A junk cruising on Halong Bay
Palliative Care in Vietnam
1 – 14 March 2013
With extension to Angkor Wat, Cambodia
1 – 16 March 2013
“I am a Palliative Care nurse, but my husband does not work
in the medical field. We both equally enjoyed our Vietnam
experience. We visited so many interesting places that we would
not have experienced with any other tour, all the while learning
about the culture of this beautiful country from our tour guide. I
would recommend this tour for an amazing Vietnam experience.”
Helen and Colin Richards, Palliative Care in Vietnam 2012
Palliative care in Vietnam is still in the early
stages of development at a national level.
An ageing population, plus an HIV epidemic
and growing rates of cancer – particularly
among children - create a pressing need for
effective palliative care practice. A broad
range of professional visits provide excellent
insight into how palliative care is developing
in Vietnam. The professional programme is
balanced by a wide range of cultural visits
with ample opportunity to experience the
beauty and hospitality of Vietnam and its
ancient culture and history.
The tour begins in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi,
which celebrated its 1000th birthday in 2010.
Check into the Hotel Gondola in the morning
and take a walking tour in the afternoon
through the vibrant Old Quarter. Walk through
Hanoi’s ‘36 Streets’ where each street is named
after the produce that was sold there – hence
you may find yourself leaving Silver Street to
enter Lacquer Street via Bamboo and Silk Streets
– and visit the traditional medicine shops. Enjoy
a welcome dinner in the evening.
Rise early to visit the Flower Market, returning to
the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards embark on
a sightseeing tour starting with Ho Chi Minh’s
mausoleum, where thousands of Vietnamese
Watching over the fishing boats
pay their respects daily to the Republic’s
founder. Visit his former Stilt House residence
and One Pillar Pagoda followed by the Temple of
Literature, the site of Vietnam’s old university.
Continue exploring Hanoi in the afternoon
including the Hanoi Opera House and the Hoa
Lo Prison (the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’). Enjoy a
delicious Vietnamese meal in the evening.
Market trader in Hanoi
Cruise through Halong Bay (top); Hoi An harbour (above)
The following day is devoted to a fascinating
series of professional visits, starting with
the National Cancer Hospital palliative care
department, where you will hear a talk giving
some background to palliative care practice
and strategy in Vietnam. In the afternoon meet
with an army doctor who was on the front
line during the Vietnam/US conflict and hear
first hand how traditional pain relief methods
such as acupuncture were used in battle when
morphine supplies ran out.
Rise early the next day to set off for Halong
Bay, where thousands of towering, steep-sided
islands rise from the emerald waters as junk
boats cruise languidly among them. You will
board your own private junk in time for lunch
and spend the afternoon in the bay with ample
time to stop and explore some caves or swim in
the cool water. Disembark as night descends and
check into the Hotel Heritage Halong Bay for the
night.
Next morning fly to Hue, Vietnam’s former
capital and home of the nation’s last royal
family, where you will check into the Huong
Giang hotel. Visit the vast Hue Citadel, which
defended the Imperial City itself, its huge outer
walls still bearing the scars of battle. Take to the
water aboard dragon boats and cruise up Hue’s
Perfume River, with a stop at the elegant Thien
Mu Pagoda to see a daily prayer recital.
The group will split into two to visit the Kim
Long Charity Clinic the following morning to
see the excellent work carried out by its team
of volunteers, providing healthcare and support
free of charge to impoverished people. Learn of
HIV management, counselling and education,
prevention, pain relief and home and rural care.
Continue to Duc Son orphanage, run by Buddhist
nuns, which provides a home and schooling
to over 200 underprivileged children. You will
also pay a visit to Khai Dinh, one of the royal
tombs, and hear a talk on the belief systems
of Vietnam. Enjoy a meal aboard a floating
restaurant in the evening.
Visit the Hue Cancer Hospital the next morning
and tour their Palliative Care Department. In the
afternoon make the scenic drive to Hoi An and
transfer to the Ancient House Hotel.
Hoi An was once a thriving port popular with
European, Chinese and Japanese merchants - a
cultural mix still in evidence today. Take a boat
Japanese Bridge, Hoi An
Laos
Thailand
Vietnam
China
Halong Bay
Hanoi
1
2
3 Hue
Hoi An 4
Cambodia
6 Siem Reap
5
South
China
Sea
Ho Chi Minh City
across Thu Bon River and visit the village of Kim
Bong, as well as visiting some of the surrounding
villages, and discover how the majority of
Vietnam’s population lives, ending up at a family
who cultivate vegetables and herbs. Here you
can try some of their recipes during a lunch that
only uses fresh homegrown ingredients. Spend
the afternoon in Hoi An’s Old Quarter, with its
ancestral homes, Chinese Assembly Halls and
traditional acupuncturists, interspersed with
tailors’ emporiums (Hoi An is renowned for its
fine cloth), lantern and lacquer ware shops. Visit
the Acupuncture Hospital and examine the use
of traditional therapies in palliative care.
Spend the next day at your leisure, exploring
or shopping, or taking time to re-charge in the
lovely town. Alternatively there is the option of
taking a Vietnamese cookery class.
From the relative quiet of Hoi An we continue
south to the hurly burly of Ho Chi Minh City,
or Saigon as it is still often referred to by its
inhabitants. Rise early to transfer to Danang
Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City and
transfer to your hotel. Have the traditional
Vietnamese lunch of pho, the ubiquitous and
delicious noodle soup, and visit the colourful
bustle of Ben Thanh market. Continue onto the
French era Notre Dame Cathedral, the palatial
Central Post Office and Reunification Palace.
Next morning the group will split into two to
visit Cho Ray Hospital and learn about their
cancer care and pain management programmes.
In the afternoon learn more about spirituality
and palliative care in Vietnam at the Daughters
of Charity of St Vincent de Paul Hospice who
work with poor and marginalised communities.
In the evening enjoy a sumptuous Vietnamese
farewell meal at Indochine.
Transfer to the airport next morning to board
your flight back to London, or alternatively join
the extension to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
“We really enjoyed our time on
tour, met some great people… It
was a great cultural experience and
particularly interesting to see how
Palliative Care works in Vietnam.”
Janie Faran, Palliative Care in Vietnam March 2012
City Hall, Ho Chi Minh City (Top); Cycling back from the market,
Ho Chi Minh City (above)
Itinerary 1 – 14 March 2013
1 Mar (Fri) London / Hanoi
Am Depart London on Vietnam Airlines
2 Mar (Sat) Hanoi
D
Am Arrival in Hanoi and transfer to the
Hotel Gondola
Pm Walking tour of Hanoi’s ‘36 Streets’
including the traditional medicine shops
Eve Welcome dinner at Le Tonkin
3 Mar (Sun) Hanoi
B D
Am Visit the Flower Market before
breakfast. Explore Hanoi including
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, One Pillar
Pagoda and the Temple of Literature
Pm Visit the Hanoi Hilton, Opera House and
Hoan Kiem Lake
4 Mar (Mon) Hanoi
B D
Am Visit the National Cancer Hospital
Palliative Care Department. Talk: ‘A
Background to Palliative Care and
Health Care in Vietnam’. Learn of the
National Palliative Care Strategy
Pm Meet with a military doctor and war
veteran and learn of pain relief during
US/Vietnam conflict
5 Mar (Tues) Hanoi / Halong Bay B L D
Am After early breakfast depart for Halong
Bay and board private junk
Pm Cruise through Halong Bay
Eve Transfer to Heritage Halong Bay Hotel
6 Mar (Wed) Halong Bay / Hue
B D
Am Fly to Hue and transfer to hotel Huong
Giang
Pm Guided tour of Hue Citadel. Dragon boat
on Perfume River. Stop at Thien Mu
Pagoda to observe a service
7 Mar (Thur) Hue
B D
Am Visit the Kim Long Charity Clinic and
learn of HIV management, counseling
and education, prevention, pain relief
and home and rural care – group split
into two
Pm Continue to Duc Son and visit the
orphanage and Khai Dinh. Talk: ‘Belief
Systems in Vietnam’
Eve Dinner at Huong Giang floating
restaurant
8 Mar (Fri) Hue / Hoi An
B
Am Visit Hue Cancer Hospital and their
Palliative Care Department
L
Pm Scenic drive to Hoi An and transfer to
the Hotel Ancient House
9 Mar (Sat) Hoi An
B L
Am Take boat across Thu Bon River and visit
Kim Bong village, artisans’ villages and
surrounding countryside
Pm Lunch at a local herb and vegetable
farm. Visit Acupuncture Hospital and
learn of traditional medicines and pain
control. Visit Hoi An’s Old Quarter
10 Mar (Sun) Hoi An
B
Am Full day at leisure or take an optional
cookery class
11 Mar (Mon) Hoi An / Ho Chi Minh City B L
Am Early flight to HCMC. Transfer to the
hotel Asian Ruby
Pm Visit Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame
Cathedral, the Central Post Office and
Reunification Palace.
12 Mar (Tues) Ho Chi Minh City
B D
Am Visit Cho Ray Hospital and learn of their
Cancer Care and Pain Management
programmes – group split into two
Pm Visit the Daughters of Charity St Vincent
de Paul Orphanage
Eve Farewell dinner at Indochine
13 Mar (Wed) Ho Chi Minh City
Am At leisure
Pm Depart to airport to fly to London via
Paris or take extension to Angkor Wat
14 Mar (Thur) London
Am Arrive London
B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner
3 nights Hanoi - 1 night Halong Bay - 2 nights Hue - 3 nights Hoi An -
2 nights Saigon - 2 nights Angkor Wat (Extension)
NB Please note all itineraries in Vietnam are subject
to change according to local conditions
D
B
Setting up shop
Extension to
Angkor Wat, Cambodia 13 Mar (Wed) Ho Chi Minh City
/ Siem Reap
Cambodia is a nation with a proud ancestry
in the form of the Khmer Empire, which at its
zenith covered much of modern South East Asia,
leaving as its legacy the magnificent structures
at Angkor. At its peak Angkor is thought to have
contained upwards of a million people, making
it the largest city in the world at that time.
Fly to Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel.
After settling in visit the city of Angkor Wat,
which represents one of humankind’s most
astonishing architectural achievements, and the
romantic ruins of Ta Prohm, still intertwined
with enormous tree roots hundreds of years old.
The following morning visit Angkor Thom and
the Bayon.
There is also plenty of time at leisure for you to
relax or explore the ruins further, with options
to visit the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake or
to take a balloon ride over the temples.
“This was an excellent tour and
I would thoroughly recommend
it. It has really improved my
understanding of the history of
this corner of the world”
Dr Pankaj Amin, Vietnam and Cambodia 2009
Extension Itinerary
Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia
Am Fly to Siem Reap and transfer to the
Hotel Angkor Paradise
Pm Tour of Angkor Wat Temple complex
and Ta Prohm
14 Mar (Thur) Angkor Wat
B D
Am Explore Angkor Thom and the Bayon
Pm At leisure
15 Mar (Fri) Angkor Wat /
Ho Chi Minh City
B
Am At leisure
Eve Depart Angkor Wat for Ho Chi Minh
City. Transfer to flight to London
16 Mar (Sat) London
Am Arrive London
NB Please note all itineraries in Cambodia are
subject to change according to local conditions.
B
D
The Bayon at Angkor
Tour Leader
Dr Yvonne Luxford is the CEO of Palliative Care
Australia. She works with government, health
professionals, service providers and advocacy
bodies to achieve high quality health care which
is accessible and culturally appropriate. Yvonne
was previously Manager of Policy and Advocacy
for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians,
SEO of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health
Medicine, and a university lecturer in health
related subjects. She has also held positions
on various boards across sectors including
health, higher education, housing and childcare.
Yvonne has particular interests in Indigenous
health, chronic disease prevention and equity
of access to healthcare and is keen to assist
the development of strong links with other
countries, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Project Details
Kim Long Charity Clinic provides free health
care for underprivileged communities in two
of the poorest provinces in the country. The
problems facing these communities include
unclean water, lack of proper sanitation and
lack of access and availability of drugs and other
treatments. The clinic provides consultations,
health education, medication, HIV/AIDS
counselling, ultrasound, x-rays and ECG.
Duc Son Orphanage was founded by a Buddhist
nun in 1987 for a few children. Today, the
orphanage provides a loving and secure home
for more than 200 children and babies who have
been orphaned, as well as providing schooling
for all of the children in its care.
CPD
It is possible to gain CPD/PDP points on this
tour through the professional visits and
talks. There are ten hours available on this
tour. If you wish to apply please contact us.
The fully-inclusive cost of the
tour is £2,650.00
The ground only cost of the tour
is £1,892.00 / AUS $3,216.00
(excluding international flights and
airport transfers)
The cost includes:
• Economy flights on Vietnam Airlines - direct
flight between London Heathrow and Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City and London via Paris
The additional cost for a Deluxe Economy
upgrade is £395.00. Business class fares
available
• UK airport tax
• Pre-trip briefing meeting and comprehensive
briefing notes
• The services of a tour leader
In Vietnam the cost includes:
• 11 nights’ accommodation in twin or doublebedded
rooms with private facilities in medium
grade hotels
The single room supplement is £295.00
• Half board throughout the majority of the tour
(breakfast and lunch or dinner)
• A full programme of professional visits as per
the itinerary
• A full programme of cultural tours as per the
itinerary
• Admission fees where applicable
• Full-time English speaking national guide in
Vietnam
• All transport and airport taxes in Vietnam
• All tips
The cost excludes:
• Meals not mentioned
• All personal extras such as water, tips, porterage,
laundry, innoculation fees and drinks
• All optional excursions, tours and visits
• Travel insurance
• Visas
The cost of the extension is £395.00
/ AUS672.00 and includes:
• Economy flights on Vietnam Airlines between
Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap
• Two nights accommodation in twin or doublebedded
rooms with private facilities in a
medium grade hotel
• Half board
• All cultural excursions and tours as per the
itinerary
Due to the nature of the tour places are
strictly limited.
About Us
To travel with us is to dig below
the surface, revealing the deeper
destination. Of course, you will visit
the great historical sites; marvel at
the wonders of architecture and
engineering; be moved by the riches
of culture and art; and experience
the most spectacular landscapes in
the world. What we also do is make
sure that you see the country as it is
today, giving you privileged access
that independent travel and other
tour companies rarely get close to.
We give you a variety of experiences,
from the sublime to the humble, in
the company of intelligent, curious,
like-minded people. And while we can
be worthy, we also make sure that you
have a lot of fun.
“What an absolutely
brilliant trip – each day
was amazing and I had
such a wonderful time.”
Annie Dixon, Vietnam and
Cambodia tour 2009
Jon Baines Tours (London)
1A Salcott Road, London, SW11 6DQ
Tel: +44 (0) 207 223 9485/ 5618
Fax: +44 (0) 207 228 7290
Email: info@jonbainestours.co.uk
www.jonbainestours.co.uk
Jon Baines Tours (Melbourne)
PO Box 68, South Brunswick,
Victoria 3055
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9343 6367
Email: info@jonbainestours.com.au
www.jonbainestours.com
Opera House, Hanoi (top); China Beach; Harvest time;
Ta Prohm, Cambodia (above)
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