Travel-Learn Program

When: March 07, 2010, 1:56 pm - March 18, 2010, 1:56 pm (iCal)

Description

Experience the mysterious allure of Indochina while cruising in style and comfort aboard the deluxe m.v. Jayavarman along the “Waterway of the Nine Dragons,” the Mekong River. Travel from the French colonial districts of cosmopolitan Saigon to the sleepy pockets of “Old Asia” in Phnom Penh and encounter a world of tranquil rice paddies, floating villages and pagodas and palaces that recall the glories of bygone kingdoms and empires. Our journey culminates in the jungles of Cambodia amid the magnificent Khmer temples and sculptures of Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most captivating monuments. Special events include an evening of Khmer dance and cuisine, meetings with local residents—including a survivor of the Cambodian “Killing Fields”—and a talk about American-Vietnamese relations in the historic home of former U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge in Saigon.

We've added a new set of dates: March 17-30th

Cost

From $3,195 per person, includes Early Booking Savings of $1000

Contact

For more information, contact Usha Nand Sellers, Program Director, in the Office of Alumni Relations at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 1-800-THE-ALUM (1-800-843-2586) or 617-627-5323.

Itinerary

Days 1 & 2 – Depart U.S.

Depart for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 3 - Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and check into the deluxe Caravelle Hotel, centerally located and offering increible views of the Saigon River. Join fellow program participants this evening for a welcome reception.

We’ll arrive in Siem Reap and check into the hotel, then join program participants this evening for a welcome reception.

Day 4 - Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, meet with a Vietnamese War veteran before setting off on a walking tour to see the Central Post Office, the largest in Vietnam, inspired by late 19th-century French architecture; the Notre Dame Cathedral, a distinct reminder that the French once ruled this country; the Reunification Hall, which once served as the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace; and the War Remnant Museum, which offers a unique perspective on the American war through the eyes of the Vietnamese. Tour the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary underground complex used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War for communication routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters.

Day 5 - Ho Chi Minh City/Cai Be

This morning, gather at the former home of U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge for an engaging lecture by a member of the American Chamber of Commerce on the current relationship between the United States and Vietnam. Following the lecture, transfer to the M.V. Jayavarman to set sail for Cai Be. Upon arrival in Cai Be, board traditional sampans (boats) and navigate narrow canals to an anvient Mandarin house for tea with members of a local family. This evening, enjoy the Captain's welcome cocktain reception and dinner with fellow travel companions.

Day 6 - Cai Be/ Vinh Long

Reboard the sampans today to experience the butsling floating market of Cai Be. Large boats, specializing in one or a few types of produce, act as wholesalers for customers shopping in their smaller boats. This colorful and vibrant atmosphere is set against the backdrop of the large Catholic cathedral on the waterfront.Observe workers in family-run factories making rice paste, drying fruit and fashioning coconut shell handicrafts. After lunch, the sampans will continue to Vinh Long, a town famous for its islands devoted solely to tropical fruit orchards and plantations, for visits to a local brick factory, an ancient Catholic church and the Tam Ho bonsai garden.

Day 7 - Chau Doc

Arrive in Chau Doc, one of Vietnam's bustling river cities. Board a small boat and visit fish-faming houses built on stilts along the Mekong. Continue to a Cham cillage to learn more about eh Muslim heritage of the Cham people and to watch a demonstration of their traditional weaving techniques. Explore the floating market after lunch before returning to the ship to cross the border into Cambodia this afternoon.

Day 8 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Arrive in Phnom Penh and visit the magnificent Royal Palace, built in 1866. Continue to the Silver Pagoda, named for the 5,329 pure silver tiles that cover the floor; its solid-gold Buddha is encrusted with over 2,000 diamonds. Then, we’ll tour the National Museum, which houses some of the finest Khmer art in the world. This morning’s tour concludes with a visit to Wat Phnom, an active pagoda and the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh.Following lunch in a nearby restaurant, we’ll visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crime, housed in the former Khmer Rouge Security Prison 21, where thousands were tortured during Pol Pot’s dictatorship. Tonight, dinner is onboard the ship featuring traditional Khmer cuisine, music and an apsara dance performance.

Day 9 - Kampong Chhnang

En route to Kampong Chhang this morning, visit one of the last silversmith villages along the great Tonle Sap River. Arrive in Kampong Chhang and, after lunch on board the ship, board an excursion boat and travel to the mouth of the Tonle Sap to explore the vast wetlands and the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, the single most important bredding ground in Southeast Asia for globally threatened large waterbirds. This afternoon, navigate the labyrinthe floating community of Kampong Chhang to learn about daily life in Cambodia's wetlands at a floating fish farm and a floating classroom.

Day 10 - Siem Reap/ Angkor Wat

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the deluxe Hotel Sotifel Angkor Phokeethra in Siem Reap. Following lunch in the hotel, tour mystical Angkor Wat, the largest and most breathtaking of the monuments constructed by the Khmer civilization between the ninth and the 14th centuries.

Day 11 - Siem Reap/ Angkor Thom

Following breakfast, visit the National Museum for an in-depth look at the glories of the Angkor civilization and its temples, kings and religions. Then spend the entire day exploring the stunning temples of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Proceed to the South Gate and visit the Baphuon, the Elephant Terraces, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Royal Palace. Continue to Ta Prohm, an impressive 12th-century Buddhist temple that was nearly swallowed up by the jungle before European explorers first stumbled upon it. Still partially obscured by the jungle and crumbling as vast root systems of nearby trees overturn its stones, it stands as a mysterious sight, a silent witness to the encroaching power of the jungle. Tonight, join fellow travel companions for the farewell reception in the hotel.

Day 12 - Siem Reap/ U.S.

Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.

Hanoi Pre-Program Option

Preface this Southeast Asian odyssey with three nights in the ancient Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Stay in deluxe accommodations in the historic, centrally located Melia Hotel, ride on a cyclo through the colorful markets of the “36 Streets” and discover Vietnam’s rich Confucian heritage during a visit to the 11th-century Temple of Literature. Complete details will be provided with reservation confirmation.

Bangkok Post-Program Option

Complement your journey with two nights in Bangkok, one of the most captivating cities in Asia. Marvel at the grandeur of the city’s magnificent temples and palaces, mingle with local shoppers at traditional markets and relax in deluxe accommodations in the heart of the city. Complete details will be provided with reservation confirmation.