Sample Itinerary

The following is a sample of the Itinerary for one of our volunteer projects in Vietnam. Each year's actual itinerary can change with new places added and substituted for past ones.

December 20

Volunteers arrive in Vietnam at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon in Vietnam. Meet at the Hanh Long Hotel for first briefing, initial introduction to Vietnam and first discoveries of the City and people.

December 21

Visit and work at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City as well as sight-seeing. Volunteers meet students and professors and discuss Vietnam's progress in education. Evening Tour of the River Front.

December 22

Volunteers visit to Medical University and to historic locations. Trip to Cu Chi Tunnels in afternoon. Experience firsthand the underground tunnels used during the War.

December 23

Visit to Home for Handicapped & Elderly in morning; Visits to historic and educational sites in afternoon.

December 24

Travel to Cao Thai Village near wartime sites in Tay Ninh during morning; Special sharing at children's Christmas party in afternoon; Christmas celebration in evening and visits to churches.

December 25

Journey to the beautiful coastal city of Nha Trang by bus, including stops at rubber plantations near Phan Thiet; exquisite ancient Cham temples; trip to the beaches of Ca Na.

December 26

Teaching English at orphanages and schools in Nha Trang; Visit and guided tour of provincial hospital including briefings on medical situation of Vietnam.

December 27

All day excursion to rural areas and visit to the leprosy village. Volunteers learn about and experience life in the small villages.

December 28

Teaching English at orphanages and schools; Educational visits in Nha Trang including marketplace, Po Nagar Temples, French style Catholic cathedral and Long Son Pagoda with its huge white Buddha.

December 29

Teaching English at orphanages and schools; Visit to Binh Tam Orphanage and work with the children.

December 30

Teaching English at orphanages and schools; Visit to children at the church and center for leprosy.

December 31

Volunteers visit rural area of Ninh Binh and elementary school built through the efforts of the Friendship Foundation and its Japan Chapter during Project I. Meetings with families and children at the school. Special reception for the New Year in the evening.

January 1

Conclusion of formal part of the project and departures for individual trips. Volunteers may stay on in Nha Trang or make plans to journey elsewhere in Vietnam, including Hoi An, Da Nang, the DMZ, Hue and Hanoi or to travel back toward Saigon and the Mekong Delta. Foundation staff are available to provide advice and assist with arrangements.

January 2 and beyond

Friendship Foundation staff travels to Quang Ngai province to work on the clinic project for disabled and land mine victims, headed by American prosthetist Roger Marshall.