Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam! After you pass through customs, your Infuse Program Leader will meet you in the airport arrival hall to warmly welcome you to this exciting student trip to Vietnam.

Transfer to the hotel to check in and freshen up. Once settled in, you’ll take to the streets for an introduction to Vietnam. Dinner will be at a local restaurant in the Old Quarter of Hanoi - your first Vietnamese meal!

Get ready, today will be jam-packed with everything Vietnamese in Hanoi! Through the day, you'll immerse yourself in the rhythms of life in Vietnam and explore the captivating city of Hanoi, which marked its 1,000th anniversary in October 2010. Renowned as one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful cities, Hanoi boasts a vibrant blend of French colonial and traditional Vietnamese architecture, charming tree-lined streets and picturesque lakes. Discover iconic landmarks such as the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the infamous Hoa Lo Prison (known as the "Hanoi Hilton"), where many POWs were held during the war. Dive deeper into the diverse yet unified culture of Vietnam.

We'll carry on into the night, soaking up the evening atmosphere and savouring the world-famous delicious street food as we go.

We say goodbye to Hanoi and hello to the Vietnamese countryside. Today on the Vietnam student trip, we’ll travel to the Tu Do Commune villages, where we’ll be based for the next week as we focus on working on service abroad programs.

As we travel outside the capital, be sure to look out the window as the landscape is truly breathtaking! Watch the city transform into mountainous cliffs towering above lush rice fields filled with villagers working away.

The Tu Do Commune villages are located inside Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve and are located off the beaten path in areas rarely visited by tourists.

After a 3.5-hour drive, arrive at the village and have lunch at the home of a local family. Say xin chào to your host family, get to know them and hear their stories before settling down for the night under the stars.

Rise early to the smells of freshly cooked breakfast and look out at the mist drifting over the stream running through the village. As the day begins on this chapter of the Vietnam student trip, you'll start to feel the remoteness of your surroundings and gain a deeper appreciation for the simplicity of village life.

Go to your service site to assist the community with an ongoing community-initiated project. All service abroad programs have been designed by a community-based association to either support the protection of the area’s natural and cultural resources, create alternative income opportunities or improve the infrastructure of the surrounding villages.

Over the next week, you’ll immerse yourself in the village and work on your assigned service abroad program each day. After completing your service work for the day, you will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding rice fields or simply relax, swim at the nearby waterfall and enjoy the scenery before dinner time. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community during your service abroad program.

During your stay in the village, you'll engage in immersive activities like cooking with your host family, playing friendly volleyball matches with the local team, participating in weaving and handicraft sessions and helping with crop and vegetable planting.

On the final night in the village, end your time with a community celebration showcasing traditional Muong culture through song and dance.

Say goodbye to your host families as we depart for Hanoi to enjoy an evening back in the capital. Along the way, enjoy ice-cold fruit shakes, delicious bowls of noodle soup and other wonderful northern Vietnamese delicacies.

This afternoon on the student trip to Vietnam, we’ll take on a culinary adventure and sample some of the most well-known and exotic local delicacies in Hanoi. This includes silkworm, egg coffee, deep-fried crickets, fruits only available in Vietnam and famous noodle dishes that have wowed Anthony Bourdain, Barack Obama and so many more! As you taste your way through Hanoi, enjoy the rambling streets, busy markets and old-world charm of this bustling city.

In the evening, we’ll transfer to the train station for our overnight journey to Sa Pa, known for its romanticism and beauty.

Arriving in Lao Cai early in the morning, your group will hop in the private bus and begin the drive to Sa Pa, a picturesque town in northern Vietnam, known for its stunning terraced rice fields, rugged mountain landscapes and rich cultural diversity. Visit the vibrant Sa Pa market and grab a few colourful and unique souvenirs for those back home before beginning the trek to your homestay.

Then, we will begin the trek of a lifetime along the Muong Hoa River! On this part of the Vietnam student trip, we’ll spend 3 days traversing this beautiful mountain landscape, passing through remote villages and spending each night in homestays. We guarantee it will be an experience you will never forget!

The first section trek is about 5 km on mainly flat terrain and will take about 3 hours. First up on the trail is the Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages, home to the Black H’mong people known for their traditional black and indigo clothing. Along the way, take in the picturesque views and make sure to stop for some photo ops!

After lunch, continue the trek to Ta Van village. Take in the sights of the terraced fields and the wooden houses of the Zay people. Arrive at Ta Van in the evening, say xin chao to our host family and spend the evening enjoying a delicious homemade dinner with them.

After a scrumptious breakfast with your host family, it’s time to say goodbye and hit the road. We’ll first stop at a local H’Mong school in Su Pan village to facilitate group games and a cultural exchange with local students and learn about the unique culture of H’Mong people.

Then, we’ll continue the trek until reaching Ban Ho village in Seo Trung Ho Valley. The total trek is approximately 12 km and is filled with more incredible scenery.

Approximately 24 km from Sa Pa, there is a vast, flat valley encircled by mountains and hills—Ban Ho Valley, home to the Tay ethnic group. The valley is divided into 3 areas: Ta Trung Ho, Seo Trung Ho and Hoang Lien, where the Mong, Dao, and Tay people reside. The Muong Hoa River meanders through the village, supplying fresh water for 2 annual rice and bean crops, adding to the valley’s picturesque and mysterious allure. The Tay people are skilled in rice farming and lead a settled lifestyle. Their villages are large, often comprising hundreds of households, with houses built on stilts in unique, impressive architectural styles.

Savour the last cups of Vietnamese coffee brewed by your very own lovely host father, breathe in a lung full of fresh air and say your final goodbyes to your host family.

Today, you'll finish your trekking adventure, hike out of the village and meet your bus around midday. We’ll then take a private bus back to Hanoi, with the journey lasting approximately 6 hours.

Today, our student trip to Vietnam heads to Ha Long Bay, a hidden gem with its towering limestone pillars and small, forest-topped islets emerging from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, Ha Long Bay's scatter of islands, dotted with wind and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam's number one charming destination.

Once there, climb aboard a traditional "Chinese Junk boat” for a cruise among the jagged limestone karsts. Have some fun exploring Sung Sot cave and swimming at Titop Beach, before settling in for a night under the stars.

Continue your picturesque boat journey around Ha Long Bay, with opportunities to kayak through Luon Cave and visit Bai Tu Long Bay and Fire Island, where you can spot exotic birds, monkeys, and antelope.

Return to Hanoi in time to enjoy a traditional water puppet show, an ancient Vietnamese art form that dates back a thousand years.

These next few days on the Vietnam student trip are a bit different - it’s where all of the learning and planning by the group comes to a head! The tables are turned and now it’s up to you, the students, to take charge of the itinerary! As a group, you will decide where to go, what to do, where to eat and how to get around. The options are limitless!

All adventures must come to an end and today is the last day on your student trip to Vietnam. You’ll spend your last day in Hanoi, reflecting on your experiences and the issues you engaged with throughout your service abroad program.

As a final discussion, you’ll participate in an impactful closing ceremony that allows you to capture the memories and learning moments of the student trip to Vietnam to process and share with your communities back home.

After some final group photos, it's time to say goodbye as the group heads to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to head home. We genuinely hope your time spent here, the experiences you’ve shared and the things you’ve reflected on during this service abroad program will stay with you for a lifetime.