DISCOVER VIETNAM & CAMBODIA FOR MHS OLD BOYS and FRIENDS Saturday 4 October - Tuesday 21 October 2014

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1 40 Allara St, Canberra City ACT, 2601 Ph: E: Web: DISCOVER VIETNAM & CAMBODIA FOR MHS OLD BOYS and FRIENDS Saturday 4 October - Tuesday 21 October 2014 This discovery tour is designed to suit all MHS Old Boys, partners and friends from youth to senior years. It has been planned by Colin Green with great assistance from Ross Goddard in Canberra, his company (Goddard & Howse) being the Vietnam and Cambodia customised tours experts. Tour Leader is Colin Green, formerly Executive Director MHSOBA, former senior Geography teacher at MHS and experienced tour organiser of teachers groups to China when it was just emerging to the western world, He is leading the Adventure Tour to Yunnan Province, Southern China, September DAY 1 HANOI ARRIVAL [ / / ] On arrival at Hanoi International airport you will be met and transferred to hotel for check in (timetable to be advised) Accommodation at Conifer Boutique, Deluxe room (right). DAY 2 HANOI CITY TOUR [B=Breakfast/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Visit Ho Chi Minh s Mausoleum* and his former residence, One Pillar Pagoda (left) and Quan Thanh Temple. Continue to visit the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison. Lunch at Koto restaurant (own account). Panoramic cyclo tour in the afternoon followed by a visit of Ngoc Son Temple (below) and Hoan Kiem Lake. Drop by Thang Long theatre to enjoy famous Water Puppet Show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists men and women stand waist deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move, talk, laugh and even dance on water surface. The rest of the day is free at leisure Accommodation at Conifer Boutique, Deluxe room. (*) Ho Chi Minh s Mausoleum is closed on every Friday and Monday and it may close all October or November for yearly maintenance.

2 DAY 3 Note: DAY 4 HANOI HALONG [B/L=Lunch/D=Dinner] Breakfast at hotel. Early morning drive 160 km East Hanoi to Halong. Boarding and check in with welcome drink, then the cruise starts through Cho Da, Dinh Huong, Ga Choi and Hoa Cuong limestone islets while a lunch is served on board. Visit Sung Sot Grotto, the Cave of Surprises, before taking a swim at Titov Beach or Soi Sim Beach s pristine waters. The vessel then cruises further to reach its overnight anchorage location near Ho Dong Tien or Luon Cave. Enjoy the sunset from the sundeck or while swimming; then a dinner will be served on board. Evening relaxing in peaceful setting, or experience nightfishing from the boat s deck overnight on board of Pelican cruise/ deluxe room The above itinerary is subject to change with or without prior notice and your local guide will not escort guest on board HALONG HANOI [B/L/ ] Early wake up for a breakfast with stunning scenery, then a small boat will take you to visit Luon Cave (left). Back on board the cruise heads further to Tuan Chau pier. Lunch is served on board while the cruise goes back to Halong City for disembarking at noon time. End of the cruise, drive back to Hanoi, and the rest is free at leisure. Accommodation at Conifer Boutique Hotel, Deluxe room. DAY 5 HANOI HUE [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for flight to Hue (timetable to be advised). Meet on arrival then transfer to hotel to check in. Afternoon visit Tu Duc Tomb (right) and Dong Ba Market (bottom). Accommodation at Huong Giang, Deluxe room, Hue (below).

3 DAY 6 HUE [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. In the morning take a boat cruise along Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (right), one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue, and continue to visit Imperial City (below) from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, recognized as World Heritage since Continue to visit Khai Dinh & Minh Mang Tomb. Lunch/Dinner (own account). Accommodation at Huong Giang hotel, Deluxe room. DAY 7 HUE HOI AN [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Depart Hue for the spectacular drive over Hai Van Pass (left); passing through many pretty redtiled villages, enjoying spectacular view of sky and sea, en route stop to visit Marble Mountain (below) and Cham Museum in Da Nang. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of Hoi An, discover the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Visit Hoi An colourful local market (below), Tan Ky old house, Fukien Assembly Hall, and the 400 year old Japanese covered bridge (below left). Travellers can also see local residents raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An's burgeoning textile industry. Lunch and dinner at your own. Accommodation at Hoi An Hotel, Deluxe room (below).

4 DAY 8 HOI AN [B /L/ ] Breakfast at hotel. ½ day cooking class at Red Bridge Cooking School (below). Accommodation at Hoi An Hotel, Deluxe room. DAY 9 HOI AN [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Full day is free at leisure. Accommodation at Hoi An Hotel, Deluxe room. DAY 10 HOI AN HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) ARRIVAL [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Rest at leisure until time to meet and transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (timetable to be advised). Meet on arrival and then transfer to hotel for check in. Accommodation at Nhat Ha 3 (right) in Superior room. DAY 11 HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) CU CHI [B/L/ ] Breakfast at hotel. In the morning visit History Museum, War Remnants Museum (left), photo stop at Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post office and the Reunification Palace (below left). Lunch at Pho Hoa restaurant, your chance to try one of the best noodle soups in Ho Chi Minh City. In the afternoon, drive to visit Cu Chi Tunnels (below right), an amazing complex of the underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. Accommodation at Nhat Ha 3,Superior room.

5 DAY 12 HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) MY THO DAY TRIP [B/L/] Breakfast at hotel. Take a 2 hour drive trip to My Tho (left), a prosperous town of 170,000 inhabitants on the Mekong Delta. It is noted for its exuberant orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River and visit an orchard on an island. On the way, stop at the Vinh Trang Pagoda, (below) a very beautiful and well maintained sanctuary. Lunch en route. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Accommodation at Nhat Ha 3, Superior. DAY 13 HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) PHNOM PENH [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Free time at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh (timetable to be advised). Meet on arrival then transfer to hotel for check in. Lunch and dinner on own account. Accommodation at Amanjaya Hotel (right). DAY 14 PHNOM PENH [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Phnom Penh city tour visit of: National Museum, Royal Palace (below left), Silver Pagoda (below right), and Wat Phnom Buddhist Temple (bottom right). Lunch on own account. Afternoon visit of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (bottom left)and Russian Market Dinner on own account. Accommodation at Amanjaya Hotel.

6 DAY 15 PHNOM PENH KOMPONG THOM SIEM REAP [B/ / ] Breakfast at the hotel. Departs from Phnom Penh by car with guide to Siem Reap on 314 kilometers for 6 hours drive via Kompong Thom. On the road, visit Sambor Prei Kuk, preangkorian site (7th C.). The complex of Ishanapura is composed of 4 groups of temples. These are among the most ancient surviving examples of Khmer architecture. Lunch on own account. Arrive at Siem Reap (right) transfer to hotel for check in. Dinner on own account. Accommodation at Siddhata Boutique Hotel (below). DAY 16 SIEM REAP [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Visit Beng Mealea (top right) and Banteay Srey (below)temples. On the way back from Banteay Srey temple, stop in a village for a fresh coconut drink and to observe how Cambodian people collect the sugar palm and work the rice field (depend on season). Lunch on own account. In afternoon, visit Preah Khan (lower right), and Neak Pean temples. Visit Theam s House if time permitted: For more than 10 years the artistic director of Artisans d Angkor, Theam, has launched a new project that includes training a team of artisans apprentices, as he is now embarking on a new creative journey of his own paintings. Dinner on own account. Accommodation at Siddhata Boutique Hotel.

7 DAY 17 SIEM REAP [B/ / ] Breakfast at hotel. Visit the magnificent South Gate of Angkor Thom (below), Bayon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace (below) and Terrace of Leper King. Lunch on own account. Visit of Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat temple (below) until sunset. Dinner on own account. Accommodation at Siddhata hotel. DAY 18 SIEM REAP DEPARTURE [B] Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight (timetable to be advised).

8 The end of the arrangement and a memorable journey

9 Anticipated total cost is approximately AUD 4175 per person based on 15 to 18 guests (twin or double sharing). Single supplement please add $870pp. As the 2014 airfares have not yet been determined the airfares and ticket taxes are subject to change and availability. Final confirmed costs will be forwarded to interested participants as soon as they are known. All participants will receive a detailed set of notes, produced by Colin Green, to provide background information about each of the cities, places and monuments visited. This will be produced early in 2014 once the final list of participants is complete. Cost including: International flights from Australia Domestic flights within Vietnam, Saigon/Phnom Penh and Siem Reap/Saigon Tax and airline charges All private transfers and tours with English speaking guide as indicated in the program Accommodation at hotels in Vietnam and Cambodia with daily breakfast as specified All entrance fees as per program A/C car for transfer and sight seeing Water and fresh tissues during tour All meals as mentioned in the program Transportation by air conditioned van/minibus Service charges, room tax and baggage handling Overnight on the Pelican cruise at Halong Island Water Puppet show at Thang Long Theatre Private drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Two days Angkor Passes ½ day activities at Red Bridge Cooking school Cost not including: Travel Insurance Vietnam and Cambodia Visa (please see passport and visa detail section) Personal expenses like drinks, laundry etc Services that are not mentioned in the program Meals as not indicated in the program Other program events not mentioned in the program Porterage at the airports and at hotels (in and out) Tipping (as a guideline tipping is USD 2 per day for the driver & USD 3 per day for your guide, per person) Visa & Passport Goddard & Howse will arrange the issue of your visas. Simply present your valid passport (please check that your passport has at least six months validity) and passport size photographs at time of final payment and we will do the rest. The current cost of a Vietnamese visa is $75 per application (one form and one photo); Cambodian visa is $45per application (one form and two photos). Travel Insurance You will need adequate travel insurance for this trip. If you have not made other arrangements we have details of policies which will cover you for most contingencies. Travellers Medical Vaccination Centre Pay a visit to the TMVC or consult your local doctor regarding the current vaccination requirements for travel to this part of the world. Frequently Asked Questions Please visit our website at and view the tour notes for travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia. Here you will find valuable information which will help with your preparations