Trip Briefing

It was the day our O' levels ended.Nevertheless, it was the day we embarked on an adventurous journey to Vietnam. An agent, Mr Seng, from a tour group agency known as Big Foot Adventure, came to our school to conduct a short briefing on the Vietnam trip.Equipped with his laptop, he gave us a thorough explanation of the trip's objectives, purpose and the itinerary of the trip, showing us beautiful pictures of Hanoi(The streets and the train cabin), Halong Bay( the kayaking site) and Sapa. As planned, the present trip to Vietnam would be one of an adventurous journey which consists of a "Residential Project Expedition". We also managed to clear most of our doubts at the trip briefing. Mr Seng also provided us with a packing/kit list, giving us a guideline to the neccessary items that we were suppose to bring to Vietnam.( How nice :) ) This would be the course of our activities in Vietnam:

Day 1

1 Dec/Fri: SIN - HANOI- TR308 1745/2010> Services: transfer from airport, guesthouse & meal (D)

Day 2

2 Dec/Sat: HANOI - LAO CAI- Hanoi orientation- Residential Project preparation- 2210: sleeper non-aircon 4 pax per cabin overnight train to Lao Cai> Services: transfer to train station, train tickets & meals (B+D)

ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY

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Day 3

3 Dec/Sun: LAO CAI - SAPA - BINH LU Adventurous Journey Day 10700 - Arrive in Sapa and wash up0800 - biking to Binh Lu via Tram Ton Pass. Visit Binh Lu Sunday Market1200 - biking to Phong Tho & Tam Duong.1800 - overnight in Binh Lu (village homestay; no tourists)> Services: Transfer, tour guide, bikes, standby jeep, home-stay permit, & meals (B+L+D)

Day 4

4 Dec/Mon: BINH LU - SAPA Adventurous Journey Day 40800 - biking from Binh Lu to Chu Va for lunch1300 - biking to Sapa1500 - overnight in Sapa (Son Ha Guesthouse)> Services: Tour guide, bikes, standby jeep, guesthouse, & meals (B+L+D)

Day 5

5 Dec/Tue: SAPA - THANH PHUAdventurous Journey Day 10800 - Contact Sapa town primary school to discuss implementation of Residential Project1000 - trekking to villages of Ta Van (14km), Cau May (18km) & Thanh Phu (7km). Delivery of stationeries.1800 - overnight in Thanh Phu (village homestay; no tourists pls)> Services: Transfer, tour guide, home-stay permit & meals (B+L+D)

Day 6

6 Dec/Wed: THANH PHU - NAM SAIAdventurous Journey Day 20800 - trekking to Seo Trung Ho, Ta Trung Ho, Nam Cang (9km), Nam Thang (6km) & Nam Sai.1800 - overnight in Nam Sai (village homestay; no tourists)> Services: Tour guide, home-stay permit & meals (B+L+D)

Day 7

7 Dec/Thu: NAM SAI - BAN HO - SAPAAdventurous Journey Day 30800 - trekking Ban Ho (7km), Su Pan & back to Sapa (23km).1800 - overnight in Sapa (Son Ha guesthouse)> Services: Tour guide, guesthouse & meals (B+L+D)

RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

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Day 8

8 Dec/Fri: SAPA Residential Project Day 10800 - 1700 - Student activities in Sapa town primary school> Service: guesthouse & meals (B+L+D).> Pls arrange/suggest community involvement projects for us to work with Sapa town primary school for Days 7-11 eg. library building, conduct of student-related learning activities.

Day 9

9 Dec/Sat: SAPAResidential Project Day 20800 - 1700 - Student activities in Sapa town primary school> Service: guesthouse & meals (B+L+D).

Day 10

10 Dec/Sun: SAPAResidential Project Day 30800 - 1700 - Student activities in Sapa town primary school> Service: guesthouse & meals (B+L+D).

Day 11

11 Dec/Mon: SAPA - LAO CAI - HANOIResidential Project Day 40800 - 1700 - Student activities in Sapa town primary school2210: sleeper non-aircon 4 pax per cabin overnight train to Hanoi>Services: guesthouse & meals (B+L+D).

ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY

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Day 12

12 Dec/Tue: HANOI - HALONG BAY 0600 - arrive in Hanoi & wash up0730 - Transfer to Halong Bay1100 - Transfer to junk boat. Kayaking in Halong Bay1900 - Night kayaking2100 - overnight in junk boat> Services: tour guide, bus, boat, entrance fees, kayaking & meals (B+L+D)

Day 13

13 Dec/Wed: HALONG BAY - HANOI 0800 - morning kayaking1100 - return to Halong Bay for lunch & transfer to Hanoi1500 - arrive in Hanoi> Services: Transfers, tour guide, bus, boat, meals (B+L) & Hanoi guesthouse

REST & RELAX

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Day 14

14 Dec/Thu: HANOI- Hanoi discovery> Services: Guesthouse & meal (B)

Day 15

15 Dec/Fri: HANOI - SIN1630 - transfer to dinner1810 - transfer to airport2040 - TR309 2040/0100> Services: transfer to airport & meals (B+D)

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The briefing had given us a better understanding and greater insight of the Vietnam trip, hence giving a us a much better mental preparation for the upcoming journey to Vietnam.