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About this trip
You are invited to join us on the next Center for International Experiential Learning (CIEL) trip to Vietnam from 12/28/2024 to 01/05/2025. We are also offering an option to extend the trip by four days to travel to Cambodia with us (01/05/2025 to 01/09/2025).
More than four decades after the Second Indochina War (1955-1975), known to Americans as the "Vietnam War" and to Vietnamese as "The American War" or "The Resistance War against America," there is much to be learned from Vietnam and its regional and global impact. Some of the issues that our travel and pre-trip education will explore include the effects of colonialism and imperialism under Chinese rule (111BC to 938AD) and French colonial rule (1858-1954), as well as Vietnam's colonial projects in Cambodia and its contemporary relationship with China.
We will examine the impact these historical and current events have had on Vietnamese national identity, how this history is reflected and told in the country, and what we can learn from it. We will also examine the legacy of Vietnam's civil wars and foreign interventions, including the role of the U.S. both during and after the war and why Americans are still being welcomed in the country. We will also address issues of Vietnam's reunification after the ‘fall’ or ‘liberation’ of Saigon, post-conflict economic devastation and reform, and how Vietnam has dealt with the issue of refugees and how this has impacted ongoing questions of reconciliation across diverse perspectives, especially with the younger people growing up after the war (more than half of the population is under 35 years of age).
What’s included
- AccommodationLuxury and Boutique Hotels
- All meals during programexcluding alcohol, which can be purchased seperately
- Transportationincluding flights from Hanoi to Hoi An and from Hoi An to Saigon
- ProgrammingAll guides, speakers, coordination, and entrance fees to sights, theater, and other events
- Assistancewith arrival and departure transfers plus Covid/health protocols
What’s not included
- International travelto Hanoi and from Saigon / Phnom Penh
Available Packages
Vietnam: Dec 28th, 2024 - Jan 5th, 2025
Accommodation - Luxury and Boutique Hotels
- Three nights in Hanoi (most likely at the GM Premium Hotel - the highest-rated boutique hotel in the city in a great location – superior rooms with a view)
- One night in Hoi An (most likely at the Paddy Boutique House Hoian - a 4-star hotel within walking distance of UNESCO Heritage Old Town)
- Four nights in Saigon (most likely at the Myst Dong Khoi – a 5-Star hotel with celebrated modern architecture/design)
Costs
$3,500 per person in double occupancy. Single occupancy and upgraded rooms are available at an additional cost. The trip will be capped at 20 full-time participants to provide an intimate atmosphere.
Includes:
- 9 days (8 nights) hotel and breakfast (in double occupancy)
- All meals during the program (excluding alcohol, which can be purchased separately)
- Transportation throughout the trip (including flights from Hanoi to Hoi An and from Hoi An to Saigon)
- All guides, speakers, coordination, and entrance fees to sights, theater, and other events
- Assistance with arrival and departure transfers plus Covid/health protocols
Excludes:
- Travel to Hanoi and from Saigon
- Meals and transportation during free time
Vietnam & Cambodia: Dec 28th, 2024 - Jan 9th, 2025
Accommodation - Luxury and Boutique Hotels
- Three nights in Hanoi (most likely at the GM Premium Hotel - the highest-rated boutique hotel in the city in a great location – superior rooms with a view)
- One night in Hoi An (most likely at the Paddy Boutique House Hoian - a 4-star hotel within walking distance of UNESCO Heritage Old Town)
- Four nights in Saigon (most likely at the Myst Dong Khoi – a 5-Star hotel with celebrated modern architecture/design)
- Two nights in Siem Reap (most likely at Hotel Vellita – a boutique hotel with a tranquil atmosphere close to Angkor Wat)
- Two nights in Phnom Penh (most likely at the Plantation Urban Resort & Spa, an award-winning centrally located luxury hotel)
Costs
$5,250 per person in double occupancy. Single occupancy and upgraded rooms are available at an additional cost. The trip will be capped at 20 full-time participants to provide an intimate atmosphere.
Includes:
- 13 days (12 nights) hotel and breakfast (in double occupancy)
- All meals during the program (excluding alcohol, which can be purchased separately)
- Transportation throughout the trip (including flights from Hanoi to Hoi An and from Hoi An to Saigon and from Saigon to Siem Reap and the bus ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh)
- All guides, speakers, coordination, and entrance fees to sights
- Assistance with arrival and departure transfers plus Covid/health protocols
Excludes:
- Travel to Hanoi
- Travel from Phnom Penh
- Meals and transportation during free time
Itinerary
Our trip will start in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, with excellent international flight connections. Hanoi has much to offer: a beautiful old city and many important museums and monuments. Guided by Professor Kevin Pham, a Vietnam expert and scholar of Ho Chi Minh’s political thought, we will explore how the vision for an independent and unified Vietnam was developed here by “Uncle Ho” and his associates.
We want to immerse you in the Vietnam’s vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes through a series of experiential learning activities. In the walkable and scenic city of Hanoi, we'll delve into traditional caligraphy workshops, uncovering the ancient art of writing, and explore the local craft of silvermaking.