VIETNAM SERVICE LEARNING TOUR - plc.nsw.edu.au

VIETNAM SERVICE LEARNING TOUR2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Destination Information Page 3

Vietnam Orphanage Visits Page 4

Draft Schedule Page 5

Staff Page 6

Language Page 6

Transportation and Guide Page 6

Money Page 6

Accommodation Page 7

Food Page 8

Mobile Phones Page 9

Security Page 9

Road Safety Page 10

Out and About Page 10

Clothing and Etiquette Page 10

Getting Lost Page 11

Packing and Medical Kit Page 11-14

Contact Numbers Page 15

Page 1 | PLC Sydney Vietnam Service Learning Trip 2019

INTRODUCTIONNothing quite compares to the excitement, crowds,smells and street vendors that bring Vietnam’s streetsalive. It produces a unique and captivating buzz.Combined with the eye-opening experience ofmeeting the children living in orphanages in theremote area of Ba Vi, the 2018 Vietnam ServiceLearning Tour is sure to open your eyes andpersonally challenge you.

Most of you are probably feeling a mix of excitementand fear as you embark on the opportunitiespresented by the upcoming trip. Hopefully theexcitement will increase and the fear will subside asyou read the following information. The information inthis booklet should be read by both parents andstudents.


DESTINATION INFORMATION

HanoiHanoi is the capital city of Vietnam and has a populationaround 3.1 million. At its centre lies a tree-fringed lakeand shaded avenues lined with French villas, while therest of Hanoi is bursting at the seams. It is a combinationglittering high-rises, traffic congestion and charming oldbuildings.

Ha Long BayThe limestone towers that typify the scenery of Ha LongBay are by no means unique, but nowhere else do theyfeature on such an impressive scale: an estimated 1969islands pepper the 1553 square kilometres of Ha LongBay itself, with a further 2000 more punctuating the coasttowards China. We will be spending a day and a nightcruising this remarkable UNESCO listed area.

Hoi AnFor centuries Hoi An played an important role in themaritime trade of South-East Asia. From the 16th to the18th centuries, Hoi An was dominated by Japanese andChinese merchants who have given the town itsdistinctive architectural character. Hoi An has anextensive range of art galleries and tailor shops. There isalso a fascinating collection of sites and monumentswhich are all within walking distance.

SaigonBrimming with life, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or Saigon asthe majority of its residents still call it) offers a great dealfor travelers. The group will travel to the famous Cu ChiTunnels where the resistance launched sneak attacks onthe US forces based in Saigon. We will also visit the verymoving War Remnants Museum.

Please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website for up to date information ontravel to Vietnam www.smartraveller.gov.au


VIETNAM Ba Vi Centre VISITSThe greatest challenge for the students on this trip will come from confronting real poverty andhardship in a developing country and finding ways to work with the people to offer genuinesupport and realistic assistance. Students will be visiting a centre situated on the outskirts ofHanoi, Vietnam. The Ba Vi Centre and the Thuy An Rehabilitation Centre are located in theremote area of Ba Vi and are both very much in need of our help.

The Ba Vi CentreThe Centre houses approximately 295 people with 150elderly people and 124 children. The children age from just2 weeks old to 16 years old. This centre receives verylimited government funding. This centre is greatly in needof basic necessities such as clothes, nappies, milk and rice.We will purchase some of these items with the fundraisingmoney upon our arrival in Hanoi. We will also view some ofthe recent renovations funded by PLC, meet staff currentlyfunded by PLC and discuss ideas for future work at theorphanage. The visit will be very emotionally challenging forall students and staff involved in the tour. At the Centre, thestudents will have time to meet many of the children, spendsome time with them and assist the staff with their care.The majority of our fundraising money will go towardsassisting this first orphanage.

Thuy An Rehabilitation CentreThis Rehabilitation Centre also serves as an orphanage andhouses approximately 175 children from 6-18 years of agewith various disabilities. This Rehabilitation Centre receivessome further government funding and has some goodfacilities for physical rehabilitation and care. Our studentswill have the opportunity to play games with the childrenand tour the centre to see how Ba Vi could be brought upto similar standards.


DRAFT SCHEDULEDate AM PM AccommodationSunday 14 April Fly

Arrive Singapore Airlines Desk 5.00am

Arrive – Hanoi Conifer Boutique Hotel - Hanoi

Monday 15 April Arrive 1pm

Depart for Ha Long Bay – pack for one night

Arrive Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Sails Deluxe Junk Boat

Tuesday 16 April Ha Long Bay – Breakfast on boat Lunch in town

Travel back to Hanoi Conifer Boutique Hotel - Hanoi

Wednesday 17 April Travel to Ba Vi Lunch at Tan Da Brief afternoon visit to the Ba Vi orphanage

Tan Da Resort – Ba Vi

Thursday 18 April Ba Vi Orphanage Morning visit

Back to resort for lunch and de- brief Thuy An – Afternoon visit - Orientation and Tour


Friday 19 April Ba Vi Orphanage Full day De-brief and prayer Afternoon orphanage visit


Saturday 20 April Ba Vi – Full day at Centre for the Old and Disabled

De- brief and prayer Afternoon orphanage visit


Sunday 21 April Ba Vi – Morning visit to the centre and farewell party

Travel back to Hanoi Dinner at ‘Little Hanoi’ in the Old Quarter

Conifer Boutique Hotel - Hanoi

Monday 22 April Hanoi – Morning walk by the lake City sightseeing

Lunch at Koto Flight to Danang/Bus to Hoi An Beach Resort Dinner at Morning Glory or Cargo

Hoi-An Beach Resort

Tuesday 23 April Hoi An – Morning shopping in traditional market and light lunch

Afternoon – Red Bridge Cooking School. Dinner provided

Hoi-An Beach Resort

Wednesday 24 April Breakfast, packing and free time at resort Light lunch

Bus to Danang Flight to Saigon Bus to hotel Dinner at hotel

Liberty Central - Saigon

Thursday 25 April Visit to War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels

Fly Home – Singapore Airlines

Fly Home

Friday 26 April Arrive Home Sydney 5am

Home Home


STAFFStudents will be accompanied by the following members of staff from PLC Sydney:Ms Isabel Hayek (Vietnam Service Learning Coordinator) Mrs Rebecca Nichols (Year 10 Year Director) Ms Rachelle Underwood (Transition Class Support Teacher) 4th staff member to attend depending on numbers.

LANGUAGEEnglish, while increasing in popularity, is still not widely spoken in Vietnam. Past experience indicates a need for patience and some creative hand signals! During our weekly briefings Ms Hayek will also be teaching the girls some basics, such as hello, goodbye, thank you, please etc.

TRANSPORTATION AND GUIDEFlights to and from Vietnam and Australia will be with Singapore Airlines. All internal flights within Vietnam will be on Vietnam Airlines. The party has access at all times to a coach which will transport students from the hotel to their destinations. Leo our guide of 8 years will be with us throughout the entire journey. He is very passionate and dedicated to his job.

MONEYThe local Vietnamese currency is the Dong. Some trade also occurs in US dollars. You can checkthe current exchange rate on the internet. Australian money is easily exchanged in Vietnam. It isnot recommended that students bring travellers’ cheques.

Visa cards can also be used in ATMs in Hanoi and Hoi An for a small transaction fee. Vietnam’sbanking system has undergone rapid reform in recent times and has largely caught up with thewest. Cirrus and Maestro cards are widely accepted (although the rate is around A$8.00 pertransaction).

When out and about, only small amounts of cash in US dollars and/or Dong should be carried. Itshould be in a purse or money belt, worn under the clothes and out of sight. All hotels offersafety deposit boxes and personal belongings of value need to be stored at reception.

Students will require some money to purchase water and drinks for the duration of the visit. Theywill also have the opportunity to buy some food and snacks. There will be some briefopportunities for shopping. This amount of money required is at parental discretion.


ACCOMMODATION

Contact details for theConifer Boutique Hotel9 Ly Dao Thanh StreetHoan Kiem DistrictPH: (84-4) 32669999

The Conifer Boutique Hotel will be the group’saccommodation in Hanoi. The night of 6 April will bespent on board a private boat in Ha long Bay.

Contact details for theTan Da ResortPH: (84-4) 3388 0195Tản Lĩnh-Ba Vì, Hà Nội, Việt Nam

We will be staying here whilst visiting the orphanageand rehabilitation centre in Ba Vi. This is aVietnamese style resort.

Contact details forHoi An Beach Resort01 Cau Dai StreetHoi An BeachPH: (84)(510) 3927011www.hoianbeachresort.com.vn

This hotel is located 4 km from downtown Hoi An. Allrooms are fully equipped with modern facilities andcomforts.


Contact details forLiberty Central Saigon175 - 177- 179 Le THanh Ton st Dist. 1Tel: (84-8) 3823 9269.www.libertycentralhotel.com

The Liberty Central is an international-style hotel andis conveniently located in the heart of Saigon.

The hotels provide small, clean, comfortable,air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms.Students are not permitted to drink alcohol from themini-bar, but may purchase the water and soft drinks.

FOODBreakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided by thehotels or local restaurants and are included as part ofthe cost. Students are encouraged to sample the localcuisine as much as possible. Vietnam has a strong foodculture and the variety is endless. There are somewestern food options in Vietnam but they are limitedand often poor quality.

Tap water is unsafe. Bottled water is very inexpensiveand students need to carry some extra money for this.Please advise staff on the health form if yourdaughter has any allergies.


MOBILE PHONESMobile phones may be used, but do ensure you have global roaming and that you are aware ofthe costs involved. Parents should ensure they have investigated and discussed with theirdaughter what to do and who to contact if global roaming does not work properly once inVietnam.

There is free wifi available in all hotels on the tour except the junk. It is recommended thatstudents download viber or whatsapp to make phone calls more economical.

Staff will have a school phone which can be used by students to contact home if they find theirmobile is not working. If a student takes a mobile phone its security is entirely her ownresponsibility.

Making telephone calls is not always easy but it is possible from the hotel rooms. Such calls mustbe paid for by the caller. Calling Australia from Vietnam is quite expensive and can be quitedifficult due to language problems. The postal service is very slow so postcards will arrive afteryou return home. If parents have upsetting news to tell a student it is best passed throughthe PLC staff so they are aware of the situation and can offer appropriate support.

SECURITYAs a developing nation, Vietnam has segments of its population that are very poor. While beggingis discouraged by the government, it is a reality of everyday life in Vietnam. It is advisable to bepolite but firm when responding to beggars. Each individual will need to decide how best torespond to a request.

At times the staff and students may be approached by people attempting to sell small souvenirsat often very inflated prices. Be polite but aware. Bargaining and banter is generally all very goodnatured and part of the experience, but everyone should maintain a friendly smile and patiencewhen conducting transactions. Becoming angry and aggressive is viewed as very bad manners inVietnam.

It is important to be aware of belongings at all times. When in the street keep all spending moneyin a money belt or purse under the clothes. Larger amounts of cash and passports should beleft in the hotel safe where they will be secure. Leaving cash or valuable documents out in roomsis unwise.

Students’ main bags should also be left padlocked in the hotel room. They are highly unlikely tobe touched, but as the wages are very low it is better to be safe than sorry. When in transit,passports must be kept in a bag or money belt worn under the clothes. They should only bebrought out in a secure environment.


ROAD SAFETYOne of the greatest challenges in Vietnam is crossing the road.Their system works, but it is very different to our own approach.In the cities, the traffic seldom stops, moving along at a fairlysteady 30 to 40 km/h. To cross the road one must walk acrossquite slowly but steadily, watching oncoming vehicles. Studentsmust trust the traffic to go around them. It will, as long as yourmovements are predictable. Sudden spurts of speed may wellcause problems so it is important to walk slowly and carefully. Inthe major cities students will be accompanied by staff and aguide when crossing the road. However, all students must befully engaged and focussed when crossing and are not just torely on staff.

OUT AND ABOUTStudents must wear hats and sunscreen at all times. The heat in Vietnam can be very harsh andstudents must be vigilant in protecting themselves from sun stroke. During the day, students willalso need to drink plenty of bottled water. This is particularly important for girls takingDoxycycline.

A day pack should contain such items as a plastic raincoat, sunscreen, insect repellent, first aidkit, tissues, camera and water bottle, a hat, and hand sanitiser. It should have a small padlock(available very cheaply at discount stores) to discourage any attempt at theft and to protect acamera.A money belt must be worn at all times.

CLOTHING AND ETIQUETTEVietnam is a nation that still maintains very conservative values with regards to gender. As aconsequence it is important that clothing is modest and respectful of local customs. No singlettops, low cut tops, tights, short shorts, dresses or skirts are to be worn at any time. Ifstudents are wearing incorrect attire they will be sent back to their rooms to change.

Students must at all times wear closed toe shoes as they will be working outdoors andVietnam tends to have a lot of debris lying around on roads and grounds.

Students must all be aware that throughout the tour, they are representing PLC and mustmaintain the highest standards of behaviour and courtesy at all times. We trust the girls tobehave in a manner which reflects credit on both themselves and the school. Normal school rulesapply in all situations but particularly in relation to illicit drugs, alcohol and smoking.

Any incidents of misbehaviour will be reported to Dr Paul Burgis who will contact parents.


GETTING LOSTStudents will be with a group at most times. Should someone become separated from the party,they should follow the following procedure:

Use your mobile to call a staff member or another student.

or, if this is not possible:

1. Try to return to the last known place where the group were together and then wait therefor at least 20 minutes.

2. Do not panic or wander around trying to find the group. If, after at least twenty minutes,you have not been found:

3. Go to the nearest western style hotel, or a shop where English is spoken.4. Explain that you are lost and ask for help to get back to your own hotel by taxi.5. Each student will be given a hotel card, on arrival, which they are to keep with them at all

times. Show this card to those assisting you.6. Explain that your teacher has arranged for your hotel to pay your taxi fare upon your

arrival there.7. If you are unsuccessful in all of the above, telephone our hotel from a public building, e.g.

a bank or post office. Give the street name if you can.8. Tell the receptionist where you are.9. Ask that a taxi be sent to pick you up and wait there for the taxi to arrive.

PACKING

Luggage and LaundryVietnam can be quite hot and humid in April. Clothing should be modest, light-weight, non-ironand fast drying. Each student must accept responsibility for her own laundry requirements.Shorts/cargo pants and collared T-shirts/t-shirts/long sleeved shirts are fine for most places onthe trip. Pack some old clothes for activities at the Ba Vi Centre.

Remember too, that you are responsible for carrying your own luggage in transit, so packjudiciously and try to travel light. Keep toiletries and cosmetics to a minimum. Complimentarysoap, shampoo and towels will be replaced each day when staying in hotels.


Must Have - Packing ListAll student bags must weigh under 15kg. All students will then be required to carry extraresources for the trip which will be assigned by staff.

1 large soft bag or medium sized suitcase with locks1 daypack/backpack with padlocks. This needs to be big enough to use an overnightbag for Ha Long BayMoney bag / passport belt and small purse or bum-bag for small amounts of cashSmall torch and batteries in case of blackoutsCameraSunglassesTravel clothes line and washing liquid1 Wide brimmed hat – this is essentialBasic first aid kit including anti-malarial medication, sunscreen (roll-on), insect repellent,hand sanitiser and sanitary requirements.Toiletries, wet wipes and tissuesAn electrical adaptor will be necessary to charge cameras, mobile phones, Ipods – 2pronged for AsiaSomething to readJournal and writing materialsGifts for the children in the orphanages2-3 pairs shorts/cargo pants/long pants (must be knee length)6-8 T-shirts or collared polo shirts. NOT singlet tops2 Lightweight sweatshirts or jumpers in case it is cool1 lightweight waterproof jacket or ponchoUnderwearSwimming costume2 pairs closed toe training shoes that you can walk long distances in (i.e. joggers)1 pair sandals or thongs for the shower

Health IssuesDo not forget to bring along any regular medication you may require. Have sufficient quantitiesfor the duration of the stay and keep it in your hand luggage. Please bring small quantities of anyother forms of medication you wish to carry with you. All medication must be carried in theoriginal packaging. You will need to bring a letter of explanation from your doctor, onappropriate letterhead, if you need to carry prescription drugs (including anti-malarialmedication).


Personal First Aid KitAll personal first aid kit suggestions are for your consideration. You must decide what to bringwith you. However if you know you are prone to travel sickness on buses/boats it is importantthat you bring along your own supply of medication to assist with this.

● Maxalon/Stemetil - for vomiting - (prescription required) - but check with your doctor● Antibiotics (prescription required)● Imodium or Lomotil for diarrhoea● Gastrolyte/hydroplyte for dehydration● Band Aids (cuts & scratches) & a crepe bandage (sprains, inflamed joints)● Non- sedating antihistamine if prone to allergies (eg. Telfast, Claratyne)● Wet Ones or similar, in a soft pack x 2 packets● 2 x Tubes of sanitising hand gel● Sunscreen protection factor 30+● Antiseptic wipes to clean scratches etc.● Insect repellent. We suggest using one containing DEET (eg. RID Tropical Strength roll-on) but

please discuss with your doctor● Stingose - (gel)● Steristrips● Chapstick - for lips due to wind and sun● Motion sickness tablets - for plane and coach journeys. Must have if you experience travel

sickness and inform staff prior to the trip● Items needed for personal hygiene● PLC staff will also carry a standard first aid kit containing Panadol and Cold/Flu tablets.

However, it is very important that all students pack their own personal first aid kit


Flight Carry on Requirements


CONTACT NUMBERSPlease contact Ms Isabel Hayek in the first instance if you need to speak to a teacher about thetrip before we go or you need to contact a teacher while your daughter is in Vietnam.

Please contact Mrs Linda Chiba in the first instance if you require a contact person in Australiawhile your daughter is in Vietnam.

If dialling international call ‘0011’International code for Vietnam is +84Area code: Hanoi – 4

Name Number Mobile Email/ Address

Vietnam Contacts

AustralianEmbassy, Hanoi +84 4 831 7755 8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District,

HanoiConifer BoutiqueHotel Hanoi (84-4) 32669999 9 Ly Dao Thanh Street

Hoan Kiem District

Tan Da Resort (84-4) 33880195

Tản Lĩnh-Ba Vì, Hà Nội,

Hoi An BeachResort

(84 - 510)3927011

01 Cau Dai StreetHoi An Beach

Liberty Central (84-8) 38239269

175 - 177- 179 Le THanh Ton StreetDist. 1

PLC Australia Contacts

Isabel Hayek(prior to thetrip and on thetrip)

9704 5690 0417 250 334 [email protected]

Suellen White(Head ofInternationalStudies)

9704 5673 +61458497249 [email protected]

Contact in Vietnam

Isabel Hayek +61417250334 [email protected]


Meta St Croydon NSW 2132T (+612) 9704 5666E [email protected]

Principal: Dr Paul Burgis PhD (UNSW) MEd DipTeach DipDivMiss

VIETNAM SERVICE LEARNING TOUR - plc.nsw.edu.au

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