Brochure:
Compassion Tour of Viet Nam
March 2 - 16, 2009 |
Please join us for this very special Airline Ambassadors sponsored
‘Compassion Tour of Viet Nam’.
During this trip, we will visit physical rehabilitation centers, peace villages and families with disabled children (mostly affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, a defoliant used during the Viet Nam War) as well as extraordinary places in Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Hoi An (China Beach), Hue City and Ho Chi Minh City.
You will spend one day at facility in Da Nang that serves 600 daily meals to the poor. While in Hue, we will visit families (with disabled children) who are in need of new homes.
We’ll rejuvenate ourselves with yoga classes. We will end this trip by attending the Red Cross Benefit Concert for Agent Orange victims.
AAI has set up the Viet Nam Disabled Children’s Fund. Proceeds will go to selected Agent Orange programs that we will visit.
To contribute to the fund, please select the donate button and indicate, "VNDCF" in the memo section.
Thank you!
For more information about the Viet Nam Compassion Tour, please contact trips@airlineamb.org.
If you are interested in participating on the trip, please complete Viet Nam Trip Submission Form/Questionnaire and email to tbk.airlineamb@gmail.com.
 Before you go to Viet Nam, don't miss the PBS Special that documents the on-going legacy of Agent Orange, The Last Ghost of War. Newsday called The Last Ghost of War " hard to watch but must see" and "a catalyst for a much needed conversation on Agent Orange."
Narrated by Kevin Kline, The Last Ghost of War was produced in association with the Center for Asian American Media with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The program covers the legacy of the Vietnam War and effects of widespread spraying of herbicides used by US military to defoliate the jungles of South Vietnam . Attorneys, scientists, and activists take us to a new battlefield.
Visit The Last Ghost of War website for more!
Detailed itinerary below. |
Viet Nam Trip At-A-Glance
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Friday/Saturday, February 27 or 28, 2009
Flight leaves for Hanoi, Viet Nam from United States (travelers are responsible for international flights). If your flight does not get you in by Monday at 2:00PM (14:00 hours), please plan to arrive Sunday evening. Please notify trips@airlineamb.org know ASAP, so we can reserve an extra night at the hotel. |
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Sunday, March 1, 2009
Travelers may arrive this evening, need to inform trips@airlineamb.org if additional night at hotel is needed. |
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Day 1:
Monday, March 2, 2009
All travelers will arrive Noi Bai airport in Hanoi—
latest in afternoon, van pick-up from airport to
Thang Long Opera Hotel (3 nights).
We will have a welcome dinner with a
short introduction from in-country official
tour guide.
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Day 2:
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
We will begin the day with yoga class from 7:30-8:30AM.
We will visit with the Viet Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA). A van will pick us up at hotel in the morning. We will take a tour in afternoon, visiting various families with disabled children and the Friendship Village and/or Peace Village. |
Day 3:
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
We will begin the day with yoga class from 7:30-8:30AM.
Today will be a light day, visiting the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology in the afternoon.
We will see the Water Puppet Show as a group in the evening.
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Day 4:
Thursday, March 5, 2009
We will visit the Thai Binh physical rehab center on way to Ha Long Bay in the morning. We will have lunch in Thai Binh with the local VAVA chapter. We will arrive at Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise on a private boat at 3:00 PM. |
Day 5:
Friday, March 6, 2009
We will enjoy breakfast on the Ha Long cruise. The boat will dock at 9:30AM. We will begin our drive back to Hanoi where we can pick-up things from the hotel and go straight to Noi Bai airport for our flight to Da Nang City.
Our flight to Da Nang will be sometime in the late afternoon/early evening.
We will be greeted at the Da Nang airport in the early evening for our ride to Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort --4 nights (China Beach area). We will have dinner as a group at the hotel. |
Day 6:
Saturday, March 7, 2009
We will begin the day with yoga class from 8:00-9:00AM. We will visit the Dien Ban physical rehab center in the morning (outside Hoi An—1hr).
We will have the opportunity to tour family homes and meet with disabled children. |
Day 7:
Sunday, March 8, 2009
We will begin the day with yoga class from 8:00-9:00AM.
Later in the morning, we will visit with Care The People, a local charity that serves daily meals for 600 people in the DaNang area.
While we are there, we will have the opportunity to volunteer and serve the local people. We will also visit the
Tam Thien (Disabled People Cooperative) where they need to rebuild their house/place of work in order to improve their living conditions. |
Day 8:
Monday, March 9, 2009
We will visit Hiep Duc (outside Hoi An) or Dai Loc (outside Hoi An)—where our group will visit families with disabled children.
For this trip, we will split our group into two groups where each will meet with 5 families. |
Day 9:
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
We will begin our journey to Hue (2 hours drive) in the morning. On the way to Hue, we will visit with VAVA Da Nang and continue our trip and stop over to have lunch on the beach.
We will arrive at the Park View Hotel in Hue and stay for 2 nights. |
Day 10:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
We will visit the Hue College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Office of Genetic Counseling and Disabled Children (OGCDC) where we will have the opportunity to meet and assist families in need. We will meet with Dr. Nhan, the Director and the OGCDC staff and have lunch with them at the hotel. Dr. Nhan will give us a tour of the hospital/projects (The Heart Shop Center) and take us to families with disabled children (volunteer/donation opportunities).
We will split into 2 groups, morning/ afternoon visits.
We will have a closing dinner at Park View Hotel or nearby restaurant.
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Day 11:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
We’ll leave Hue for Ton Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, van pick-up to airport in morning after breakfast.
We will arrive at Ton Son Nhat airport, van pickup to hotel (newlybuilt in 2008, Hoang Hai Long 2 Hotel ) and stay for 2 or 4 nights. You have the option of staying until Monday. |
Day 12:
Friday, March 13, 2009
We will visit Ho Chi Minh City’s Vocational Center for the Handicapped and Orphans.
The center provides training (computer, embroidery, carpentry, etc…) for disabled children and young adults.
We will be free to have dinner on our own. |
Day 13:
Saturday, March 14, 2009
For those who have chosen the 13-day tour, you will depart for the US today. Van pick-up at hotel for Tan Son Nhat Int’l airport—
Most departures to the US will be in the late evening—
some will leave in the afternoon. (hotel is booked for this evening).
Travelers staying for entire tour, we will take a trip to the
Tien Phuc Physical Rehab Center/Cu Chi Trail.
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Day 14:
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The day can be spent sightseeing on our own, no group tour scheduled.
(Option of visiting the War Remnants Museum).
OPTIONAL:
We will visit Tu Du Hospital (maternity/rehabilitation center for disabled children).
We will be free to have dinner on our own.
We will gather at the hotel and leave together for the Red Cross
Agent Orange Benefit Concert at the Opera House.
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Day 15:
Monday, March 16, 2009
The day will be spent preparing for our departure.
We will depart for US—van pick-up for Ton Son Nhat airport at various times,
mostly in the evening.
US arrival the same day. |
The Pricing Package:
The $2,545.00 13-day land package rate includes (based on Double Occupancy):
Add $550.00 for Single Occupancy.
- 3-4 star hotel and resort accommodations/taxes, some tips for 12 nights:
Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue City, Ho Chi Minh City2 domestic flights (to Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City)
- In-country translator/tour guide costs for all days that he/she is traveling with group
(includes daily rate, flights, hotel/meals)
- Breakfast and costs of some meals (as stated in itinerary)
- All site visits/city tours and volunteer opportunities/all (subject to change), group transportation costs for site visits/airport
- Donation of $250/person to be distributed to programs that we visit
- AAI member registration fee.
- Yoga classes (OPTIONAL-days subject to change).
*Optional add $200 for additional 2 days stay (15 days) in Ho Chi Minh City for Red Cross Agent Orange Benefit concert.
It does NOT include:
- International flights to/from Viet Nam. Contact either Judy or Mike at Judy Travel at 212-219-0980 or email at sumajudi@aol.com for special coach rates (varies coach $1100-$1500 R/T) on flights to/from US to Viet Nam and tell them that you’re a participant on Trinh’s trip to Viet Nam.
- Visas (coordinator will handle the process for acquiring special visas and request passport information from travelers--cost is about $50; travelers will not be allowed to visit these centers on a regular tourist visa).
- Drinks, some meals, telephone calls, laundry, insurance, room service and personal expenses.
- Additional donations from each traveler.
- Trip insurance (highly recommended) is available through Access America: http://www.accessamerica.com/
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Requirements:
- 8 travelers preferred, 10 maximum on trip.
- No children, travelers must be 18 years old.
- Full payment due by January 15, 2008.
- If this is your first trip to a third-world country, please check with your doctor for recommended vaccinations; we will be doing one-day visits to rural areas, but will not stay for long periods of time.
- See link to CDC for more information: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationVietnam.aspx#vaccines.
- Fairly healthy participants, trip is not for the weak-hearted person, some visits will have emotional impact.
- Prospective travelers contact trips@airlineamb.org to confirm interest and participation.
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To Sign-Up :
- You must be a current AAI member.
Please visit our Membership Section to join or update your membership if necessary.
Airline Ambassadors International
418 California Avenue, PO Box 459
Moss Beach, CA 94038
- To register for the trip:
Select the Donate Button, enter $2545.00 (for Double Occupancy, add $550.00 for single).
Or, send a check to Airline Ambassadors (address above), indicating in the memo section: "Viet Nam Trip"
($2545.00 per person Double Occupancy, add $550.00 for single).
- Please take a copy of our Volunteer Donation Receipt with you on the trip and return a copy to our office when you return home. Your donations will be tax deductible!
Airline Ambassadors International
418 California Avenue, PO Box 459
Moss Beach, CA 94038
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Suggested items to bring:
(ensure that they don’t take up too much room in baggage)
- Yoga mats
- Large deflatable exercise balls (physical therapy use)
- Skill-building games, blocks, tactile toys for children, NO stuffed animals please
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