For the last five years secondary teacher Wayne McFarlane has organised trips to Vietnam for L2 & 3 History students. For most students this trip is a huge culture shock, especially coming from small communities into over populated cities in the millions, where everyday life is a balance of survival and future planning for the younger generation. The purpose of the trip was to take learning from t
he classroom and experience the reality of living history, and its impact on the people. Vietnam today is still a communist country, although it is difficult to see that particular political ideology. The students experienced a people who were respectful and extremely hardworking; sailed on a plush junk on Ha Long Bay, one of the seven natural wonders of the world; viewed and contemplated life in ancient temples going back over 1000 years; witnessed the cruelty of war on the innocent at My Lai; and cycled through the food bowl of the Mekong Delta. For students, and adults alike, Vietnam became the experience of a lifetime. YR 12 / 13 Vietnam Trip 2014
Hanoi – Halong Bay – Danang – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
Cu Chi Tunnels - Mekong Delta
(13 days / 12 nights)
Domestic Flight: Flying with Air New Zealand
NZ5012 17 APR Dunedin – Christchurch 0730 0830
International Flights: Flying with Singapore Airlines
SQ 298 17 APR Christchurch – Singapore 1050 1745
SQ 176 18 APR Singapore - Hanoi 0920 1140
Day 1 (April 18): Arrival in Hanoi
Farley to take the group on a reconnaissance around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. Stay at Lan Vien Hotel, Hanoi. Day 2 (April 19): Hanoi City tour ( B / L )
Visit the Ho Chi Minh complex containing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. Lunch at a local restaurant. Travel to the Silk Village in the afternoon and the History Military Museum. Stay at Lan Vien Hotel. Day 3 (April 20): Hanoi – Halong Bay – Pelican Cruise ( B / L / D )
Depart for Halong at 8.30am arriving 11.30 at Tuan Chau Island for transfer to cruise ship. Visit Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sot) and Cua Van Fishing village to experience life of local people. Arrive at Dong Tien (Fairy Cave) Area – swimming or kayaking and staying overnight. Evening activities – enjoy Movie Night, Board Games or Beauty Spa services. Stay overnight on cruiser. Day 4 (April 21): Pelican Cruise – Halong Bay – Hanoi (B / L )
Morning Activities – swimming or kayaking, beauty spa services. Continue cruise through Halong Bay back to Tuan Chau Island. Transfer back to Hanoi. Time for shopping in the Old Quarter. Day 5 (April 22): Hanoi ( B )
Farley will take the group on a trek to visit the French influenced architecture of the Opera House, ‘Hanoi Hilton’ Prison, and St. Day 6 (April): Hanoi – Danang ( B )
Transfer to Hanoi Airport for flight to Danang , VN1509 (8.05am – 9.20am). Transfer to the hotel after visiting Marble Mountain. Free time in the afternoon. Stay at Green Plaza Hotel. Day 7 (April 24): Hoi An ( B )
Transfer from Danang to Hoi An by bus. Rest & Relax destination and fitting / making of clothes from tailor Mr Xe. Stay at Hoi An Trail Resort. Day 8 (April 25): Hoi An - Cham Island ( B / L )
Speed boat to Cham Island. Arrive at Lang Beach. Visiting the Marine Protected Area, The Boat Shelter, Hai Tang Pagoda and traditional fishing village. Activities of swimming and snorkeling. Staying at Bai Chong ecological zone for swimming and sea food lunch. Return to Hoi An. Stay at Hoi An Trail resort. Day 9 (April 26): Hoi An – My Lai ( B )
Depart 7:00am on bus for My Lai - a large memorial to the horrific war atrocities by an American platoon over one day in 1968 on 504 innocent villagers. Visit the ‘House of Evidence’ where documents, photos and objects testify to the massacre. Day 10 (April 27): Hoi An ( B )
Free day for cycling around Hoi An township, swimming at the beach, lounging around the resort swimming in the pool or having a massage / manicure / pedicure, and collection of finished clothing from Mr Xe. Day 11 (April 28): Danang - Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels ( B / L )
Transfer to Danang Airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City, VN 1303 (7.00am – 8.10am). Depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network of tunnels constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the struggle for independence. Lunch at the local restaurant. Return to HCMC and check into the hotel. Time to freshen up before dinner. Take a walk to the Opera house to enjoy the AO show. Stay at Signature Hotel. Day 12 (April 29): Ho Chi Minh City tour ( B )
Farley’s trek to the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the French influenced architecture of the Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market. Day 13 (April 30): Mekong Delta tour – Cai Be ( B / L / D )
Depart 6.30am for Cai Be via Trung Luong Express Highway, stopping to take photos in Tan An town overlooking the picturesque flat rice fields. On arrival in Cai Be, set off by motor boat to visit the Cai Be floating market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Wander into the small villages to visit the orchard and fruit plantation, accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Cruise through a series of small canals to experience the charms of the Upper Mekong Delta. Arrive in Tan Phong Island where you can immerse yourself in nature. Enjoy your cooking experience and learn how to prepare special Vietnamese dishes. Food cooked by yourself and fresh river food served in the heart of the garden. Relax on the hammocks. Cycle around the village of fruit orchards and bonsai gardens. Meet the local islanders to learn more about the local daily life in the Mekong Delta. Take a boat ride back to Cai Be and return to Ho Chi Minh City. Dinner on Indochina Cruise on the in Saigon River. Day 14 (May 1): Departure ( B )
Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport. International Flights: Flying with Singapore Airlines
SQ 173 01 MAY Saigon - Singapore 1230 1525
SQ 297 01 MAY Singapore - Christchurch 1945 0930+1
Domestic Flight: Flying with Air New Zealand
NZ8053 02 MAY Christchurch - Dunedin 1315 1420
Accommodation:
HANOI
Lan Vien Hotel
Corner 32 Hang Bai - 37A Ly Thuong Kiet
Hoan Kiem District 1
Halong Bay
Pelican Cruise
DANANG
Green Plaza Hotel
238 Bach Dang Street
HOI AN
Hoi An Trail Resort
276 Cua Dai
HO CHI MINH CITY
Signature Hotel
65-67-69 Nguyen Thai Binh St
Nguyen Thai Binh Ward
District 1
