|
Revised
Program Itinerary:
Hong
Kong, Hanoi,
Halong Bay, Hue, Nha Trang,
Ho
Chi Minh City,
Bangkok,
Sukhothai, Chiang Mai
and Bangkok
We
have revised our itinerary slightly. We have decided to go to Halong
Bay in place of Ko Samet. Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful
places in Southeast Asia. We have also added a day at the beach
in Nha Trang. If you want to go to Ko Samet after
the tour, it is easy to do from Bangkok.
The
following is a representative account of places to be visited and
not a contractual commitment. It may not be possible to visit every
place mentioned here. If events make any part of our itinerary untenable,
we have a very experienced staff who can make adjustments to our
route before or during the tour.
PRE-TOUR
ORIENTATION
Prior
to departure we will have at least one orientation session for EMU
and regional students that will help us to create a community of
culturally aware traveling scholars. We'll
get acquainted with each other and learn the ground rules for the
Vietnam-Thailand Cultural History Tour and our unique approach to
study and travel. There will also be essential introductions to
the academic subject areas and the interdisciplinary framework we
will use throughout the program. Specific information on other program
meetings, orientation and travel arrangements will be available
after enrolling. For other students we will have to do this through
the internet.
FLIGHT
TO HONG KONG
June
20
|
|
|
HONG
KONG
June
21 -
23
HONG
KONG is an impressive example of Western economic development
in the Third World. Ever since the British forced the Chinese
to grant them control over the Island and part of the mainland
around Kowloon in the 19th century, Hong Kong has been under
Western influence. The Colony was returned to China in 1997
by an agreement reached in 1984.
Here
we will get acquainted with each other, have an intensive
orientation to the places we will visit, and have our first
classes.
|
|
|
|
We
will attempt to discover how HONG KONG has been able to make
such incredible steps in modernization and try to assess the
changes being made by the citizens of HONG KONG. We will ride
the Star Ferry across the beautiful harbor from Kowloon to HONG
KONG Island and then take the Peak Tram to the top of the Peak
for a view o f the harbor and city. Naturally, we will visit
the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Museum of Art. |
|
VIETNAM
|
|
HANOI
June
24 - 27
HANOI,
the present capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
does not have the night life of Ho Chi Minh City, but there
is a quiet charm to its boulevards, parks and lakes. Although
we will visit some 11th-century sites such as the One Pillar
Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, which was the site
of Vietnam's first university, our major concentration will
be on the Hanoi of Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam War. We plan
to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with its glass sarcophagus,
the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Army Museum with models of the
battle of Dien Bien Phu and the taking of Saigon, and the
"Hanoi Hilton," the prison where American POWs were held
during the war. We will also visit the Long Bien Bridge
to reflect on the determination of the Vietnamese to keep
it in service under intensive bombing by the U.S. In
the evening we will enjoy a performance of Hanoi's famous
water puppets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
HALONG
BAY
June 28
In
the afternoon, we will travel by bus to Halong Bay through
the scenic countryside of the Red Rver delta. Halong
Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive sights. The
next day, we will embark on a boat for an exploration of the
Bay. This
exciting half day cruise will provide us a fantastic view
of the picturesque scenery of hundreds of limestone mountains
which rise from the water. Along the way, we will enjoy
a visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath the towering
cliffs of the islands. In the evening we will return
to Hanoi for a night train to Hue.
|
|
|
|
HALONG
BAY -
NIGHT
TRAIN TO HUE
JUNE 29
|
|
HUE
June
30 - July 1
HUE,
known to Americans for its bloody battle in the Tet Offensive
of 1968, was capital of Vietnam from 1802-1945 under 13 emperors
of the Nguyen Dynasty and is considered one of the cultural
centers of Vietnam. We will visit several of the splendid
tombs of these emperors, the Citadel which contains the Forbidden
Purple City for the private lives of the emperors, the Imperial
Museum, and the famous Thien Mu Pagoda. From here we hope
to travel to the DMZ and to some of the American bases used
to interrupt the infiltration of goods and men along the Ho
Chi Minh Trail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MY
LAI / QUANG NGAI
July
2
The
next day we will travel by bus to My Lai (Son My), the site
of the moving Memorial those killed in the My Lai Incident
in the Vietnam War..
|
|
|
|
NHA
TRANG
July
3 - 5
On
the entrance to the town of Nha Trang we will see some very
interesting ancient Cham temples and towers near the colorful
port. Day 12 - Nha Trang We also hope to be able to visit
the Pasteur Institute founded by Dr. Yersin, a Frenchman who
is still beloved by the Vietnamese. The remainder of the day
will be free for a well earned rest on the white sandy beach
which runs along the whole length of the city.
|
|
HO
CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
July
6- 9
SAIGON
was the capital of South Vietnam from 1956-1975. After the
North Vietnamese took the city in 1975, its name was changed
to honor the communist-nationalist founder of North Vietnam.
Our sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the Reunification
Palace which was the former residence of the President of
South Vietnam until end of 1975. Close to the palace are some
striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame
Cathedral and the old Saigon Post Office. We also visit the
War Remnant Museum to see how some of the Vietnamese view
the U.S. participation in the war .
|
|
|
|
We
will make an excursion out of town to the ornate Cao Dai Temple.
This religion, a curious combination of Confucianism, Taoism
and Buddhism, was founded in 1923 and today has over 2 million
members. We will attend the noon service when the followers
fill the hall wearing very colorful robes. Afterwards we continue
to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network
constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle
for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodations,
and schools; and were used as a military base for the Vietcong
in the war. |
|
|
|
|
THAILAND
|
|
|
BANGKOK
June
10 - 13
Our
stay in BANGKOK will start with a walking tour of the area
of Ko Ratanakosin. We will begin at Lak Muang, the City Pillar,
which is a shrine enclosing a wooden pillar built in 1782
to represent the founding of the new capital of BANGKOK by
Rama I. From there we will walk to Wat Pho, the oldest and
largest Wat (a Buddhist temple complex) in Bangkok with its
large reclining Buddha representing the passing of the Buddha
into nirvana. Next we will see the Wat Phra Kaew, called the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and Grand Palace, which is now
used only for ceremonial purposes. On
this excursion we will also visit the Wat Mahathat, a monastery
and center for the largest Thai monastic sect.
We
will also examine Thai art at the National Museum, visit the
Royal Barges, and take a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River.
|
|
CHIANG
MAI
July
14 - 16
CHIANG
MAI, founded in 1296, is Thailand's second largest city
and was once part of the independent Lanna Thai Kingdom.
Today it is Thailand's gateway to the northern tribes. We
will visit two of its wonderful temples, one containing
the famous Crystal Buddha and the other the 1500 year old
Phra Singh Buddha. We will then visit the National Museum,
which houses many Buddha images. In the evenings we hope
to see performances of hill tribe dances.
|
|
|
|
|
SUKHOTHAI
July
17 - 18
From
Chiang Mai we will travel to the ruins of one of the earliest
capitals of Thailand, SUKHOTHAI. Here we will visit the
important temples of the old district and the Ramkhamhaeng
National Museum, which offers an introduction to SUKHOTHAI'S
history and culture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
BANGKOK
July
19 - 20
We
will return to Bangkok for our final classes and
preparations for our return home.
|
|
End
of Tour
Flight Home to U.S.A.
July 21, 2008
to U.S.A.
EMU
Home
| APA Home
| Cultural History
Tours Home
Academic
Programs Abroad
Eastern Michigan University
103 Boone Hall
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Voice: 734.487.2424 or toll free 1.800.777.3541
FAX: 734.487.4377
E-mail : Programs
Abroad
|
|
