETERAN CLUB – CITY TOUR (B-L-D)

9:00 – 11:00 Transfer to the HCM Veteran club for a meeting about the history of the Vietnam War.

Afternoon enjoy city tour in HCMC, the biggest city of Vietnam, a modern hustle and bustle city with visits to Chinatown, Binh Tay market, Thien Hau temple, the War Museum, the Reunification Palace.

5:00pm Enjoy the unique water puppet show

7:30 pm Enjoy the dinner cruise on the Saigon River

Overnight in HCMC

Day 11: HCMC – CU CHI TUNNELS – THIEN PHUOC ORPHANAGE (B-L-D)

Morning transfer to Cu Chi and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels where human knowledge has been enriched by experiencing a web-like tunnel system of more than 200km in length which provide shelters for Vietnamese guerrillas during the Vietnam War against American troops. Meet with a military officer to talk about the war history

Enjoy lunch at restaurant 

Visit the Thien Phuoc orphanage of disabled orphans who are blind, mentally ill and have down syndrome.

• Welcome by Thien Phuoc Orphanage (TPO)
• Introduction of TPO
• Introduction of visitor group

Continue the Interaction with local children

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

Afterwards, go back to HCMC.

Enjoy dinner at restaurant  

Overnight in HCMC

Day 12: HCMC – CAI THIA – CAI BE FLOATING MARKET – MEKONG DELTA  – HCMC (B-L-D)

08:00 Pick you up at the hotel in HCMC. Transfer to Cai Thia in the Mekong delta 

10:30 arrive in Cai Thia, get on a boat to cross the river in a few minutes only. It’s a simple local boat station. There is a WC on the boat for the people to use.

10:40 When arrival on the other side of the river, get off the boat, view of a local Cai Thia church.

Then walk about 15 minutes, view of My Luong temple dated back to the 19^th century, and some local brick kilns.

11:00 Get back on the boat to cross another river for a few minutes.

11:05 When arrival on the other side of the river, get off the boat, visit a local family of making rice paper, taste some sweet rice paper cake. This visit can take about 15 – 30 minutes.

11:30 Then start a nice biking tour for 30 minutes along villages and shady paths, crossing many small bridges.. Photo stops are available.

12:00 Arrive at another family making “banh tieu”, seeing how it is made, tasting the nice cake with green tea.

12:30 Continue the bike tour for a short ride.

12:40 Get back on the boat at Hoa Loc market and enjoy lunch on the boat

Cruise across the Mighty Mekong River  to Tan Phong island.

Enjoy a nice sampan row along small canals

Then visit a fruit garden to enjoy local tropical fruits and traditional music.

15:00 Get on the boat and visit the Cai Be floating market and local workshops of making rice paper. Coconut candies, pop corn, pop rice etc.

16:30 Transfer back to HCMC

19:00 Drop off at your hotel 

Enjoy dinner at restaurant  

Overnight in HCMC

Day 13: HCMC – DEPARTURE (B)

After breakfast at hotel, transferred to the airport for the flight back home  

End of tour

Inclusions:

• Hotel accommodation with breakfast (based on twin sharing)
• All meals indicated in the program (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
• All ground transport on tour with A/C coach, bicycle ,trishaw, motorbike, boats, 1 night train  HAN – HUI,  1 domestic flight  DAD – SGN
• All entrance fees for sightseeing and meetings
• Local English speaking guides
• Daily cold bottles of water and towels

Exclusions:

• International flight tickets to Hanoi and from HCMC
• Visa for Vietnam
• Personal travel Insurance
• Personal expenses such as other meals, drinks, laundry, etc.
• Tips for guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.
• All other accounts not mentioned in the above inclusions.