Below is the preliminary version of the itinerary of the program the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD) will organize in Viet Nam in cooperation with the Viet Nam - USA Society (VUS) for people who participated in the antwar movement and family members. There is personal flexibility at the beginning and the end, including the option to include a visit to Cambodia and Laos.
Participants will be responsible for international travel and for domestic costs of an all-inclusive guided program in Viet Nam.
FRD is ready to assist local and national peace organizations that wish to schedule their own autonomous program in cooperation with the Viet Nam - USA Society under the 50th Anniversary umbrella.
If numbers dictate, seperate travel groups will be created and adjustments may be made to the itinerary.
For planning purposes, expressions of individual, family and organizational interest are appreciated as soon as convenient. No committment is required at this stage. Write to jmcauliff@ffrd.org
We have proposed the following schedule but it is not yet confirmed:
September 15: VUS provides estimate of domestic costs for travel, some meals, guide services, hotel (single room, shared room, family room)
November 15: VUS confirms domestic costs
December 15: deadline for applications to FRD (with an administrative fee/deposit)
January 15: deadline for on line payment by participants to VUS or its agent for domestic costs
Revised (7/25/24)
Draft Itinerary for visit of FRD’s
delegation in Viet Nam
From 15 April – 01 May, 2025
Sunday, April 13-15, 2025:
[option for jet lag recovery pre-program
tourism: overnight in Ha Long Bay or in Sa Pa; visit pottery
village, etc. arranged with personal travel agent]
Monday
April 15, 2025: HA NOI
Ha Noi arrivals for program
Tuesday,
April 16, 2025:
Morning Visit Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum,
Hoa Lo Prison
Afternoon Visit Military Museum, Ethnology Museum,
Water Puppets
Wednesday,
April 17, 2025:
Morning Meet with Viet Nam Union of Friendship
Organizations (VUFO)
Meetings
with current officials on US-Viet Nam relations
Afternoon Conversations with retirees from the war and
pre-normalization era
Thursday,
April 18, 2025:
Morning Visit Garco 10 equitized garment factory
Afternoon Meet with US Embassy
Meet with American
business community
Friday,
April 19, 2025: HA NOI - TUYEN QUANG – HA NOI
Morning Travel by bus to Tuyen Quang
Visit Tan Trao
where OSS assisted Ho Chi Minh
Afternoon Travel
back to Ha Noi
Saturday,
April 20, 2025: HUE
Morning Check
out of Hotel. Flight to Hue. Check in Hotel
Afternoon Meeting with VUFO of Thua Thien Hue province
Visit Hue
National University
Sunday,
April 21, 2025:
Morning Visit Thien Mu Pagodar & Hue Imperial
Citadel
Afternoon Visit Khai Dinh Tomb & Hat Village
Monday,
April 22, 2025: QUANG TRI
Morning Check out of Hotel. Leave Hue for Quang
Tri by bus
Visit war
legacies (land mines, UXO)
Meet with VUFO of
Quang Tri province
Check in Hotel
Tuesday,
April 23, 2025: DA NANG
Morning Check out of hotel. Leave Quang Tri for Da
Nang by bus
Afternoon Meet with VUFO of Da Nang city
Visit Da Nang Center
Supporting for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
Check in Hotel in Da Nang
Wednesday,
April 24, 2025:
Visit Cham Museum
Lunch on own,
free time at market
Visit East Sea
Museum
Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development or the University
Dinner with Da
Nang Peoples Committee to discuss economic and social
changes since 1975 and Doi Moi.
Thursday,
April 25, 2025: HOI AN – SA KY PORT - LY SON ISLAND
07:30 Check
out of hotel. Travel by bus to Sa Ky Port
Get in a Ferry to
Ly Son Island. Check in Hotel in Ly Son Island
https://vietnamtravel.com/ly-son-island-vietnam
Friday,
April 26, 2025: LY SON ISLAND - MY LAI, QUANG NGAI – HOI AN
07:30 Check
out of hotel. Leave Ly Son Island for My Lai, Quang Ngai by bus
Visit Son My
Village - war legacies (mass atrocity) in Quang Ngai
Leave Quang Ngai
for Hoi An. Check in Hotel in Hoi An
Saturday,
April 27, 2025: HO CHI MINH CITY
Morning Check out of Hotel. Travel to Da Nang
Airport
Flight to HCMC
from Da Nang Airport
Arrive in Ho Chi
Minh city. Check in Hotel
Sunday,
April 28, 2025:
Meetings with
current and retired officials, Con Son prisoners and Third Force activists
Visit Reunification Hall & War Remnants
Museum
Monday, April 29,
2025:
Morning Meet
with US Consulate
Travel to Ben Tre province and Luong Quoi
Coconut Factory
Meet business community; drive through of
export processing zone
Tuesday, April
30, 2025:
Morning Participate
State/official events (parade and celebration)
Wednesday,
May 01, 2025:
Morning Check
out of Hotel
Departures home or personal trip to Cu
Chi tunnels/Cao Dai Temple.
Option of personal trip to Cu
Chi tunnels and Cao Dai Temple (arranged with local travel agent)
Optional extensions
May 2 departure to Cambodia (by bus?); program in Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat
May 7 departure for Vientiane, Laos with options of visits to Plain of Jars and Luang Prabang
If you are potentially interested in participating, please send a note to jmcauliff@ffrd.org to receive updates and an application.