Our Discover Vietnam Tour is an immersive journey to one of the friendliest and most beautiful countries on earth. You will experience the fast-paced commercial hub Ho Chi Minh City (“Saigon”), the traditional capital city of Hanoi, and the relaxed city coastal town Danang.

Trip Highlights

• Ha Long Bay
• Floating markets in Mekong Delta
• Enjoy steaming bowls of “Pho” soup
• Ben Thanh Market
• Hanoi Hilton Hotel
• Cu Chi Tunnels
• Visiting a Buddhist monastery
• Volunteering at social service centers

Itinerary

Day 1: Departure Flight
> Fly from Newark NJ to Hanoi (HAN)
> Layover in either Tokyo or Bangkok
> Welcome & Orientation in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi
> Tour Hoa Lo Prison (“Hanoi Hilton”)
> Opera House
> French Quarter
> Old Quarter

Day 3: Hanoi
> Hô Chi Minh Mausoleum
> Hô Chi Minh’s Stilt House
> One Pillar Pagoda
> Night market

Day 4: Hanoi • Ha Long Bay
> Foodie tour
> Cooking class
> Travel by bus to Ha Long Bay

Day 5: Ha Long Bay • Danang
> Day-cruise on ship along Ha Long Bay
> Fly to Danang

Day 6: Danang
> Dragon Bridge
> Lady Buddha monument
> Relax at My Khe Beach

Day 7: Danang
> Volunteer at social work center
> Dinner & program w/ volunteers

Day 8: Danang
> Ba Na Hills (theme park):
– Cable Car
– Golden Bridge
> Night market

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
> Fly from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
> Tour Ho Chi Minh City:
– Walking tour of District 1
– War Remnants Museum
– Ben Thanh Market

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
Mekong Delta full-day excursion:
> Explore the village of Cái Bè
> Floating markets
> Take a river boat waterway cruise

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City
> Cu Chi Tunnels
> Visit Buddhist monks at monastery
> Saigon River boat tour
> Shopping & program wrap-up

Day 12: Departure Flight for Home

Included in Program Fee

• Two professional, bilingual guides on call 24-hours
• All meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Private ground transportation
• All Excursions & Activities
• Community Service program
• Hotel rooms at 3-star hotels
• Domestic Flights in Vietnam
• Academic Credit
• Trip Director from the US
• Travel & Medical Insurance
• EWE Tours t-shirt & bag
• Not Included: flights, visa, Covid test(s)

Entry Requirements

1) Passport: You must have a valid passport that is valid for six months beyond your planned stay. Your passport must have at least one blank page for the visa.

2) Visa: You must have a visa. You apply for a single entry E-visa on the Vietnam Immigration website. We will explain the process after you book your tour.

3) Vaccinations: NONE are required for Vietnam including COVID-19. We follow the vaccination guidelines of the CDC.

4) COVID-19: You must have a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) taken within three 3-7 days before entering Vietnam.

Travel

Flights: Our US Tour Director will travel with your group on a direct flight from Newark NJ (EWR) to Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi (HAN). We will coordinate the flight date/time with your group leader(s).

Travel In Vietnam: Ground travel will be by private buses operated by our local partners. There are two internal flights which we will book for you (airfare is included in your program fee).

Accommodations
Students will stay at 3 star and above hotels. Rooms are 2-3 students of the same gender per room. Shared bathrooms with hot water.

Food
Meals will be mostly traditional local meals, with occasional fast food visits. A typical breakfast is Pho which is a noodle soup dish with choice of chicken, beef, or tofu. Other typical dishes are Bún chả (grilled pork) and Com tam (Broken Rice with grilled meat, fried egg, salad and pickles). Also widely available are eggs, fruits, and the Bánh mì sandwich which has pate, beef, pork, chicken or pork with fresh herbs, pickled carrots and chilli. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets are easily accommodated.

Water
Tap water is not safe to drink. We will provide bottled water daily.

Dress Code
Vietnam is hot and humid year round so cool and comfortable is the best guideline. Modesty is required out of respect for Vietnamese’s conservative culture.

WIFI & Cell Phones
We encourage students to (mostly) disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves and get the most out of the trip. However all of our accommodations have WIFI. Most cell phone carriers have roaming plans if desired. Cell phone coverage is quite good in Vietnam.

Emergencies
Parents, you will have our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff while your child is in Vietnam. Our trip leaders in Vietnam are available 24/7 for any illnesses or injuries. There are hospitals / clinics in all of our program areas.

Weather
Expect hot and humid days and nights (75-90 F) year round. The rainy season runs from October to early December.

Laundry
You will have the opportunity to do your laundry 1-2 times at a cost of $4-$10 per load.

Vietnamese Language
English is not widely spoken in Vietnam outside of tourist areas. However our trip leaders are bilingual in Vietnamese and English.