As a result of participating in this Discovery Week course students will:

• Gain an understanding of the places, events and people that shaped the beginnings and outcomes of the Vietnam war.
• Experience the culture, food and sights that are unique to Vietnam.
• Have some good fun, too.

Course Description/Itinerary:

This course focuses on understanding the circumstances that led to the Vietnam war and the subsequent events and people that shaped the nature of today’s Vietnam. Therefore, it involves visits to historic sites, war locations, monuments and museums. The cultural aspect of the course focuses on visits to local villages and interaction with local students. Food, football and a boat tour in the Ha Long Bay are some exciting fun activities.

(Scroll all the way down for photos!)

• Day 1 (Arrive in Vietnam and Hi Van Pass)

The Hải Vân Pass is an approximately 21 km long mountain pass on National Route 1A in Vietnam. Its name refers to the mists that rise from the sea, reducing visibility. We will be taking a bus ride through this pass.

• Day 2 (Hue Citadel in the morning and Dong Ha in the afternoon.)

Huế is a city in central Vietnam that was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and the national capital from 1802 to 1945. A major attraction is its vast, 19th-century Đại Nội Citadel, surrounded by a moat and thick stone walls. It encompasses the Imperial City, with palaces and shrines; the Forbidden Purple City (Tử cấm thành), once the emperor’s home; and a replica of the Royal Theater.

Đông Hà is the capital of Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam. Đông Hà is situated at the crossroads of National Highway 1A and Route 9, part of the East–West Economic Corridor.

• Day 3 (Project Renew’s Ordnance Museum, Vinh Moc Beach and Vinh Moc Tunnels)

Project Renew's aim is to inform, educate and prevent further accidents caused by unexploded ordnance in the area, and the display at the centre, which is laid out clearly and professionally, gives a stark impression of the enormity of their task. Quang Tri Province alone was bombarded by over 350,000 tons of ordnance.

Vinh Moc is a tunnel complex in Quảng Trị, Vietnam. During the Vietnam War it was strategically located on the border of North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

• Day 4: (River Cave Tour in Nha Ke Bang and soccer and dinner with local students)

River Cave Tour in the morning, combination of 15km cycling and boat trip. Soccer match against local students in the afternoon followed by dinner with students.

• Day 5: (Ha Noi – Temple of Literature, War Museum, Hao Lo Prison, Water Puppets)

The Temple of Literature is a Temple of Confucius in Hanoi, northern Vietnam. The temple hosts the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university. The temple was built in 1070 at the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông. It is one of several temples in Vietnam which is dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars.

Hỏa Lò Prison was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War. During this later period it was known to American POWs as the Hanoi Hilton.

Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play.

• Day 6: (Ha Long Bay Boat Tour, Night Market)

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. Junk boat tours and sea kayak expeditions take visitors past islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islets.

Night markets are more like a social event instead of a shopping occasion in Hanoi. It is a mystery destination to explore. Simply go with the flow, and see where you will end up. There are many tiny street stalls and souvenirs, toys and great deal of other products. Quite an experience!

• Day 7: (Bus to Ha Noi Airport for flight to Seoul)

Requirements/Considerations:

• Should be comfortable with biking; should be interested and excited about history and culture.
• No special dietary restrictions are accommodated.
• Be willing to be without your phone for much of the week.
• Sunday to Saturday

Approximate Cost: $1,000 - $1,500

Sponsors: Mr. Elish and another teacher (TBD)

Course Location: Central and Northern Vietnam

Course Category: History and Culture

Student Leaders: N/A