Vietnam is great for incentive and/or conference groups as it’s a relatively new destination in terms of popularity, it’s quite easy to get to, and great for extension opportunities before or after the group trip.
In 2010, I escorted a group of 300 from New Zealand to Vietnam.
Vietnam is one of my most favourite destinations. I love the people – they are on the whole, very, very friendly and always want to come and practise their English with you. The food is fantastic, relatively healthy food although still easy to gain weight!
The beaches are magnificent, it’s easy and cheap to get around and hotels are of a high standard. If you have never been there, get there now….before it’s a tourist mecca like Thailand!
Here is the day by day itinerary that I organised
Day 1. We arrive in Ho Chi Minh City.
In the morning and transfer to the Sheraton Saigon (a wonderful hotel with amazing service). This afternoon we visited the Reunification Palace which used to be the Presidential Palace of the South Vietnamese government.
The famous picture of a North Vietnamese tank smashing through it’s gates signalled the reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule and the end of one of the bloodiest conflicts in history.
We also offered an optional tour of the War Museum which is where you get to see confronting photos of the events and there are also a lot of military equipment such as tanks, aircraft and jeeps that were used by the American Forces.
Alternative tour was a drop off at the Ben Thanh Markets which are bustling markets selling everything and anything you could possibly want. Warning – they are very aggressive in their selling tactics and don’t forget to bargain.
Easy tourists have been known to get their purchase in a certain coloured bag so other stall holders know you are easy!
Tonight is an early dinner at a local Vietnamese Restaurant.
Day 2. This morning everyone is fitted with an Ao Dai outfit.
These are the Vietnamese traditional outfits and very nice touch for a gala dinner! They are quite flattering on all body shapes with lots of different colours to choose from.
We then embark on a day trip to the Mekong Delta. Known as the “Rice Basket” of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is an important region both economically and culturally for the country as it is the world’s largest exporting region of rice.
Home to 15 million Vietnamese, this is a world of waterways, backwaters and canals.
On arrival, we do a tour of the Mekong by boat visiting offshore islands and seeing how the locals live and farm their rice.
We also have a ride in a Sampan Boat - what the locals use for transport. Some of the waterways are very narrow and it’s like rush hour traffic….a sight to behold and experience!
Day 3. This morning, we had a breakfast conference session
with a Vietnamese Viet Cong survivor to talk about his experiences in the war. Then we departed to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels.
The tunnels are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country.
Used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon cahes and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters.
You can go down into the tunnels (made wider for Westerners), see their booby traps, shoot an AK47 or Machine Gun etc. Whether you are interested in war or not, it’s a pretty remarkable place to see how the Viet Cong lived and hid throughout the war.
Tonight we have a ”dine around adventure” with everyone having the choice of lots of local restaurants specialising in Vietnamese, Italian or French cuisine. There are some fabulous restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City!
Day 4. Today was a free day
with either a spot of shopping and sightseeing on their own or they had the option of doing a Cooking Schools, Vespa Rides or taken back to the markets.
Tonight we had spectacular Gala Dinner at an old Palace. Everyone dressed up in their Ao Dai costumes and were transported there by 150 cyclos in a row. Cyclos are much like a Thailand Tuk Tuk but with a man peddling, not motorised! It was quite a spectacle and a great branding exercise with the cyclo rider wearing the company’s t-shirt.
We enjoyed a Fashion Show with top models from Vietnam and abroad, a puppet show (very famous in Vietnam), and then a DJ with current pop/rock/80’s music for dancing. A great night for all was had!
Day 5. The group then either headed home or extended on to other parts of Vietnam and Asia.
Comments:
Ho Chi Minh City is very different to other parts of Vietnam and try to see more of this amazing country.
Hoi An which is in the middle of the country on the coast is a great little town which is a World Heritage listed town. It has a wonderful white sand beach, lots of little cafes and restaurants, boutique shops and it’s also where you go to get all of your clothes made very cheap. Definitely a must see.
Hanoi – The capital of Vietnam. Very different to Ho Chi Minh City, and is known as the “Paris of the Orient”. Filled with lakes, tree lined boulevards and French designed villas, it has a very different style of life to that of the south. See the Puppet show – well worth the few dollars it costs. See Ho Chi Minh himself in his mummified state and go on a motorbike taxi – it’s exhilarating!
Halong Bay – Another World Heritage listed site. It’s a very tranquil place with over 1000 islands. Staying overnight on a traditional Junk boat is a must!
By organising and escorting this group I gained invaluable knowledge about travelling to this beautiful part of the world. Use my knowledge to enhance your experience as a group or for individual travel arrangments.
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