Draft itinerary for 50th anniversary program in Indochina

Below is the current 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:

October 5: 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  (10/2/24)


 

A proposed itinerary of FRD’s delegation to visit Viet Nam

From 15  April - 1 May, 2025

 

 

Sunday, April 13-15, 2025:     

Arrive in Noi Bai Airport

[option for jet lag recovery pre-program tourism:  overnight in Ha Long Bay/ Ninh Binh/ visit pottery village, etc. (to be arranged by VUS on request) 

 

Tuesday April 15, 2025: HA NOI

Ha Noi arrivals for program

 

Wednesday, April 16, 2025: HA NOI

08:00am       Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House and Museum, Literature Temple

02:00pm      Visit Ethnology Museum, Hoa Lo Prison

06:30pm      Water Puppet Show

07:30pm       Welcoming dinner with VUS/VUFO

 

Thursday, April 17, 2025: HA NOI

08:30am       Presentation “Viet Nam: 40 years of Construction and Development” by

                     President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations

10:00am       Meeting with current officials on US-Viet Nam relations

02:30pm      Visit Women’s Museum

04:00pm      Conversations with retirees from the war and pre-normalization era (with option to continue the conversation over bia hoi or dinner)

 

Friday, April 18, 2025: HA NOI

09:00am       Visit Garco 10 equitized garment factory      

11:15am       Meet with US Embassy

03:00pm      Meet with American business community

 

Saturday, April 19, 2025: HA NOI - TUYEN QUANG – HA NOI

08:00am       Travel by bus to Tuyen Quang

Visit Tan Trao where OSS assisted Ho Chi Minh 

04:00pm      Travel back to Ha Noi

 

Sunday, April 20, 2025: HUE

08:00am       Check out of Hotel.

Flight to Hue. Check in Hotel

02:00pm      Visit Khai Dinh Tomb & Hat Village

 

 

Monday, April 21, 2025:

08:00am       Visit Thien Mu Pagoda & Hue Imperial Citadel

02:00pm      Meeting with VUFO of Thua Thien Hue province

03:00 pm     Visit Hue National University

 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025: QUANG TRI 

08:00am       Check out of hotel.

Leave Hue for Quang Tri by bus

11:00am       Visit war legacies (land mines, UXO)

03:00pm      Meet with VUFO of Quang Tri province

Check in Hotel

 

Wednesday, April 23, 2025: QUANG TRI - DA NANG

                    Check out of hotel

08:00am       Leave Quang Tri for Da Nang by bus

02:30pm      Meet with VUFO of Da Nang city

04:00pm      Visit Da Nang Center Supporting for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin

                     Check in hotel in Da Nang or Hoi An

 

Thursday, April 24, 2025: DA NANG

08:00am       Visit Cham Museum

                     Lunch on own, free time at market

02:30pm      Visit East Sea Museum

04:00pm      Meeting at Dong A (private) University

                     Dinner with Da Nang People’s Committee to discuss economic and social

changes since 1975 and Doi Moi.

 

Friday, April 25, 2025: DA NANG - MY LAI - HOI AN

07:30am       Travel by bus to My Lai, Quang Ngai by bus

Visit Son My Village - war legacies (mass atrocity) in Quang Ngai 

Afternoon    Leave Quang Ngai for Hoi An.  Return to hotel

 

Saturday, April 26, 2025: HOI AN / DA NANG – CON DAO

07:00am       Check out of hotel. Travel to Da Nang Airport

10:10am       Flight to HCMC. Arrive in Tan Son Nhat Airport

Transit to fly to Con Dao (Luggage checked through to Con Dao)

Check in Hotel, enjoy the beach, volunteer for turtle protection

 

Sunday, April 27, 2025:  CON DAO - HO CHI MINH CITY

Morning       Check out of hotel. Leave luggage at hotel

Learn Con Dao history, East Sea issues / Visit Tiger Cage Museum

Drop by hotel to pick up luggage.

                    Travel to Con Dao Airport

03:45pm      Flight to HCMC. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh city. Check in Hotel

 

Monday, April 28, 2025:   HO CHI MINH CITY

08:30am       Visit Reunification Hall & War Remnants Museum

02:30pm      Meetings with current and retired officials & Con Son prisoners


Tuesday, April 29, 2025: HO CHI MINH CITY – BEN TRE

08:00am       Travel to Ben Tre province and Luong Quoi Coconut Factory  

01:00pm      Lunch with business community; drive through of export processing zone

04:30pm      Meet with US Consulate

 

Wednesday, April 30, 2025: HO CHI MINH CITY

07:00am       Participate State/official events (parade and celebration)


Thursday, May 01, 2025: HO CHI MINH CITY Options

                     

                     1)  Depart Viet Nam, or

                     2)  Shopping/personal activities, or

                     3)  Cu Chi tunnels/Cao Dai Temple

 

Friday, May 02, 2025:  

.         Depart for home, Cambodia or Thailand


Optional additions

May 2  Cambodia (by bus?); program in Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat

May 7  Flight home or to Vientiane, Laos with options of visits to Plain of Jars and Luang Prabang


*  https://vietnamnet.vn/en/visitors-flock-to-con-dao-to-participate-in-sea-turtle-conservation-2327259.html


If you are potentially interested in participating, please send a note to jmcauliff@ffrd.org to receive updates and an application.



No comments:

Post a Comment