By popular demand, VFP Chapter 160 in Viet Nam will host another tour for VFP members, spouses, friends, who have requested one more chance to visit the country that shaped our lives in so many ways.
COST: $2,900 for 16 days in-country travel to include hotels, meals, transportation + roundtrip airfare from West Coast + $1,000 donation.
MISSION: Each tour participant must bring a donation of at least $1,000 to be pooled at the end of the trip and divided among projects we visit – for bomb clearance and risk education, to help victims of chemical warfare, to support hospitals, orphanages, schools, or other family and community needs in Viet Nam.
The $1,000 donation is mandatory. We encourage additional donations from individuals not joining the tour, their families, neighbors, civic organizations.
IMPACT: In past years nearly $250,000 has been donated by tour participants to projects supported by VFP 160 all over Viet Nam.
DAY 01 | SAT 07 SEP Flight from San Francisco via Taipei arrives in Ha Noi Saturday morning. Introductory briefing, sightseeing, overnight at hotel in the historic Old Quarter.
DAY 02 | SUN 08 SEP Tour Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s modest house on stilts. Visit museums, relax around Hoan Kiem Lake.
DAY 03 | MON 09 SEP Visit Friendship Village for Agent Orange victims. Roundtable with VN-USA Society, Veterans Association, Agent Orange Victims Association, meet U.S. Embassy staff.
DAY 04 | TUE 10 SEP Drive to Ha Long Bay, board chartered luxury junk for overnight cruise of this World Heritage Site.
DAY 05 | WED 11 SEP Transfer to Hai Phong airport, direct flight to Da Nang, drive to Hoi An ancient town, check in at riverside hotel.
DAY 06 | THU 12 SEP Meet with Da Nang Veterans Association, VUFO, visit Da Nang projects supported by VFP including AO / Dioxin Center No. 3.
DAY 07 | FRI 13 SEP Free time at white sand beaches of Da Nang or Hoi An, optional tourism: marble Mountain, Cham Museum, Quan Am Buddhist overlook. Dinner at David’s and Ushi’s home.
DAY 08 | SAT 14 SEP Drive across Hai Van Pass to Hue City, check in at Asia Hotel, guided tour of the Citadel and Emperors’ tombs.
DAY 09 | SUN 15 SEP Morning visit to Chua Duc Son Buddhist orphanage, free time in Hue City the rest of the day for reading, shopping, relaxing, optional guided tours in the city and beyond.
DAY 10 | MON 16 SEP Drive west to A Luoi, visit AO / Dioxin families supported by VFP. Continue north on Hwy 14, the Ho Chi Minh Trail Hwy, to Quang Tri Province. Overnight in Dong Ha.
DAY 11 | TUE 17 SEP Briefing by Project RENEW, site visits to UXO clearance teams, disability projects, Agent Orange families, battlefields along the DMZ. Overnight in Dong Ha.
DAY 12 | WED 18 SEP Drive north across DMZ, visit Vinh Moc Tunnels, check in at Son Spa Beach Resort in Dong Hoi. Visit P&O mobile outreach program managed by RENEW. Overnight at Son Spa.
DAY 13 | THU 19 SEP Optional visit to Phong Nha Cave where NVA regiments sheltered during bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail. Flight to HCM City departs 7:40 PM, arrives HCM City 9:10 PM.
DAY 14 | FRI 20 SEP Meet with Veterans Association, VAVA, VUFO. Optional guided tours of War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, historic sites
DAY 15 | SAT 21 SEP Sightseeing, shopping along fashionable Dong Khoi Street. Optional excursions including Cao Dai Temple, Cu Chi Tunnels. Closing dinner cruise hosted by Ch 160.
DAY 16 | SUN 22 SEP Morning meeting to decide allocation of donation money among projects visited. Afternoon departure back to the U.S.
FOR INFORMATION AND TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT, CONTACT:
|
U.S. Tour Coordinator
|
Viet Nam Tour Coordinator
|
| Paul Cox | Chuck Searcy |
| Board Member, VFP Chapter 160 890 Camelia St. Berkeley, CA 94710 Cell +1 510 418 3436 Email paulcox890@comcast.net |
President, VFP Chapter 160 71 Tran Quoc Toan Ha Noi, Vietnam Cell +8 490 342 0769 Email chuckusvn@gmail.com |
DATES AND COSTS
TOUR DATES: Most tour participants depart San Francisco late night of Sunday, 13 September, arrive back in the U.S. on Wednesday afternoon, 30 September. East coast and folks from other routes may have other flight dates—as long as all get to Hanoi by midday September 15 (Vietnam time).
TOUR COST: Participants pay for: (1) airfare to and from Viet Nam – group flight from San Francisco available as a package option, approximately $900 to $1,000; (2) in-country domestic travel and accommodations – 15 nights, 16 days, includes single room, $2,900; (3) $1,000 required minimum donation; (4) fee for 30-day one-entry tourist visa, $80.
Note: VFP tour organizers and hosts are volunteers. No one is paid. The Hanoi travel company which handles in-country arrangements, Viet Dreamland Travel Co., Ltd., gives us discount prices to allow larger donations to go to VFP 160's beneficiaries.
PAYMENTS
PAYMENT DEPOSIT: To reserve your place on the tour, a $300 deposit must be submitted by close-of-business on Monday, July 1st , made out to VFP Chapter 69. Send to:
Veterans For Peace Chapter 69
5519 Plumas Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804
H 510 524 7820 C 510 367 9376
E dennyriley7@gmail.com
DEPOSIT DEADLINE: July 1st