The following itinerary was customized for Hanover College. The theme of the trip was the Lessons and Legacies of War, a popular focus of already organized and customized tours to Vietnam.
Day 1: Ha Noi
- Arrival and check-in to hotel. - Dinner and brief orientation
Day 2: Ha Noi
- City Tour: Visit Hoan Kiem, Truc Bach and West Lakes, Ngoc Son temple and the ancient quarter of Hanoi - Visit President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, his house, One-Pillar Pagoda and History Museum
Day 3: Ha Noi
- visit the office of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Mr. Chuck Searcy -visit the Vietnam Women?s Union -Visit the Vietnam Veteran?s Association for meeting with Vietnamese war veterans -informal meeting with an expert on the economy, politics and society at Sunway Hotel.
Day 4: Ha Noi
One day trip to visit Phu Linh village and a Vietnam Women's Unions micro-lending project, discussion of people's lives, economics, society, etc. Lunch in the village. Walking tour of the village and explanation of farming practice. Visit to Soc Temple (in the village) dedicated to a mythical hero of Vietnam.
Day 5: Ha Long Bay
Leave for Ha Long Bay early in the morning. One day boat trip on the bay. Lunch on the boat. Return to Hanoi for dinner.
Day 6: Ha Noi
- Visit the Temple of Literature and Vietnam Women's Museum - Meeting with a representative from the American Embassy - Visit the Army Museum and the Hanoi Hilton, the old prison where American pilots were kept.
Day 7: Ha Noi and Overnight Sleeper Train
- View video The Friendship Village Free-time. Check-out of hotel - Lunch. Depart for Friendship Village at Van Cam commune, Hoai Duc district, Ha Tay province, where veterans and children affected with Agent Orange are being cared for. Village created by an American Vietnam veteran. Tour of the village. Return to Hanoi. - Dinner. Water puppet show. Depart for Hue by overnight sleeper train.
Day 8: Hué
- Arrival and Check-in to hotel. Lunch. - Visit the tomb of King Tu Duc - Music night on the Perfume River
Day 9: Hué
- Depart for Quang Tri province - the most heavily bombed area of Vietnam. -Visit the Vietnam Veterans of America Memorial Funds support project on demining - Visit the DMZ (demilitarized Zone) and Vinh Moc War Tunnels. Return to Hue.
Day 10: Hué to Da Nang
- Visit Thien Mu pagoda and the Imperial City - Depart for Da Nang, a trip over Hai Van pass - Check-in to hotel
Day 11: Da Nang and Hoi An
Depart for Quang Ngai. Visit My Lai massacre memorial house and My Lai Peace Park at Son My. Return to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 12: Hoi An and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit Hoi An ancient town - Return to Danang - Visit the Cham Museum and the Marble Mountain en route. -leave for Da Nang airport, flight to Ho Chi Minh City - Check-in to hotel.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit the War Remnant Museum - with a discussion and processing session in a quiet restaurant during lunch - Visit the Unification Palace and city tour
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit HCM?s Women?s Union?s Cultural House and Supporting Center for HIV/AIDS infected children in HCMC. - Free time and shopping. - Farewell dinner and a cultural show of the Vietnamese traditional wedding at Binh Quoi Tourist village.
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City to Home - Check out and flight home.
