SMILE TRAIN: JOURNEY OF SMILES TO VIETNAM
OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2023
Welcome to Smile Train’s Journey of Smiles to Vietnam! Vietnam is a beautiful chaos of colors, sounds, and flavors, and you will have the unique opportunity to experience this vibrant culture through Smile Train’s local partners. All of the sightseeing during your travels will contextualize Smile Train’s work in Vietnam that you will get to see in person.
Smile Train partners with hospitals and surgeons in Vietnam to provide cleft surgeries to those who otherwise would not have access to quality, holistic care. On this journey, you will not only meet health care providers, but also their patients who are receiving care from Smile Train’s partners in Vietnam. This will be an unforgettable experience as you see, firsthand, the impact of Smile Train’s support.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit Smile Train’s partners in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi where you will visit patients’ homes to meet with patients who are receiving cleft palate care from Smile Train’s partners so that you can get a deep understanding of the impact of Smile Train’s partnerships.
- Experience the liveliness and vibrancy of Vietnamese culture through local cuisine as you explore Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Try a variety of authentic and traditional culinary specialties including egg coffee, Cao lầu, pho, and bánh mì.
- In Hanoi, stroll through the Old Quarter, admiring the old French architecture and historic buildings and explore the city’s complex network of alleyways.
- Set sail on a cruise through Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay. Take part in a Tai Chi demonstration on the cruise ship sundeck, or kayak through the Dark and Bright Cave in Halong Bay.
ITINERARY
Monday, October 8 – International Arrivals
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival to Ho Chi Minh City, you will be met at the airport by your driver who will transfer you to your hotel. This afternoon is at your leisure to relax, settle in or start exploring your surroundings!
In the evening, come together as a group for a Welcome Dinner to get to know each other and kick off this week’s journey!
Overnight: Adora Art Hotel
Monday, October 9 – Partner Visits in Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, you will set out for your first site visit of this journey! You will spend the morning at one of Smile Train’s partner hospitals, Nhi Dong 1, to meet with the doctors and surgeons who specialize in cleft palate care.
In the early afternoon, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before this afternoon’s site visit at NHOS, another Smile Train partner in Vietnam.
Reconvene as a group in the evening for a lovely Vietnamese meal together.
Overnight: Adora Art Hotel
Tuesday, October 10 – Patient home visits and exploration of local life
After breakfast at the hotel, the group will drive to have an intimate visit at one of Smile Train’s patient’s homes.
After this memorable experience, the group will enjoy a local lunch prepared for by a host family of a local women’s microfinance association. Enjoy different types of Vietnamese food, well beyond the dishes you would typically find in restaurants frequented by visitors. In addition to a delicious meal, you will learn more about the women members of the microfinance group, the income-generating projects they invest in, and Vietnamese food culture.
Following lunch, you will go on a walking exploration of the Binh Quoi area and see the beautiful old-style buildings and experience the modern day to day culture and lifestyle in the traditional Vietnamese countryside.
In the evening, dinner will be at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Adora Art Hotel
Wednesday, October 11 – Flight to Hanoi – Local Partner Visit
After an early breakfast, you will head to the airport for a local flight to Hanoi. Upon your arrival, you will collect your bags and meet your driver who will bring you to the hotel to check in and settle into your rooms before lunch.
Set out for today’s site visit after lunch. You will be visiting the Hanoi Children’s Hospital to more deeply understand the impact of Smile Train’s partnership.
This evening there is a group dinner arranged at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi
Thursday, October 12 – Home Visits
After breakfast at the hotel, you will get another incredible moment to visit a patient’s home and meet with a family who has directly benefited from Smile Train’s work. Afterwards you’ll enjoy lunch and get the chance to explore Hanoi. You’ll see major landmarks like Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple and more!
Overnight: Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi
Friday, October 13 – Halong Bay Voyage
Today you will transition to the beautiful Halong Bay, the “Descending Dragon” in the Gulf of Tonkin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will check in on the cruise ship, and start the spectacular cruise towards Halong Bay on the Bhaya Classic Cruise.
Overnight: Bhaya Classic Cruises
Saturday, October 14 – International Departures
Wake up in the morning to enjoy aquamarine water of the bay at its best. This morning you can enjoy the peaceful sunrise and a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck. If you’d like, you can also explore the Dark and Bright Cave by kayak.
After an early lunch on the cruise ship, you will disembark and transfer to the airport for your departure if you are traveling back home or continuing to explore Southeast Asia. If you have a late departure this day, we can arrange for a day room for you for an additional cost.
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If you would like to explore this beautiful part of the world, visit the Extend Your Travels page for ideas – the Elevate Destinations team can help you plan a customized itinerary.
