Enfield County Team 1

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

15-Jul-13

Mon 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.

16-Jul-13

Tue

Build-Up Day

Transit

17-Jul-13

Wed Transit

Arr. Hanoi

18-Jul-13

Thu

Arr. Hanoi

Hanoi

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

19-Jul-13

Fri

Hanoi

Overnight Train Later in the day make your way to Hanoi Train Station and board the overnight train (Hanoi-Danang) bound for Danang. These tickets are pre-booked and paid for by your In-Country Agent, Khoa. Please contact him for details.

20-Jul-13

Sat

Overnight Train Hoi An (Hanoi-Danang)

Source transport south to 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: Bring a picture of your favourite designer suit or dress. The tailors can make an immaculate copy in 24 hours! You could also take a trip out to see the ancient Cham ruins of My Son, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A religious site from as early as the fourth century, the temples are dedicated to the worship of the Hindu god Shiva, also known locally as Bhadresvara.

21-Jul-13

Sun Hoi An

Hoi An

22-Jul-13

Mon Hoi An

Hoi An

23-Jul-13

Tue

Hoi An

Project - Hue Kindergarten

10

24-Jul-13

Wed

Project - Hue Kindergarten

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.

11

25-Jul-13

Thu

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

12

26-Jul-13

Fri

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

13

27-Jul-13

Sat

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Project - Hue Kindergarten

14

28-Jul-13

Sun

Project - Hue Kindergarten

Hue

Today say goodbye to all your new friends and enjoy some time off 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. Tip: Be sure to arrive at the train station in plenty of time to catch the overnight train back to Hanoi. Tickets are pre-booked so be sure to contact Khoa for details. Hanoi. You have today to explore the parts of Hanoi that you may have missed out on previously. Try the street food and explore the thriving markets. Perhaps you can even try your hand at some local phrases and pick up a bargain in the Old Quarter! You can find some basic Vietnamese phrases in the Top Tips section of your challenger pack. Tip: Make contact with your trek provider and arrange a meeting today. Trekking around Mai Chau. The spectacular mountain valley of Mai Chau is situated 135km outside of Hanoi. One of your guides will meet you early in the morning and you'll drive along the mountain road as it weaves away from Highway 6. Tip: Have cameras ready as the views are amazing!!

15

29-Jul-13

Mon Hue

Overnight Train (Hue-Hanoi)

16

30-Jul-13

Tue

Overnight Train (Hue-Hanoi)

Hanoi

17

31-Jul-13

Wed Hanoi

Mai Chau Trek

18

01-Aug-13 Thu

Mai Chau Trek

Mai Chau Trek

The trek will take you along mountain paths through traditional White Thai tribal villages. These tribes are thought to have come here from Southern China several hundred years ago and share linguistic and cultural nuances with the Thai and Lao populations. Your trek finishes in the village of Xam Khoe, from which you'll return to Hanoi. Your trek will finish with a vehicle transfer back to Hanoi. Source accommodation on arrival.

19

02-Aug-13 Fri

Mai Chau Trek

Hanoi

20

03-Aug-13 Sat

Hanoi

Ensure you are at the train station in time to catch your overnight train to Lao Cai, the Overnight Train staging post of your upcoming trek! If you have not already done so, contact your (Hanoi-Lao Cai) trekking guides to make sure all arrangements are in place for your arrival tomorrow.

21

04-Aug-13 Sun

Overnight Train Sapa (Hanoi-Lao Cai)

Arrive in Lao Cai and source transport to Sapa. Trekking at Sapa. Today you'll be met by a driver from the Mountain View Hotel who will have facilitated accommodation and the guides for your trek in the Sapa Valley. The road is winding, and may be misty in the early morning, but keep an eye out for glimpses of the towering peaks that rise from the paddies of Sapa's Valleys. From the Mountain View Hotel in Sapa, you'll trek down the valley, staying at minority hill tribe villages. There are plenty of tribes living in the area, including the Dzao, H'mong, Tai and Giay. Headdresses and distinctive coloured robes are central to their tribal identity. Tip: See if the guides will help you learn to distinguish the different tribes by their outfits. The trek ends with a 4x4 trip back to Sapa. You will have the next day or so to rest up and explore Sapa. Perhaps pick up some local handicrafts from the hill tribe merchants who come in from the surrounding hills. You could also arrange an excursion to visit Thac Bac (Silver Waterfall), located towards the Tram Ton (Heaven's Gate) pass on the outskirts of town. Once back from your trek source accommodation and stay the night.

22

05-Aug-13 Mon Sapa

Sapa Trek

23

06-Aug-13 Tue

Sapa Trek

Sapa Trek

24

07-Aug-13 Wed Sapa Trek

Sapa Trek

25

08-Aug-13 Thu

Sapa Trek

Sapa Trek

26

09-Aug-13 Fri

Sapa Trek

Sapa Overnight Train Sapa. You have the day to explore the town of Sapa before making you way to Lao (Lao Cai-Hanoi) Cai train station and catching your overnight train back to Hanoi. Arrive back in Hanoi and make arrangements for your visit to Ha Long Bay tomorrow. Be sure to shop around for a good deal! 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.

27

10-Aug-13 Sat

Sapa

28

11-Aug-13 Sun

Overnight Train Hanoi (Lao Cai-Hanoi)

29

12-Aug-13 Mon Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

30

13-Aug-13 Tue

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

31

14-Aug-13 Wed Ha Long Bay

Hanoi

Ensure you are back in Hanoi in timefor those last minute jobs before you pack up your kit for tomorrow's 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

15-Aug-13 Thu

Hanoi

Transit

33

16-Aug-13 Fri

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.