Enfield County Team 2

Vietnam Expedition 2013

After months of planning and building your bespoke expedition itinerary, here it is! This is your day-by-day itinerary which you will take on expedition and use as a guide. You'll need to work as a team of students to ensure you're where you should be, when you're supposed to be there. Don't rely on the adults, this is your expedition! In the developing world, things don't always go according to plan so it is quite common to have to make alternative arrangements as challenges present themselves, but this is all part of expedition life. Enjoy!

Day Date

Day

From

To

Details

12-Jul-13

Fri

Build-Up Day

Build-Up Day

The day before departure is spent together as a team making final preparations, checking and dividing up team kit and provisions, agreeing on some expedition ground rules, running through all the paperwork and risk assessments, answering any final questions and, of course, saying goodbye to loved ones. Excitement builds knowing the much anticipated flight is just a sleep away. Departure day. Excitement builds knowing the much anticipated flight is just a few hours away! Try to get some rest ahead of the life changing journey that awaits, double check you have everything you need, say goodbye to loved ones and head to the airport for your long awaited expedition. Orientation in Ho Chi Minh City. Bright, bustling and alive with attractions, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly called Saigon) is justly Vietnam's commercial and industrial hub. Ancient pagodas sit side-by-side with modern skyscrapers, Buddhist temples, and Catholic cathedrals. The War Remnants Museum, Cholon's colourful pagodas, and Ben Thanh Market's buzzing stalls are all intriguing sights which definitely deserve a visit.

13-Jul-13

Sat

Build-Up Day

Transit

14-Jul-13

Sun

Transit

Arr. Ho Chi Minh City

15-Jul-13

Mon

Arr. Ho Chi Minh City

As today is your first day in country you will need to, as a team, agree on some expedition Ho Chi Minh City ground rules, allocate roles, change money, contact your In-Country Agent, make (or confirm) any necessary bookings and buy supplies for your next phase.

16-Jul-13

Tue

Ho Chi Minh City Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta. It's not just Vietnamese cities that sport some great places to shop for fresh produce; the Mekong Delta is also home to the famous floating markets. Sediment deposits from the Mekong River have created a vast delta, often referred to as the 'rice basket of Vietnam' (owing to the production of rice, fruit and sugar cane in the region). There are plenty of different excursions you can take to the Delta, of varying lengths. Tip: Don't forget to shop around for the deal that suits your group best. If you haven't done so already, contact your trek provider to make necessary arrangements for tomorrow.

17-Jul-13

Wed Mekong Delta

Cat Tien NP Trek

Board your transport to Cat Tien National Park. Trekking around Cat Tien National Park. This trek explores the Cat Tien National Park, some 160km north-east of Ho Chi Minh City. The park is huge, covering 73,000 hectares and three provinces, and filled with seasonally flooding grassland and swamp forest. This damp terrain can be challenging for trekking, but you'll be with expert park rangers.

18-Jul-13

Thu

Cat Tien NP Trek Cat Tien NP Trek Tip: Don't be afraid to ask the rangers for advice. They're highly experienced and can help with everything, including dealing with leeches! The fauna is as diverse as the flora, and just as staggering: the Javan rhinoceros still roams in the Cat Loc sub-sector of the park, and both white-shouldered ibises and Siamese crocodiles have been sighted too. All three species are listed by the International Union for Cat Tien NP Trek Cat Tien NP Trek the Conservation of Nature as critically endangered. Golden-cheeked gibbons, elephants and gaurs add to the range of animals you may be lucky enough to come across.

19-Jul-13

Fri

At the completion of your trek travel onwards to Dalat and source accommodation for the night. You have a couple of days to explore this amazing town.
9

20-Jul-13

Sat

Cat Tien NP Trek Dalat Tip: Trekking organisation Phat Tires will be arranging the guides for your next trek; contact them to arrange a pre-trek brief this evening. Dalat - you have the day to explore this enchanting highland town. Lots to see and do here so do your homework and have a plan. Meet with Phat Tires this evening.

10

21-Jul-13

Sun

Dalat

Dalat

11

22-Jul-13

Mon Dalat

12

23-Jul-13

Tue

Trekking Dalat and the Central Highlands. 'The City of Eternal Spring', built by the French in the first half of the twentieth century, should provide a welcome contrast to the sticky heat of Ho Chi Minh City. At 1500m above sea level on the Lang Bian Plateau, Dalat Lang Bian Circuit Lang Bian Circuit is cool all year round, and famed for its flowers and forests. Tip: Don't be afraid to ask the guides questions about the surrounding area. They'll be happy to share their local knowledge.

Lang Bian Circuit

13

24-Jul-13

Wed Lang Bian Circuit Lang Bian Circuit The final, most challenging part of the trek is the ascent of the volcanic peaks of Lang Bian Mountain, all 2,170m of it. Legend has it that a boy, Lang, and a girl, Bian, from rival tribes, fell in love despite their tribal barriers. The unhappy couple chose death to protect their love; Lang Bian Circuit Lang Bian Circuit the highest two peaks are named after the star-crossed pair. After completing your trek, return to Dalat and source overnight accommodation. Tomorrow you will be heading to the coast for some much deserved R & R.

14

25-Jul-13

Thu

15

26-Jul-13

Fri

Lang Bian Circuit Dalat

16

27-Jul-13

Sat

Dalat

Mui Ne

You have the morning to explore the streets of Dalat. After lunch make your way to the coastal town of Mui Ne.

17

28-Jul-13

Sun

Mui Ne

Mui Ne

Mui Ne is one of southern Vietnam's prime slices of beach real estate. The actual village is set at the far northern end of this kilometre-long sweeping bay. Away from the beach, the key attraction of Mui Ne are its sand dunes, of which there are three sets that can easily be visited from Mui Ne. Tip: The dunes are best visited in the late afternoon. You can also catch the sunset from above Mui Ne village which, with its bevy of fishing boats, is particularly scenic. Source transport to Nha Trang and organise overnight accommodation on arrival.

18

29-Jul-13

Mon Mui Ne

Nha Trang

19

30-Jul-13

Tue

Nha Trang

Overnight Train (Nha Trang to Danang)

Nha Trang. Explore the famed coastline of Nha Trang, a bustling beach resort complete with towering mountains and pearly-white sand beaches. Tonight make your way to the train station in time for your journey north to Hoi An. Tickets are pre-purchased. Contact Khoa, your In-Country Agent, for more information.

Source transport to Hoi An.

20

31-Jul-13

Overnight Train Wed (Nha Trang to Danang)

Hoi An

Arrive in Hoi An. Central Vietnam's historically mighty trading port, Hoi An, a Vietnamese hub for some 2000 years, has recently been helped by a resurgence in tourism. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is filled with winding streets crammed with traditional Chinese bridges and rickety dwellings that are a must-see. Meanwhile, the tailors of Hoi An are renowned for the speed with which they can replicate any clothing design. Tip: Contact your project hosts to ensure that all arrangements are in place for your project phase which starts tomorrow.

21

1-Aug-13

Thu

Hoi An

Hoi An

22

2-Aug-13

Fri

Hoi An

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project phase. Your project phase is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture and discover how local people live. Your skills can make a real difference here. Get stuck in and respect local customs to have the biggest positive impact. Tip: The more proactive you are, the more you'll get out of the experience. Spend time getting to know your host community and learn as much as you can about their way of life. Remember, your host community will be just as interested in you, so make sure you share some of your culture in return, as well as plan your time before you arrive, so you're not swamped. Your In-Country Agent will be the best source of information for the finer details of your project task, while your Expedition Planning Manager will do their best to ensure you have as much information as possible about the task prior to arrival. You may be the first team on site or continuing work on a larger task that has been started by another team before you. Either way, it is incredibly important that you establish an open and inclusive dialogue with your project hosts. Tip: The locals may thank you with ritual dancing or singing at the end of your stay; what might you do to show your appreciation in return?

23

3-Aug-13

Sat

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

24

4-Aug-13

Sun

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

25

5-Aug-13

Mon

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

26

6-Aug-13

Tue

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Source transport to Hue and organise accommodation on arrival. Arrive in Hue. The ancient imperial city of Hue is a cultural hub for Vietnam. The Nguyen emperors made the ancient citadel their home, focused around the ultra-exclusive Forbidden Purple City. North Vietnamese troops captured Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive; evidence of the US army's response can be found throughout the city as signs of the fierce combat mark the ruins of imperial relics and historical sites. Tonight you will catch the overnight train north to Vietnam's Capital, Hanoi. Tickets are prepurchased by your In-Country Agent Khoa. Make sure you contact him for more details.

27

7-Aug-13

Wed

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Overnight Train (Hue-Hanoi)

28

8-Aug-13

Thu

Overnight Train (Hue-Hanoi)

Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi. You have today to find your feet and get to know Vietnam's charming capital. Street food, thriving markets and legions of cyclos (tricycle rickshaws) make Hanoi's streets something of a blur. There are tree-lined boulevards which will take you past temples, lakes, and leafy parks. Take in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or visit the winding streets of the Old Quarter to pick up a bargain. Rest and Relaxation in Ha Long Bay. Travel from Hanoi to one of Vietnam's most stunning natural wonders, Ha Long Bay. Legend has it that a dragon descended from heaven and thrashed into the sea, carving out the many islands, coves, and thousands of limestone islets which jut out imperiously from the emerald waters. You can take day trips into the bay to explore the hidden lagoons and caves or, alternatively, stay over night on Cat Ba Island and spend a day on the beach. Tip: Try to get the chance to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. It's easily one of the most beautiful sights in South-East Asia, if not the world.

29

9-Aug-13

Fri

Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

30

10-Aug-13

Sat

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

31

11-Aug-13

Sun

Ha Long Bay

Hanoi

Ensure you are back in Hanoi in time for those last minute jobs before you pack up your kit for tomorrow's morning flight home! Time for those last minute jobs before you pack up your kit for the final time and head to the airport for the flight back home. Tip: Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport! Getting off the plane, you'll be bursting with stories and photos to keep family and friends entertained for hours! Saying goodbye to your team will be harder than you'd imagine as you'll have become lifelong friends, but the excitement of a shower, clean sheets, a comfy bed and catching up on all the news at home will make it easier.

32

12-Aug-13

Mon Hanoi

Transit

33

13-Aug-13

Tue

Transit

Home

* Don't forget all rest and relaxation activities are to be undertaken in accordance with World Challenge risk assessments and will be at the teams own expense, unless otherwise specified. Please note that although swimming may not be specified on the itinerary, the team may have the opportunity to paddle or swim during the course of the expedition.