TAITA COLLEGE TOUR TO VIETNAMTAITA COLLEGE TOUR TO VIETNAM| ITINERARY | COMMENTARY | IMAGERY |
| July 10 Wednesday | DAY 1: WGTN-AUCKLAND-SINGAPORE | |
Flight from Wgtn to Auckland to Singapore. |
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| July 11 Thursday | DAY 2: SINGAPORE-SIEM REAP | |
Flight from Singapore to Siem Reap. Boat ride to see the fishing village on Tonle Sap Lake. Check into hotel. A visit to the Cambodia Cultural Centre. In the late afternoon enjoy seeing the sunset on Phnom Bakheng hill. Angkor Holiday Hotel |
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| July 12 Friday | DAY 3: SIEM REAP | |
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Start touring with a visit to Angkor Thorn city (the South Gate of Angkor Thorn, Bayon, Baphoun, the Royal enclosure, the Leper King, and Prasat Sour Proat and the fabulous Ta Prohm, embraced by the roots of the enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers.) In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat temple, the most renowned Khmer temple. Buffet dinner with APSARA show at a local restaurant. |
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| July 13 Saturday | DAY 4: SIEM REAP - PHNOM PENH | |
We depart early to Kampong Thorn and onto Phnom Penh. After lunch we visit Wat Phnom and the Independence Monument. River Palace Hotel |
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| July 14 Sunday | DAY 5: PHNOM PENH | |
| Visit the National Museum, Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace. After lunch visit Toul Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields. This tour is graphic showing the result of Pol Pot and his Kymer Rouges' extermination of the Cambodian people. | 
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| July 15 Monday | DAY 6: PNHOM PENH - SAIGON | |
| Today we travel to the border, cross the Mekong by ferry, change buses and continue on to Saigon. Orientation of Saigon and dinner in local restaurants. Liberty 4 Hotel, 265 Pham Ngu Lao St Tel: 0084 8 8369522 |
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| July 16 Tuesday | DAY 7: SAIGON | |
| We then take in a short city tour of dynamic Saigon, visiting the colonial-style Old Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, China Town with Thien Hau pagoda, and Ben Thanh Market. |
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| July 17 Wednesday | DAY 8: SAIGON - MY THO | |
| Excursion to My Tho and the Mekong Delta. Cruise on the Tien River and visit Thoi Son Islet, where we enjoy tropical fruit with local tea, honey and coconut candy. Relax as we experience a sampan cruise through the small canals. | Today we went to the Mekong again and visited places that served us fruit and served honey tea and then had a large lunch of fish, spring rolls and soup, spring rolls again and fried rice. We eat so well that I'm sure I will weigh even more when I get home. The weather has been has been cooler with a breeze which has been great. |
       A sampan cruise through the small canals of the Mekong Delta Saigon from breakfast room on 9th floor     A show we saw in Saigon |
| July 18 Thursday | DAY 9: SGN - CU CHI TUNNEL | |
| Travel through rural countryside to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels: the amazing tunnel system where the Viet Cong lived and operated underground during the Vietnam War. We return to Saigon to visit the War Remnants Museum. |   
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| July 19 Friday | DAY 10: SAIGON - HOI AN | |
Fly to Danang and onto Hoi An by bus. Hoi An Hotel, |
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| July 20 Saturday | DAY 11: HOI AN | |
| Today is free to shop and explore. Hoi An is famous for its clothing, art and silk markets and its magnificent Chinese and Japanese architecture. Options of having clothes made, cooking classes, shopping & relaxing. | The Pool at Hoi An Heritage Hotel  |
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| July 21 Sunday | DAY 12: HOI AN | |
| Option of attending an art workshop at an Aid Agency. Free day. |   Pool at Hoi An - thinking of Wellington and earthquakes |
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| July 22 Monday | DAY 13: HOI AN | |
| Half day tour to Marble Mountain. |   Path at hotel over fish pond - listen for the toads   Swallows at dusk, Hoi An |
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| July 23 Tuesday | DAY 14: HOI AN-HANOI | |
Flight from Danang to Hanoi. After checking into our hotel we take an orientation walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. We venture into the fantastic shopping (silk clothing, DVD's and electronic goods) and eating area of the old French Quarter. Visit Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and Hoa Lu Prison. Thang Long Opera Hotel, |
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| July 24 Wednesday | DAY 15: HANOI - HALONG BAY | |
Day trip to Halong Bay. We take a cruise through the bay, where over 2000 islands rise dramatically out of the South China Sea. A fresh seafood lunch is served on board. We drive back to Hanoi, stopping at a ceramics centre along the way. |
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| July 25 Thursday | DAY 16: HANOI-HALONG | |
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Free day for last minute shopping. Attend the Water Puppet Theatre show. |
 
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| July 26 Friday | DAY 17: HANOI-SINGAPORE | |
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Leave mid morning to airport. Flight to Singapore. Evening flight to NZ (Chch) |
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| July 27 Saturday | DAY 18: SINGAPORE-NZ | |
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Arrive Christchurch. Transfer to flight to Wgtn. NZ5316 12:00pm /12:55pm |
This Tour Itinerary is correct at time of printing but may be subject to change given weather or road conditions in Vietnam.
