Upcoming Cultural Events

Vietnam Culture Tour 2010

Personal Invitation from Joy

When

Beginning in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) on Saturday July 10and
ending in Hanoi on July 25.

Where

The culture tour will begin in Saigon and take us to explore the Saigon area, DaNang, Hoi An to the midlands and Ha Long Bay, ending in Hanoi.

Why

A cultural exchange presents an opportunity to both cultures to have fun while learning and sharing language, foods, religions, commerce and the general way of life for all. With travelling and being together for a two week period, it presents opportunites for understanding that the world is very small and although there are differences, we are all more alike with the same concerns and feelings.

EXCHANGE AND LEARN
	Traditional and modern music of both cultures.
SHARE AND ENJOY
	Traditional and modern foods of both cultures.
EXPERIENCE
	Modern day life in different areas of Vietnam - city,suburban, country, and farm life.
TRAVEL
	Through travelling via car, bus, boat and plane to see and be immersed in the traditions and culture of Vietnam.
LEARN
	Learn conversational English and Vietnamese by sharing and teaching each other as we study but also as we travel the country.
DEVELOP- UNDERSTANDING
	Of another culture and make life long friends. Sharing our differences, but knowing that we are all the same underneath.
CELEBRATE
	Our differences and understand that the world is very small.

Itinerary

Saturday	10-Jul	Orientation & tour of Ho Chi Minh City/stay Ho Chi Minh City
		Day 1: Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Group picked up by guide & transfer to hotel. Briefing on tour, have lunch and rest. City tour visiting the Old Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, grounds of the US consulate and dinner down by Ben Thanh Market. Free time for shopping at night market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Sunday	11-Jul	Ho Chi Minh City/My Tho (Mekong Delta)
		Day 2: Departure to My Tho for a tour of the Me Kong Delta. Cruise along a small creek through the Mekong River estuary, to Con Phung (Phoenix Island) and stop for lunch a Vietnamese lunch out along the garden of a local home. Visit fruit orchards, bee - farms, taste natural honey and honey wine, enjoy tropical fruit, traditional music and visit the local coconut candy production process. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Monday	12-Jul	Ho Chi Minh City/Danang – visit orphanages & pagoda
		Day 3: Visit orphanages of adoptees from Ho Chi Minh City such as Tam Binh Orhanage, Go Vap Orphanage, Thien Phuoc Center and Dieu Giac Pagoda according to request. Fly to Danang. Dinner on the beach. Overnight in Danang City.
Tuesday	13-Jul	Danang/Hoi An
		Day 4: Visit Ba Na Hills by cable car (2 Guiness Book of World Records for the longest and highest non-stop cable car in Danang). Lunch on top of the mountain and late afternoon drive to for Hoi An. Check in Hotel, relax and visit Ancient Hoi An by cyclo and have dinner. Overnight in Hoi An.
Wednesday	14-Jul	Hoi An
		Day 5: After breakfast, the group will take a Vietnamese cooking class early in the morning. (go to the local market to buy typical Vietnamese ingredients for cooking class and). After the market visit, take a 25 minute boat ride on Hoi An River to the cooking School. After you will enjoy the meal that was cooked by the group. After lunch, take boat cruise back to Hoi An town and take a class on how to make traditional moon lamps (long den). Cyclo ride around Ancient Hoi An. Dinner and overnight in Hoi An.
Thursday	15-Jul	Hoi An/Cu Lao Cham Island
		Day 6: Morning, go to the pottery village and learn how to do pottery and clay characters. Lunch in Hoi An and take a boat ride to Cu Lao Cham Island. Snorkel and diving along some of the most beautiful coral in Vietnam. Dinner party with orphanage children in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Friday	16-Jul	Hoi An/Hue
		Day 7: Early check out of hotel and drive to Hue on one of the most beautiful scenery along the Hai Van Pass. On the way, stop at Marble Mountain and have seafood lunch along the beaches of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue, check into hotel and then visit citadels of Hue. Have an imperialistic dinner King style. Overnight in Hue.
Saturday	17-Jul	Hue
		Day 8: Take a boat ride along the Perfume River to the seven storey Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank, then visit the Imperial Citadel. Lunch at a local restaurant and then visit Khai Dinh Mausoleum. Visit where conical hats and incents are made. Overnight in Hue.
Sunday	18-Jul	Hue/Hanoi/Sapa
		Day 9: Early check out of hotel and fly to Hanoi. Drop off luggage at hotel in HaNoi. Have lunch and city tour around Hoan Kiem Lake. See Water Puppet show and have dinner in old port of Hanoi. Take the late train to Lao Cai station.
Monday	19-Jul	Lao Cai/Sapa
		Day 10: Arrive early at Lao Cai station and drive to Sapa. Transfer to the hotel for breakfast and then tour Village of Sapa. In the afternoon, take a 2km short trekking to Cat Cat Village, the home of H’mong ethnic. Overnight in Sapa.
Tuesday	20-Jul	Sapa/Hanoi
		Day 11: Leave Sapa for Lao Cai then go to Coc Ly tribal market. Here we will have a chance to see H’mong and Dzao minority people in their most colorful costumes. Take a boat trip down the Chay river with picnic lunch. Enjoy scenic view from river and trek to Dzao, Tay minority villages. On the way, visit Vietnam – China International Border. Return to Hanoi by train.
Wednesday	21-Jul	Ha Noi/Halong
		Day 12: Arrive Hanoi early morning and have breakfast. Drive to Halong Bay. Visit local floating fishing village and see the fisher’s daily life with the primary features in the charming nature. During this time you can also enjoy swimming and kayaking. Dinner and overnight on boat.
Thursday	22-Jul	Ha Long/Ha Noi
		Day 13: Visit the world heritage sight of Halong’s beautiful grottos, Vietnam's most spectacular scenery, including beautiful limestone formations. Have lunch on the boat and return to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Friday	23 July	Hanoi
		Day 14: Free day/last minute shopping. Lunch on your own. Meet at hotel for farewell dinner. Overnight in Hanoi
Saturday	24-Jul	Ending tour
		Day 15: Depart for U.S.A.
*** Orphanage visits and birth parent reuniting will be arranged according to place of origin and request.