A Study Tour to Vietnam

Exploring natural wonders, cultural events, Vietnam’s history, its traditions, and pluralistic religions. The tour will begin from Saigon, the south of Vietnam, to My Tho, Danang city, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long bay.

Study Tour Itinerary

Day 1 (01/02/2025): Washington-Vietnam

In the morning (EST), take the flight from a Washington DC area's airport to Vietnam.

Day 2 (01/03/2025): Arrival in Saigon City

Connecting flight in an Asian country and arriving in Saigon city. Welcome and stay overnight in Saigon.

Day 3 (01/04/2025): Mekong Delta- Vinh Long Homestay (breakfast, lunch and dinner-‘BLD’)

Breakfast at hotel.

Depart in the morning to Cai Be tourist harbor. Then, You come to Tân Phong island for biking/walking on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses. On the way, we can make some stops to see how they wave the dried water- hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes, stop at local garden enjoy some cups of tea when listening to the traditional music .

Then, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Lunch can be served at homestay.

After lunch, check in at Út Trinh / Út Quỳnh / Út Bình homestay. Have biking trip around the local village.

Have a fresh shower before cooking some special dishes with the members of local family. We’ll enjoy dinner & over night at homestay.

Day 04 (01/05/2025): Vinh Long- Saigon City (BLD)

Have a breakfast and check-out for a walk along the village to enjoy the fresh air in the morning & arrive the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop- rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea.

Boat trip to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Our boat will go along the floating village. We will see how to farm catfish on Mekong river.

Also, we can visit Vinh Long market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables... Return to Vinh Long boat station. Back to Saigon City.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 05 (01/06/2025): Saigon Tour-Immersion experience (BLD)

Have breakfast at Hotel. Start the trip to:

• Saigon - Visiting the former Presidential Palace and a Blind After lunch, city tour to visit:
• Notre Dame Cathedral – a French-built cathedral occupies scenic Paris Square in the heart of Saigon city.
• Saigon Old Post Office - The Central Post Office has long become a prominent feature of
• Ben Thanh market, then lunch

Visit an orphan house/center of charity. Dinner with music entertainment on a cruise.

Day 06 (01/07/2025): Saigon- Da Nang-Hoi An Ancient Town (BLD)

After breakfast in hotel. Transfer to Danang.

• Arrive in Danang,
• Son Tra Peninsula with famous Lady Statue Buddha
• Marble Mountain: The five 'mountains' are named after the five foundational elements: metal, water, wood, fire, earth. Have lunch.
• My Son Holy Land: My Son is a center for spirituality and worship during the reign of the Champa Kingdom.

Transfer to Hoi An

Move to the theme park to have dinner and enjoy the show majestic and splendid Hoi An memories.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 07 (01/08/2025):  Hue City (B,L,D)

Day 08 (01/09/2025): Hue-Our Lady of Lavang, and Phong Nha Cave, Quang Binh (BLD)

• Imperial Citadel: the forbidden city- royal capital of Nguyen dynasty of
• Khai Dinh King tomb - the most beautiful of Hue’s royal
• Overnight in Hue

Day 09 (01/10/2025): Quang Binh– HANOI (BLD)

After breakfast at hotel, depart to Dong Hoi, Quang Binh

On the way, stop by at DMZ Vietnam war and national shrine of Our Lady of Lavang.

Arrival to Quang Binh. Have lunch and depart to Phong Nha Cave,

Transfer to Xuan Son ferry and take a boat trip on the Son river to Phong Nha Cave and star exploring Phong Nha Cave. An immortal place with some shape of the beautiful stalagmites and listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2023.

Transfer to airport for the flight to HA NOI. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10 (01/11/2025):  : HANOI CITY-HA LONG BAY (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel. 

We travel to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Area of natural wonder. “Dragon descending to the sea” as it is known in Vietnamese. Picturesque Ha Long Bay has more than 1.000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes.

Upon arrival at Ha Long Bay, we embark on a boat trip to cruise discovering this magnificent UNESCO World Wonder. This is a great journey among surreal islands rising from a tranquil emerald sea.

Enjoy a delicious seafood dinner on board as the boat cruises towards South East Halong Bay, passing by beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

The boat heads back to harbor and disembarking at Tuan Chau Marina harbor. Back to Hanoi city. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 11 (01/12/2025): Hanoi (All three meals)

After breakfast. Car and tour guide pick and transfer to visit:

• Free at leisure or shopping in the
• Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university constructed in
• Hoan Kiem Lake - was already considered the most beautiful lake in
• Ngoc Son Temple - A temple on the island of Ngoc Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, built in the 19th century.
• Visit and attend the mass at Hanoi Cathedral – Joseph and Saint Joseph Seminary of Hanoi.

After that, transfer to Noi Bai airport for the flight back to Washington DC. End of service!

Download Itinerary

Study Tour Cost

$2000 Ground + $2200 round trip flight = $4200

Travel Dates

Jan. 2-12, 2025
The registration deadline is October 30, 2024

Vietnam Application

Questions?

For more information, contact Fr. Bao Nguyen, S.J., Ph.D. at 410-617-7088 or bqnguyen@loyola.edu.