Highvale SC - Vietnam Insight & Impact Expedition

Meet as a group at the International Airport.  Please ensure you meet at the Vietnam Airlines check-in area.   Your GLE Tour Manager will assist with the group’s check-in.

Depart Australia mid-morning and arrive in Hoh Chi Minh City, in Vietnam, late afternoon. Upon arrival, our local GLE Tour Manager will meet us and assist with clearing customs and the transfer to our short flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Upon arrival in Hanoi, transfer to our hotel. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.

Overnight:  Hanoi

Today is an early start where we will be going to help prepare and pack 500 meals to be delivered to local hospital patients. In Vietnam, hospitals do not provide meals for patients. Meals need to be provided by their families and sadly, there are many patients that do not have family. Therefore, patients rely on the goodwill of this organisation to provide them with meals. We will be assisting the organisers in preparing the vegetables, packing the rice and hot meals into individual containers. Further assisting by loading the packaged meals into the van for delivery to the hospitals.  

After breakfast, depart Hanoi and head west towards Hoa Binh City where we stop for refreshments and to visit Hoa Binh Hydro Station which was built in the 1980's.

We then depart for the Mai Chau Valley.  Enjoy the stunning views along the way as we descend into the valley.

In the afternoon, we have a very unique experience. Embark on a trek through the rice fields and over some of the lower mountains to explore the scenery of this stunningly beautiful spot.  Finish our trek late in the afternoon by walking through the local village before arriving back at our accommodation for the night.

Tonight's accommodation is in a stilt house and will probably be a little more rustic than you might be used to, but an amazing experience.  Our hosts for this evening will be the H’Mong Thai people who will perform traditional dancing for us after dinner. Everyone can join in the dancing with the H’Mong during the night’s entertainment. Learn some new and very different dance moves!

Overnight:  Stilt House, Mai Chau

Today we travel to the village where we begin our Community Impact Project.  There will be a full orientation of the project, covering safety and allocation of tasks.  Okay, NOW it’s time to start your GLF Project!!

Examples of Projects:

• Building a small kindergarten
• Building water storage facilities
• Fruit tree planting
• Installing play equipment
• Building a volleyball court
• Adding a classroom to a primary school
• Water reticulation to the village houses
• Reading and writing with the students
• Making play areas, sand pits etc
• Teaching basic computer skills

AND MANY MORE…

GLF will discuss with you, which options would work well for your group once the group has formed.  (Professional contractors assist with any construction work.)

Return to the stilt house for dinner and the rest of the evening.

Overnight:  Stilt House, Mai Cha

After breakfast, travel to the Project location to continue the work.  Today will be another great day of project building, together with getting to know the people in the village, particularly the children.  There will be time to perhaps play a game of soccer or volleyball with the kids or even teach them some Aussie games!

After lunch, depart from the village project. This afternoon, we have time to wander around the local markets in downtown Mai Chau and perhaps pick up some souvenirs.

Return to the stilt house for another great dinner and rest.

Overnight:  Stilt House, Mai Chau

Today is the BIG day!! Today we finish the project!!  So today will be very busy, completing all the last little jobs to finish our work for the village.

Tonight is when ‘it’ all comes together!!  After dinner in the village, there will be an official handover of the Project from your school to the village elders.  There will be a great party, with ‘LOUD’ music, singing and dancing, hugs and laughter, put on by the village as a huge ‘thank you’ for the amazing difference that has been made in their lives.  This is truly, an amazing experience to be a part of.

Finally, say goodbye to our grateful village friends and return to the stilt house for the evening.

Overnight:  Stilt House, Mai Chau

This morning, we say goodbye to Mai Chau and return to Hanoi for lunch.

This afternoon we take a walking tour to explore the beautiful tree lined boulevards and lakes of Hanoi. Take a tour around Hoan Kiem Lake and hear the legend of the giant Tortoise that supposedly lives in the lake. 

Hanoi is also known for its blend of French, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture and in the afternoon, we join with our guide for a walking tour of Dong Xuan Market, (the biggest wholesale market in the northern part) and Hanoi’s’ Old Quarter. The Old Quarter is also a multitude of little shops in a labyrinth of streets going in all directions! Each street will sell a specific product. There is Gold Street, Silver Street, Shoe Street, Toy Street, and the list goes on! Practice your bargaining skills shopping for souvenirs!

Overnight:  Hanoi

After an early breakfast this morning, travel by coach to Ha Long Bay, a unique UNESCO world heritage site.

Upon arrival, we embark our 3-storey high boat for our cruise. Enjoy a delicious lunch along the way. The cruise will begin with a visit to the Cave of Surprise. Here we take an hour-long walking tour through the cave. Weather permitting; we can take a dip at Ti Top Beach or climb the stairway to the top of the hill for some stunning views of Ha Long Bay.

Afterwards, head to our mooring point in the bay for our overnight stay. Dinner will be served on board the boat tonight.

After dinner we have free time to relax after our busy project and perhaps share some of our feelings and thoughts about our Project experiences. Relax under the stars on the top deck of our private cruise.

Overnight: Cruise Boat on Ha Long Bay

This morning breakfast will be served on board our boat. Afterwards depart to explore Luon Cave by way of a small sampan (a traditional flat bottomed wooden boat). Return to the Junk after our visit to the cave and make our way back to port.

Our return trip will pass through the area where scenes from the famous film ‘Indochina’ was filmed. On our way we can see the famous islets such as Ti Top, Marker, Fire and Dove islet.

After lunch on board, arrive at the Wharf and then transfer to Hanoi. What time remains of the afternoon is free to spend at your leisure. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the multitude of shops around the lake. Perhaps shop for some bargains.

Dinner will be at a local restaurant tonight.

Overnight: Hanoi

After breakfast, check out of our hotel and embark on a day tour of Hanoi jammed packed with culture, history and all the iconic landmarks!

Visit the Uncle Ho’s resting place, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda – all are must-see landmarks in Hanoi.

After lunch, then soak up the culture and history at the famous Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam dating back to the 17th century, the Ethnology Museum, the French Colonial Opera House, and the amazing Hanoi Cathedral. 

Later in the afternoon, transfer to Hanoi airport for our return flight to Australia.

Overnight:  In transit

Arrive in Australia in the morning, where your family and friends will be waiting. Tell them all about your amazing trip!