Vietnam School Trip

Travels To Vietnam school trips/ profestional study tours facilitate a unique “outdoor classroom” environment with real life experiences that your students can benefit from using all their senses. This school trip is thoroughly researched and organized. We take pride in putting together programs that are safe, diverse, educational and fun; with the ability to customize our itineraries to suit particular requests. The trip is also built based on ongoing consultancy with education specialists and through in-depth experience (the owners of Travels To Vietnam are formal teachers too). Hence students going on our trips gain the best out of their adventures whilst their parents and their teachers can enjoy their peace of mind.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

• Experience the bustling Saigon City, Encounter the floating markets & small trading villages of Cai Be.
• Discovered the Old Port Town of Hoian, See the historic pagodas and temples of Hue, Trek the off the beaten tracks of Mai Chau.
• Savour the French colonial charm of Hanoi, Soak up the tranquil islands & emerald waters of Halong Bay.Quick Facts

⇒ Tour grade: Moderate (customizable)
⇒ Trip code: VT04 ()
⇒ Trip duration: 15 days/ 14 nites
⇒ Destinations: Saigon - Mekong - Hanoi - Halong Bay
⇒ Meals included: 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 3 dinners  (Allow extra Meal budget minimum $20US/per day).
⇒ Transports: Private Car or Bus, Flight, Halong Bay Cruise, Mekong boat trip.
⇒ Accommodation: 6 night in hotels, 1 night on Halong Bay Junk Cruise, 1 night in local homestay (sapa).
⇒ Tour guides: English speaking tour guides (other languages are available upon request with different service rates).


TOUR INCLUDES:

• Accommodation based on twin shared room at selected hotels with daily breakfast.
• Check-in time at all hotels is 14:00 and check-out time at all hotels is 12.00.
• Early check-in and late check-out is subject to availability with surcharge.
• Meals and other those mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
• Profestional English Speaking tour guide or other languages upon request.
• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time.
• Domestic flights: Saigon – Da Nang, Hue – Hanoi (economy class).

TOUR EXCLUDES:

• Travel Insurance (Compulsory).
• Other flight tickets.
• Visas and airport departure tax.
• Meals, drinks and other those mentioned in the itinerary.
• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
• ips and gratuities.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1  :    Saigon arrival
Day 2  :    Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels & Cao Dai Temple
Day 3  :    Saigon – Vinh Long
Day 4  :    Saigon – Fly to Da Nang/ Hoi An
Day 5  :    Hoi An
Day 6  :    Hoi An
Day 7  :    Hoi An - Hue
Day 8  :    Hue City tour – Fly to Hanoi
Day 9  :    Hanoi full-day city tour
Day 1   0:   Hanoi – Mai Chau trek
Day 11:   Hai Chau - Hanoi
Day 12:   Hanoi – Cat Ba Island
Day 13:   Cat Ba Island – Halong bay
Day 14:   Halong - Hanoi
Day 15:   Departure Day

(N:B): Please note that all of our trip are privately designed. So that price includes the following hotels, activities, and transport, and visits to attractions are by private car and guide unless otherwise stated. Your guide will pick you up from lobby of your hotel in the morning. The guide will confirm the pick-up time the day before. If you prefer to start next day's trip earlier or a little later, please feel free to tell your guide.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (D)
Transfer from Airport to Hotel, check in and free to explore. Depending on time, we may have 2 hour cyclo tour through the vibrant District 5 (known as China Town) of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City nowadays). Our welcome dinner tonight is at a Vietnamese BBQ restaurant – BYO chef (yourselves!).

Day 2: Cao Dai Temple (In Tay Ninh) and Cu Chi Tunnel (B)
After our big breakfast, our bus will leave at 9am for our long drive to Tay Ninh where the major Cao Dai Temple is. We will have some short time to take pictures around the magnificent temple before going inside to enjoy the unique mid-day service.

We then drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels for our exploration of this complex 3-leveled underground tunnel system where many Viet Cong lived and fought during the 10 years of resistance. Back to Saigon for the night. Dinner on your own.

Day 3: Saigon – Vinh Long (B, L)
Our 3 hour bus drive this morning takes us to the exciting water life over the Mekong River in Cai Be Town. Leaving the bus, we will board our long motorized sampan to discover the Cai Be floating market where local peasants buy and sell their agriculture produce from their own boats. The trip continues with our walk through ever-green villages to witness how people earn their living in a form of cottage industry which include the production of fish-sauce, coconut candy, rice paper, bricks and other handicrafts. Back to Ho Chi Minh City for the night.

Day 4: Saigon – Fly to Da Nang/ Hoian (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to train station to take day train to Da Nang. Upon your arrival, we accompany you to your hotel in Hoi An.

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port. Today it is a quaint riverside town popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailor shops, and cafes. This afternoon we enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 5: Hoi An and its surrounding villages (Tra Que vegetable Village). (B, L)
We take our bus to Tra Que village and to a host farmer family. He will take us to his field and demonstrate his techniques of preparing his land, growing his vegetables and irrigating his farm etc. We will also practice the techniques we have learnt before returning to his home for his authentic family lunch.

We then get back to the hotel and rent our own bicycles for a short cycle to the beach 4 kilometers  away for a swim.

Day 6: Hoi An and its surrounding Village (Thanh Ha ceramic village). (B, L)
This morning we rent our bicycle to cycle through Hoi An town and the scenic countryside to Thanh Ha ceramic village where we learn how to make simple products for everyday use and especially some whistles in animal shapes. Our lunch will be hosted by a villager family.

Day 7: Hoi An – Hue (B, L)
This morning, we will head north to Hue. Our five-hour route, hugging the coastline along the South China Sea, serves up breathtaking views that grow even more spectacular as we wind our way up Hai Van Pass (“Pass of the Clouds”).  Arrive and check into our hotel before heading our for lunch. In the afternoon we take a guided tour to the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. The Citadel was closely modeled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Much was damaged during the last 2 wars.
Overnight in Hue

Day 8: Hue City tour – Fly to Hanoi. (B, L)
Our day starts with our visit to King Khai Dinh and King Tu Duc Mausoleums where these kings built in preparations for their own destiny. Our lunch will be an amazing vegetarian meal served in a Buddhist convent.

After lunch we are transferred to the airport for a short flight to Hanoi. Meet and transfer to our hotel in downtown. This evening we will enjoy a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter before having dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant to sample some local cuisine. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 9: Hanoi City tour (B, L)
Today you will enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi, Vietnam’s charming capital. We will see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his private home, a wooden stilt-house surrounded by lush gardens. We will also visit the One Pillar Pagoda in the same complex, an important symbol for Hanoians. The tour continues at the museum of Ethnology where we will see Vietnam’s diverse culture through the Museum’s display of articles and dress used in daily life. After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit the Temple of Literature (Confucius Temple), considered the first National University of Vietnam. Next, we visit Hoa Lo prison (known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the American war). Then we enjoy walking tour through the alley ways of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This bustling area of narrow streets and alley ways houses thousands of small family businesses and shops. In the late afternoon, we enjoy a performance of the traditional water puppet show, a typical northern Vietnam art form.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 10: Ha Noi - Mai Chau (B, L, D)
We drive for the whole morning today to Hoa Binh province, up and down the mountain for a tranquil valley Lac village of Mai Chau districts. After lunch we will take our rock ‘n’ roll trek up to picturesque Van village. Our dinner and beds are hosted by a Thai ethnic family in their own house-on-stilt.
Overnight in local home-stay

Day 11: Mai Chau – Ha Noi. (B, L)
After a simple breakfast we start our trek again up and down hills, through numerous ethnical villages, jungles and passing by a few local schools. We get back to Lac village at around lunch time for a meal before driving back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 12: Hanoi – Cat Ba island. (B, L)
We depart early today to Hai Phong for the speed boat to Cat Ba island. Once we arrive at the hotel we get room organized before lunch is served. The afternoon will be for us to take our drive to Cat Ba National Park with our visit to Military hospital cave and a mini trek up the Ngu Lam Mount. Back to the hotel for a late afternoon visit to the beach and relax.
Overnight in Cat Ba Island

Day 13: Cat Ba – Kayak Ha Long Bay. (B, L, D)
We say goodbye to this beautiful island early in the morning for our boat cruise through magnificent Lan Ha Bay. Once we go over Van ocean mount (tide depending), we will kayak to discover a floating village, or Ba Ham lagoon, or Dark cave lagoon together with “off the boat” swimming. Lunch is served on board. We will drop our anchor for the night in a government appointed site together with many other boats.
Overnight on junk cruise

Day 14: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Waking to the tranquil beauty of the bay, we will enjoy a simple breakfast on board. Visit one of the beautiful caves and get back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay. Return to the dock where our cruise is ended. Drive back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Tonight we will have a final dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 15: Departure day (B)
Free day until your transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight home. 

                         Wishing you an Unforgetable Holiday with us!