Join us on our custom 14 day school trip traveling through 2 main cities of Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi. On this amazing program, you will see the real Vietnam through the len of a local, visit local factories, meet and speak to top leaders of some global corporates in both cities Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi capital city. Immerse yourself in the Vietnamese local culture by tasting its unique authentic cuisines, deserts. Be escorted by a local English speaking tourguide who was born and raised in the region, be shared with stories from a local perspective to experience first hand the daily life of Vietnamese in different cities.
Vietnam
14 days, from US$1985pp
Custom Faculty-led Program
JOURNEY
Overview
Overview
This 14 day faculty-led program will start in Ho Chi Minh city and end in the capital city of Hanoi. With this 14 day custom program, students joining this program will have opportunities meeting with some of the top leaders of some global corporates in both cities, take part in some cultural immersion with the locals. Experience everything first and with exclusive access in the Mekong Delta, private talk with famous artists in both Southern and Northern cities. Duc Dau, a musician who first had private museum of traditional musical instruments. Thanh Liem, an artist who have been travelling around the world to perform the famous water-puppet shows. Visit Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba archipelago, a world heritage site with 1,133 islands and islets.
JOURNEY
Highlights
- Discover your destination’s magnificent historic, cultural and natural sites in utmost style.
- Join a Viet Cong veteran to visit the underground Cu Chi tunnels and learn more about this complex network originally built in 1948.
- See where many thousands of troops trained and lived under difficult conditions during the Vietnam War.
- Explore about the the troubled past of the country at the War Remnants Museum.
- Experience the vibrancy of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, as you visit its most iconic attractions, including the Central Post Office, designed by Alfred Foulhox. Delve into the exciting street food and coffee culture of the city.
- Board a private vessel for your Mekong River Cruise, taking you down the most important waterway in Southeast Asia. Gain a fascinating insight into coconut processing, one of the major industries for people who live along the river.
- Spend overnight on Ha Long Bay, a world heritage site with 1.133 islands and islets surrounded.
Highlights
- Discover your destination’s magnificent historic, cultural and natural sites in utmost style.
- Join a Viet Cong veteran to visit the underground Cu Chi tunnels and learn more about this complex network originally built in 1948.
- See where many thousands of troops trained and lived under difficult conditions during the Vietnam War.
- Explore about the the troubled past of the country at the War Remnants Museum.
- Experience the vibrancy of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, as you visit its most iconic attractions, including the Central Post Office, designed by Alfred Foulhox. Delve into the exciting street food and coffee culture of the city.
- Board a private vessel for your Mekong River Cruise, taking you down the most important waterway in Southeast Asia. Gain a fascinating insight into coconut processing, one of the major industries for people who live along the river.
- Spend overnight on Ha Long Bay, a world heritage site with 1.133 islands and islets surrounded.
JOURNEY
Itinerary
DAY 1
ARRIVE HO CHI MINH CITY | WELCOME DINNER
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city ! Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, be met and greeted by our local representative at the airport for immigration custom clearance. Exit the airport, then get on your private air-conditioned vehicle, drive to the hotel in the downtown district of the city. Your welcome dinner will be hosted at a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant with selected set menu.
Hotel 4* | Meals: D
DAY 2
HISTORY LESSONS & CULTURAL IMMERSION
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart the hotel for a full-day cultural immersion and learning Vietnamese history through site visit. You will first start with a pedicab adventure through the Tao Dan park where locals exercising every morning, then explore the old French quarter and stop at the venerable Thich Quang Duc monument to learn more about the history of Buddhism practice in Vietnam through the iconic image of self-immolation to protest against Diem government in June 11, 1963. Take a short walk to visit the local wet market where alive fish, chicks frogs…and vegetables are sold to locals. Visit the secret weapon bunker, then enjoy a sip of local coffee with condense milk with ice for a refreshment.
Lunch at Pho Hoa Pasteur, an authentic flavour for Pho lovers. Pho Hoa is a must stop when you are in Ho Chi Minh city. The owner started this multi-generational family business as a street vendor since 1968.
After lunch, proceed to visit the former Presidential palace 1962-1966, was firstly built for the French governer under name Norodom palace, named after the Norodom street located in front of the building. Continue to visit the War remnants museum where 20.000 artifacts, photos and videos being preserved. Late in the afternoon, take a walk along the Dong Khoi street for window shopping and photo opportunity at the Opera House and the City Hall. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: 3-4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 3+4
HO CHI MINH CITY BUSINESS MEETINGS + FACTORY VISITS IN BINH DUONG
The meetings will be arranged by the school or faculty. Transportation and tourguide at disposal.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 5
MEKONG DELTA DISCOVERY | HOMESTAY WITH A LOCAL FAMILY
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will depart to Cai Be, a small town locating along the Mekong Delta river. Upon arrival, board your private charter cruise along the Mekong river. Take a local rowing boat through natural canal with mangrove trees and water coconut trees growing alongside. Enjoy the countryside cycling, passing the fruit gardens, then stop by the local villages where you can experience how to make a rice-paper, weave a banana-leaf hammock, make a water-hyacinth bracelet. Taste some home grown fresh fruits at Mr. Nam On, a local farmer’s house.
Lunch will be served at Mr. Kiet’s ancient house with Mekong specialties. A chance to visit this 1838 house and have a private chat with the daughter-in-law of the family to learn more about the daily life in the Mekong Delta.
Continue your cruise crossing the river, stop by a local family business to learn how coconut candy and rice cake made then check in to your homestay for overnight.
Tonight, you will join hands to cook your own dinner with ingredients provided by the family
Hotel: Homestay | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 6
DELVE IN THE CU CHI TUNNELS | PRIVATE MEETING WITH A VETERAN
Breakfast at the homestay. Ride the bicycle to visit the village market then check out your homestay. On bus to Cu Chi district, located 65km Northeast of Saigon. Upon arrival at Ben Duoc, a non-touristic tunnel , be met and greeted by uncle Nam Chia, a survived guerilla who started living underground when he was 14. Mr. Nam lost his eye and arm when attacking an American tank in 1968. Delve into the original tunnels, visit the smokeless “Hoang Cam” stove a legendary initiative in Hoa Binh campaign. Drive back to the city in the late afternoon.
Lunch will be served at Ben Nay restaurant, a local Vietnamese restaurant run by an ex-guerilla – Madame Dung.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L
DAY 7
SCHOOL VISIT | BUSINESS MEETING
Meetings will be arranged by the school or faculty. Transportation and tourguide at disposal.
Hotel: 3-4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 8
FLY TO HANOI | HANOI CITY TOUR
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out then transfer to the domestic airport to board your flight to Hanoi, the capital city. Upon arrival, you will be transfered to the hotel for check in. The check in time is 2pm. After checking in, tour the city highlights: Hoa Lo prison, Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple.
Dinner will be served at KOTO. KOTO stands for Know One, Teach One – A not-for-profit social enterprise, helping at-risk and disadvantage youth in Vietnam gain Australian hospitality certificates.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 9+10+11
SCHOOL VISITS | BUSINESS MEETINGS
Meetings will be arranged by the school or faculty. Transportation and tourguide at disposal.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 12
HA LONG BAY | OVERNIGHT ON JUNK
Travel to Ha Long Bay, known as the bay with a thousand islands and glistening emerald water. Step aboard a deluxe junk for a memorable overnight cruise. Visit the mysterious Tien Ong Cave, where human bones dating back to 10,000 B.C. were discovered by archaeologists, and explore the Cua Van area. In the evening you’ll have the choice to learn more about local cuisine with an on-board cooking demonstration, or simply relax on the top deck as the sun gently dips beyond the horizon, before sitting down to dinner.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 13
HANOI | FAREWELL DINNER
Start the day with Tai Chi on the upper deck while cruising through the limestone formations of Halong Bay. Enjoy a brunch on-board as you cruise to Ha Long City to disembark. Journey back to Hanoi where the evening is at leisure.
Farewell dinner will be hosted at HOME Hanoi with “All You Can Eat”.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 14
HANOI DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time at leisure till your private transfer to Noi Bai airport for taking your onward flight. End of the program.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B
View full itinerary
Itinerary
DAY 1
ARRIVE HO CHI MINH CITY | WELCOME DINNER
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city ! Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, be met and greeted by our local representative at the airport for immigration custom clearance. Exit the airport, then get on your private air-conditioned vehicle, drive to the hotel in the downtown district of the city. Your welcome dinner will be hosted at a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant with selected set menu.
Hotel 4* | Meals: D
DAY 2
HISTORY LESSONS & CULTURAL IMMERSION
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart the hotel for a full-day cultural immersion and learning Vietnamese history through site visit. You will first start with a pedicab adventure through the Tao Dan park where locals exercising every morning, then explore the old French quarter and stop at the venerable Thich Quang Duc monument to learn more about the history of Buddhism practice in Vietnam through the iconic image of self-immolation to protest against Diem government in June 11, 1963. Take a short walk to visit the local wet market where alive fish, chicks frogs…and vegetables are sold to locals. Visit the secret weapon bunker, then enjoy a sip of local coffee with condense milk with ice for a refreshment.
Lunch at Pho Hoa Pasteur, an authentic flavour for Pho lovers. Pho Hoa is a must stop when you are in Ho Chi Minh city. The owner started this multi-generational family business as a street vendor since 1968.
After lunch, proceed to visit the former Presidential palace 1962-1966, was firstly built for the French governer under name Norodom palace, named after the Norodom street located in front of the building. Continue to visit the War remnants museum where 20.000 artifacts, photos and videos being preserved. Late in the afternoon, take a walk along the Dong Khoi street for window shopping and photo opportunity at the Opera House and the City Hall. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: 3-4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 3+4
HO CHI MINH CITY BUSINESS MEETINGS + FACTORY VISITS IN BINH DUONG
The meetings will be arranged by the school or faculty. Transportation and tourguide at disposal.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 5
MEKONG DELTA DISCOVERY | HOMESTAY WITH A LOCAL FAMILY
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will depart to Cai Be, a small town locating along the Mekong Delta river. Upon arrival, board your private charter cruise along the Mekong river. Take a local rowing boat through natural canal with mangrove trees and water coconut trees growing alongside. Enjoy the countryside cycling, passing the fruit gardens, then stop by the local villages where you can experience how to make a rice-paper, weave a banana-leaf hammock, make a water-hyacinth bracelet. Taste some home grown fresh fruits at Mr. Nam On, a local farmer’s house.
Lunch will be served at Mr. Kiet’s ancient house with Mekong specialties. A chance to visit this 1838 house and have a private chat with the daughter-in-law of the family to learn more about the daily life in the Mekong Delta.
Continue your cruise crossing the river, stop by a local family business to learn how coconut candy and rice cake made then check in to your homestay for overnight.
Tonight, you will join hands to cook your own dinner with ingredients provided by the family
Hotel: Homestay | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 6
DELVE IN THE CU CHI TUNNELS | PRIVATE MEETING WITH A VETERAN
Breakfast at the homestay. Ride the bicycle to visit the village market then check out your homestay. On bus to Cu Chi district, located 65km Northeast of Saigon. Upon arrival at Ben Duoc, a non-touristic tunnel , be met and greeted by uncle Nam Chia, a survived guerilla who started living underground when he was 14. Mr. Nam lost his eye and arm when attacking an American tank in 1968. Delve into the original tunnels, visit the smokeless “Hoang Cam” stove a legendary initiative in Hoa Binh campaign. Drive back to the city in the late afternoon.
Lunch will be served at Ben Nay restaurant, a local Vietnamese restaurant run by an ex-guerilla – Madame Dung.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L
DAY 7
SCHOOL VISIT | BUSINESS MEETING
Meetings will be arranged by the school or faculty. Transportation and tourguide at disposal.
Hotel: 3-4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 8
FLY TO HANOI | HANOI CITY TOUR
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out then transfer to the domestic airport to board your flight to Hanoi, the capital city. Upon arrival, you will be transfered to the hotel for check in. The check in time is 2pm. After checking in, tour the city highlights: Hoa Lo prison, Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple.
Dinner will be served at KOTO. KOTO stands for Know One, Teach One – A not-for-profit social enterprise, helping at-risk and disadvantage youth in Vietnam gain Australian hospitality certificates.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 9+10+11
SCHOOL VISITS | BUSINESS MEETINGS
Meetings will be arranged by the school or faculty. Transportation and tourguide at disposal.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 12
HA LONG BAY | OVERNIGHT ON JUNK
Travel to Ha Long Bay, known as the bay with a thousand islands and glistening emerald water. Step aboard a deluxe junk for a memorable overnight cruise. Visit the mysterious Tien Ong Cave, where human bones dating back to 10,000 B.C. were discovered by archaeologists, and explore the Cua Van area. In the evening you’ll have the choice to learn more about local cuisine with an on-board cooking demonstration, or simply relax on the top deck as the sun gently dips beyond the horizon, before sitting down to dinner.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 13
HANOI | FAREWELL DINNER
Start the day with Tai Chi on the upper deck while cruising through the limestone formations of Halong Bay. Enjoy a brunch on-board as you cruise to Ha Long City to disembark. Journey back to Hanoi where the evening is at leisure.
Farewell dinner will be hosted at HOME Hanoi with “All You Can Eat”.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 14
HANOI DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time at leisure till your private transfer to Noi Bai airport for taking your onward flight. End of the program.
Hotel: 4* | Meals: B
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