Notre Dame, SaigonVIET NAM
March 17 - 26, 2007
ITINERARY:
March 17 (Saturday): Leave Honolulu for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Viet Nam
March 18: Arrive in Saigon at night.
March 19:
*Morning: Take a short excursion to visit the former U.S Embassy, The Unification Hall (Old Presidential Palace), The War Museum.
*Afternoon: Notre Dame Cathedral built in the French occupation and Mai Lien Orphanage, the orphanage founded by Catholic nuns.
March 20:
*Morning: From Saigon, drive West to Tay Ninh City to visit Cao Dai Temple (Holy See Temple) founded in 1926. The religion is the product of an attempt to create religion through the fusion of the secular and religious philosophies of the east and west.
*Afternoon: Drive to Cu Chi Tunnel (30 kilometers Northwest of Saigon), which is a large underground network, built by the Viet Cong during the war against the French and the Americans
March 21: Visit Con Phung (Phoenix Island) on the Mekong Delta, in the South. The Mekong Delta is not only amazingly beautiful but it is also the rice basket of the country with its rich agricultural soil. The area is peppered with paddies and orchards with all kinds of fruits. Visit the Cai Be floating market and rice corn and coconut candy factories.
March 22 - 24: Visit the Phuoc Thien Orphanage in Binh Thuan Province and spend two nights at the beach resort in Mui Ne (Phan Thiet).
*Afternoon on March 24, arrive back in Saigon. Relax and shop.
March 25: Visit the Central Market (the biggest market in VietNam) and do some shopping in the morning. Leave for Honolulu via Seoul, Korea very late in the evening (12:50 a.m) and spend a day in Seoul.
March 26: Arrive in Honolulu
33 comments:
I had a few hours of sleep last night. I was a long and exciting day for us with all the shopping and packing for the orphans in VIet Nam. I can not believe how much stuff we have been collecting over the last few months from Punahou and Sacred Hearts Academy cummunities.
This morning, I got up very early having a quiet breakfast with Mimi (wife) and going through my list over and over again. I am ready to be back to my native land...
You are still in the air and I hope all is going well! There was such excitement in the air this morning during the send off. I'm just as excited and look forward to reading your posts as I will live vicariously through you.
Debbie
After a 10 hour trip to Seoul, Korea, a 2 hour layover in the airport, and another 6 hour flight to Saigon, we have at last arrived safely at our hotel. A few students are choosing to have a late night (12:30 AM, Monday) bowl of Pho in the hotel cafe and all others are turning in for the night!
March 19
I am up at 4:35 am. I could put myself to sleep thinking about all the exciting events we are going to do today. The wake up call is 7:00 and breakfsat at 7:30. Andrew and Daniel were looking at me last night with their suspicious looks (how can we get up at 7:00???, Mr. Dang, you are so cruel!).
Pictures and comments from students are expected. By the way, their is free wireless internet service in our room.
Vinh
Hello! this is Bess and Lydia!!
we are now in Palace Hotel Saigon!!
we just had a big and pleasure breakfast!
everything is so cheap here!
There are a lot of motobikes here...
The fancy cakes, frech coffee, pho, and fruits........
mmmmm yummy!!!!
The plane rides where quite exhausting, yet they were a lot of fun. I met and talked to everyone before we even got to Vietnam. Right out of the airport, we walked out to a crowd of anxious vietnamese people waiting for who knows what. I had a hard time finding channels on the T.V. so ended up watching animal planet for a good 3 hours. sweet.
Hey sarah!! Its leah! :D your darling little sister. well mommy says she loves you (yes i'm trying to embarass you!!) and hoku misses you. have fun!!
Hello all,
Hope you are all having an amazing time. We can't wait to see some photos and hear more about your adventures.
Drew - Avery and Hana say "hi, big bro!"
Mom Kim
the first day we did alot of sight seeing and ate good food. then we had a great massage and ate more interesting food. the long day is finally over and I am looking forward to tomorrow.
romie
Today sure seemed like a long day. We woke up at around 7 and headed down for a tasty breakfast buffet. We began with some sightseeing of Independance Palace and the War Remenant Museum. We then went over to the first orphanage was definatly one of the highlights of the trip so far. The children were all so excited when we gave them their little gift bags. We did a little project with them which was a collage project. They were very excited about this and worked very well. We then ended the night with a nice dinner. Can't wait for tommorow.
Seeing the orphans and donating the candies and various other items to them was the highlight of the day. It was an experience filled with mixed feelings, those of joy because we were helping the less fortunate, but depressing because we take for granted how much we have in America. I also drank milk from a coconut, drank bamboo juice, some strange drink with sugar and salt at the bottom, and ate pigs brain. Major props to Andrew, he ate the most brains out of the whole group. I just finished wathing the streets outside for 45 minutes, and i must say it is quite a sight to see. Cars are going in every direction possible, and surprisingly never hit each other. Also I got my first facial today. You know how we do.
According to the internet, it looks like the weather is rather cool in Viet Nam? I was surpised that it appears to be in the 60's.
Sounds like the visit to the orphanage made a big impact on you all. Glad to hear you are enjoying the sights, food (pig's brains???), and the massages and facials. Andrew, how's your tummy today?
Mom
Hi Mimi, Vinh, Miranda and all y'alls from Sacred Hearts and Punahou. I am glad to see you are up to your usually "tricks" Vinh...getting the students to eat challenging food for Americans! How the REST of the world lives :) Mimi, I am holding down the fort here in Washington, D.C. and drinking LOTS of English Afternoon Tea. Good stuff. Y'all have fun now. Elisa
Vinh Dang at 4:00 am.
Hi All,
I had 2 hours of sleep which is better than last night. We had a great day yesterday. Everything went smoothly according to plan. I have to say that our students are cooperative, courteous, and well represented. Today, we are heading to the Northwest to Cu Chi tunnels and Tay Ninh (Holy See Temple). The weather here is hot (but not too hot) and humid. I keep reminding students to be hydrated.
Last night after a long and exciting day, we had a good dinner together. I invited some of my college friends to join us. Twenty of us sitting at a long table eating, laughing, and talking about their first full day in Viet Nam. We ended our dinner with a birthday cake and we all sang happy birthday to Brittany and Daniel (they both have their birthdays in March)
To be continued...
Sarah, mommy wants to know if you ate any pig brains?? haha i can't imagine you eating that......o well have a good time! eat more pigs brains!
Hi Andrew. How's Vietnam? I hope you're learning a lot. I'm going to be home soon, so I'm looking forward to that. Anyway, you should write something up here and talk about your experiences like your peers are doing. Mom misses you a lot and is waiting for your reply. Trust me. She is constantly telling me to check this blog site to let her know if you've said anything. In fact, she is hoping me posting this will force you to respond. Anyway, take care. I hope you're learning a lot and enjoying the experience. I'm proud that you are pig brain eating champ too. When you get back, we'll get you in that Fear Factor show. Talk to you later.
Bryant
The war tunnels in Vietnam where really cool. They were extremely small and at one time went to the Saigon River. Plus, near the end we got to shoot guns from the war. I shot a couple of rounds out of an AK-47 and went full auto on a machine gun. It was sweet. Oh yeah, did I mention that I ate pig brain the other day? It was pretty nasty.
We are getting ready for the Mekong Delta this morning. Yesterday was a great and long day starting with 3 hour drive to the temple and then to Cu Chi tunnels. Around 5:00 when we enter Saigon, our bus had a flat tire so we went on plan B which was taking 3 taxis to the hotel. Rain came down really hard which was unsual for this time of year. After dinner, the whole group except me went to a spa for foot and body massage.
Vinh
The tunnels were really cool yesterday.... we really enjoyed it!!! Yesterday was so tired, so we went to massage!! 75 mins for 15 dollars!!! On the way back to Saigon, our bus had flat tire. and it was raining! SO! we had to get off the bus and walk for a while to get a taxi. it was interesting tho.! lol! ohh yea, we went to buy the cheap dvds too!! it was a real bargain. 1 for less than a dollar!! I got 13 dvds!! haha!
i Love Bess by the way
hey hey
Vietnam is AWESOME!
We went to the catholig girls orphanage the other day and it was so great to see all of their bright smiling faces as we gave them candy and such. They also laughed at our translations of VIetnamese which was funny. And I drew almost all of their facesa and so gave each of them a portrait of themselves. It was so much fun!
The food here is real exotic, with pigs brains, DOG, TURTLE, frog, and this wine with ACTUAL cobras and scorpions inside of it. YUM. And no mom, i have yet to try the pigs brains, thanks.
OMG the traffic here! There are NO traffic lights and its only once in a blue moon that a person gets caught by a cop-youde like that mom :) joking
ummm there are cool video shoips here where you can get dvds of the show before its even out of thear=tres in the USA!! amazing
AND we had massages-one day i had a manicure, pedicure, and back, hand, head massage and it felt so goooood. THen yesterday we went to this special massage place and i had a FOOT massage. awesomenesss
Its real humid here and sunny but the sights and smells you hear and smell are so thrilling. Ive already taken, like 200 pics. THanks dad
Oh and when we went tothe Cuchi tunnels i lost my camera in like the middle of the tunnel and a dude had to go and get it for me. heheehe and be quiet leah i know ur laughing...
but ive had a GREAT time so far!! cant wait for the rest of the trip!
Love
Sarah
ps and yes ive gotten all yall souveneirs already :)
Hello all! Great pics and comments. I am envious that you are all enjoying cheap massages, pedicures, and facials....oh, and pig brains!!!
Enjoy the experience - the interesting sights, culture, people, and food. You are witnessing a developing country that is steeped in history - a vibrant economy that is sure to make its mark in the years to come.
Funny that I have been noticing a number of TV shows featuring Viet Nam - then and now. Andrew, I sure wish you didn't erase that recording to make room for 24 and House because now you've forced me to watch ESPN and March Madness. USC upset Texas and will be facing North Carolina on Thurs. Go Trojans!
Oh, and before I forget Andrew, could you please get Mom a bag of coffee? :-) Take care all and safe travels.
Sarah, HELP ME I HAVE 2 HOURS UNTIL BRACES!! DON'T LAUGH CAUSE YOU HAD THEM TOO SARAH!!!ahhhh
The third day is not Drew's day...
he got attacked by A LOT OF ants.
and.. he kept hit himself while we were playing zoo.
Hello Sarah,
I got my braces. They hurt a lot!!! Soup is becoming yummier but I have to use a straw......Its soooo painful!! There is a lot I can't eat. When you come home you will see. And you better of gotten me something good!! :D
the past few days have been quite exciting. we took a tour of the cu chi tunnels and saw many interesting contraptions that the vietnamese made. we also got to crawl through the tunnels. they were really dark and small. it was enlarged about two times for tourist but their still small. its amazing to think that they lived down there for months and were able to survive and fight the war. the following day we went on a tour of the Mekong Delta river. there are a few islands there and we visited one and ate local fruits and heard music. the children and families there were extremely happy with all the goodies we brought them. it was amazing to see their eyes light up over the small things we take for granted. it helps you to appreciate all the things we have. the river was really nice and i really enjoyed the tour. our tour guide was really nice and knew what he was talking about. now we are at a resort, taking our well needed r&r. after the past few days of constant moving around it is nice to be able to have a few days to calm down and really appreciate vietnam. tomorrow we are going to slide down some sand dunes and hopefully get a nice massage. till next time.
romie
Hello reader, how are you?
Our adventurous escapade began today with a six thirty wake-up call and seven o’clock breakfast. My roommate, Romie, and I reached the Golden Palace Restaurant last, like usual. Dragon fruit, papaya, golden melon, and pineapple graced my breakfast plate (delicious!). Down stairs at relatively eight thirty we boarded the bus for our exciting two-hour bus ride, I’m stoked! Dozing off in between the rural scenery and family owned cafes, we stumbled upon the bus driver’s adorable son with a timid smile. With our little stow away, we continued our trek to the Mekong River, a legacy of Vietnam. The bus stopped and we stood out in the muggy, damp heat which one gradually grows accustomed to in Vietnam. This was our last stop for a “decent” bathroom. Not even ten feet and the atrocious smell of the toilets repelled us away faster then ever. I was horrified that if I went in, I would smell like the toilets too, which is most probable. Any way, the group was ushered forward by our courteous tour guide. In a few minutes we reached an island untainted by huge infrastructures. Docking to the concrete slab, in a single file line we passed glossy, candy pink rose apples. I was determined to pick a few for the road. Underneath a humble shelter women served us fruits from bitter to cinnamon, brown sugar fruits of the island. A family trio sang to the instruments of a long historical past, the little boy’s voice lingered in the air. Not long after, the group was brought to another side of the island and glossed along a sleepy canal with water coconuts on either side. With gifts to the children ready in hand, we cautiously stepped out the topsy turvy boat. Passing along the mothers, they pulled out their children to receive our gifts. I handed out candy and tooth brushes and was so surprised a how eager and excited parents and children alike wanted theses items we so take for granted. A few minutes passed and the whole gang came strolling over the bridge, practically all of us were depleted of our ‘amo.’ My heart strings were pulled to see the glowing, happy faces of all the villagers. But, all good things must meet their end, we pushed along and said goodbye. Some of us even gave our personal snacks and hand wipes to these people. Just around the corner was awesome coconut candy straight from the “factory”(a tiny stall under the shade with three stations, a real factory). Further along the path, a man and his python awaited our approach. I was anxious to carry the reptile with such a strong aura. Carrying the snake was great, it was smooth and beautiful. Some of us were scared, but most of us were thrilled. We passed monkeys and soon after boarded the boats once more. Farewell dear island, we will always remember you. To be continued…shortly☺
If you read all of my experience, you are the best. i am not even sure if i would rea all of me on this web page. I truly hope my takes on this trip were interesting enough to finish reading. if not, you can stop reading this already and i am sorry. bye bye.
Noella, thank you for your descriptive post. You are a terrific writer! I could see, feel, smell, and taste the events of your adventure. I encourage you to continue sharing your comments. As I said earlier, I look forward to living through all of you vicariously as you journey through Viet Nam. I have been enjoying all the photos and comments you all have been posting daily. Enjoy your stay in Mui Ne.
Debbie
Quietly walking to the beach, I beheld the fresh breeze unlike home or any other place I know. Enough fragrance of the musky sea and a mix of palms braches intertwined. Within myself, I was anxious to behold the sunset I was requested to see by my supervisors. From previous sunsets of my life, I expected to face a blazing fire in the sky, maybe with a tinge of purple-blue on the border of the clouds. Carefully placing my slippers on the ledge, I began my weary body to take the walk to beauty. A few footsteps off the stairs and I plunged by foot into a mini canal of stagnant water, EWW! Stiffened from my feet up, I strategically tip toed to the other side of the little waterway and stood on firm, dry sand. No later than five thirty I was making way west of the hotel and coming upon only a few strangers. Contemplating to myself on this trip I very so often looked to the ocean and found the fishing baskets bobbling in the water. From Mr. Dang I learned a portion of the discipline and dedication fisherman of this village place in their job. Every morning, they must awake at three o’clock and come back to shore by six o’clock in order to sell their catch, wo for sure I know I would be a lazy slug on the shore if I every became a Vietnamese fisherman. The men would probably use me as bait in their nets. Continuing my walk, I found the shoreline black. At first thought I thought this discoloration was sot from the bonfire, but I began to realize it was of some other composition. Further and further I went I remembered the ocean sealed with oil from the fishing boats; I felt yet another heavy burden impede on me enjoying my walk. Such beauty abounds effortlessly in Vietnam, yet through industrialization and the pursuit to move themselves out of this slum, they must do what they can, in any way possible. Deciding to seat myself higher up near the sand plants, I waited for a sunset to top any one I’ve experienced before. Still waiting, I closed my eyes and felt the breaking surf pound upon myself, as if I was in the water. Shortly after though, I searched for the sun to wake my tired body up, but only was offered a streak of baby pink smeared between the opaque clouds. Immediately there was disappointment, however, even in bleak sky’s traces of hope and beauty can always be found. I looked for beauty and I found, if anyone looks at life, they will always find a lacy snuggle embrace your heart.
Leah Bo Bea!
you got your braces!!! ouch kid. what color?
and YES ive already gotten you somthing good but im not telling u :)
hey give Hoku a big kiss for me, will ya?
Love you,
but really wishing this was not our last day,
Sarah
PS
so how many milkshakes did u really drink? haha
oh and i got food poisioning yesterday!
and i had a python on my shoulders a few days ago. haha ans yes mom ive taken a bajillion pictures
and Dad youre going to like your presento mundo
PSS Leah my email isnt working!!! tell Graham for me will ya?? and tell him that yeah im having a crazy time :) luv ya much
This morning we had our last breakfast in Viet Nam. As I looked outside the hotel window, all I could think was how I didn't want to leave this beautiful place. When we first stepped off the plane, the air and smell of Viet Nam was so foreign to me, but now it has become something that I am accustomed to. This trip has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I don’t think that I have never laughed so much in an entire week. Even though our group was dysfunctional and we never left any place without an episode of miscommunication, I wouldn’t trade our group for anything in the world. Everyday was full of memories and Kodak moments. I will never forget the children and adults who shared their smiles and laughter with me. Our times together showed me that even though there was a language barrier between us we could still connect and share an unforgettable moment of our lives with each other. There were times when I laughed, cried, was angry and scared on this trip, but ultimately when I look back on everything we did, this was the best way that I could have spent my spring break.
hi sarah!
um.. i got purple and orange braces
i told graham
hoku doesn't remember u
JUST KIDDING
and you had food poisoning?
i had no milkshakes and no smoothies
just soup and jello and yummy ice cream
come back!!!!
nvm just stay there we won't mind
Hope you are enjoying your last few hours in Seoul. Thank you for sharing the wonderful photos and comments during the trip. Wishing you all a pleasant flight home. And look forward to your safe return.
Debbie
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