How to make a difference?

Looking for an experience you’ll never forget? Would you like to make a difference to

someone else’s life? Leave a legacy? Then join us in Southern Vietnam in the September

Holidays. This exciting immersion gives students in Senior School the opportunity to spend

14 days working on a home building site, assisting at schools and have fun exploring Saigon

and the Mekong Delta.

We work with our partners, the Government of Vietnam, local NGO’s and Red Cross to

re‐house families in need into new homes.

No construction skills are required, it is manual labour. All homes are built under local

professional supervision. There is no homestay in this program, students and staff will stay

in safe, supervised, twin/family share hotel style accommodation with own facilities. It will

be a challenging experience requiring cultural sensitivity.

Saigon

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the

country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors

cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.

From the finest of hotels to the cheapest of guesthouses, the classiest of restaurants to the tastiest of street stalls, the choicest

of boutiques to the scrum of the markets, HCMC is a city of energy and discovery. Wander through timeless alleys to incense-

infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in

buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is

the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass.

My Tho

Gateway to the Mekong Delta, My Tho is the capital of Tien Giang province and an important market town. My Tho's proximity

to HCMC means it's a popular destination for a taste of river life – a flotilla of boats tour the local islands and their cottage

industries daily, though many bypass the town itself. The riverfront makes for a pleasant stroll and the town, including the lively

market, is easily explored on foot.

My Tho was founded in the 1680s by Chinese refugees fleeing Taiwan after the fall of the Southern Ming dynasty. The economy

is based on tourism, fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangoes, longans and citrus fruit.

Nhan Ai School

The Nhan Ai Disability School is a school for Deaf Students run by the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres. St Laurence’s College

has been visiting the School for seven years and have developed friendships with the students and teachers alike. On this visit

we will again be assisting in the classrooms, playing games with the children and learning basic Sign Language. Brush up your

soccer skills these students are masters of the game!

Itinerary (draft)

DAY ACTIVITY

Friday 18/9 6.30 am Meet Brisbane International Airport

MH134/766 - Arrive Saigon 6.45pm

Saturday 19/9 Breakfast at Hotel

River Cruise and visit Vietnam Village & Lunch

Ben Tanh Markets

Great Race late afternoon running into Dinner (Student Expense)

Sunday 20/9 Breakfast at Hotel

9.30am Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral

Tour of Saigon City (Walking Street, Opera House & Post Office)

Lunch at local restaurant

Tour of Independence Palace & War Remnant Museum

Dinner – Cruise on the River

Monday 21/9 Breakfast in Hotel - Check out

AM - Tour of Cu Chi Tunnels

Lunch in transit, Travel to My Tho City

Briefing for Projects & Dinner at local restaurant

DAY AM PM

Tuesday 22/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

My Tho walking tour – Cao Dai Temple

& Tien Giang Museum

Wednesday 23/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

Nhan Ai School & Karaoke

Dinner at Summer Café

Thursday 24/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

Binh Duc Secondary School

Dinner at local restaurant

Friday 25/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

Visit to Past Projects

Lotteria (Student expense)

Saturday 26/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

Free Afternoon

Dinner at local restaurant

DAY ACTIVITY

Sunday 27/9 Breakfast at Hotel

Cai Be floating market/Sampan ride/Coconut factory/Rice noodles/Popped

rice/Kimmy Chocolatier

Dinner at local restaurant.

Itinerary (draft)

DAY AM PM

Monday 28/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

Nhan Ai School

Dinner at Local Restaurant

Tuesday 29/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

Vinh Trang Pagoda & Snake Farm

Dinner – Summer Café

Wednesday 30/9 Breakfast at hotel

Building

4pm Farewell at Building Site

Thursday 1/10 Breakfast in hotel

Travel to Saigon - Shopping

Lunch and fly home

4.40pm MH 759/135

Friday 2/10 Arrive Brisbane International Airport 8.20am

What to do before trip - Checklist

Arrange passport – your passport must have 6 months’ validity left from date of arrival

back in Australia. (Must be valid until 4 April 2021)

Obtain a visa through the Vietnam Embassy – more information given out later

Attend the information afternoon and blessing – 26 August and 9 September in

McElligott Theatre/Chapel of St Laurence O’Toole 4.30pm, compulsory attendance for

both students and parents.

Immersion Costs

*3500 per student

Cost Inclusions

Cost Exclusions

✓ Return economy airfares including all fees,

taxes and surcharges

✓ Private coach transfers with experienced

driver

✓ Taxi’s when required

✓ 13 nights’ accommodation – twin share

✓ 13 breakfasts, 13Lunches and 10 dinners

✓ Travel insurance

✓ 2 Tour shirts and Tour bag

× Personal shopping

× Items not specified in the itinerary or “cost

inclusions”

× Visa

× Snacks and items ordered from room

service

*discount available for return students with SLC Tour bags and Vietnam Tour Shirts.

Payment Schedule

Payment Schedule Due Date Payment Amount

1st Deposit 14th February 2020 $700

2nd Deposit 1th May 2020 $1400

Final Payment 31st July 2020 $1400

NB: All payments are non-refundable. Students must be made aware that if they pull out after

paying the deposit, a refund will only be available if your position is filled by another student.

A payment plan extending payment to the end of 2020 is available, please contact Heather

Batchelor for more information on hbatchelor@slc.qld.edu.au or phone 30101105

Tour Officials Heather Batchelor (Tour Coordinator)

Mark Whiting

What to pack

Casual Clothing

• 6 Shorts

• 6-8 Shirts/T-shirts (no offensive logo’s)

• 1 dress shirt for dinner cruise

• Long pants & Jumper for plane

• Underwear, socks and PJ’s

• Swimming Togs and Beach Towel

• Light Waterproof Jacket

• Lauries Co-Curricular Sport Shirt (Yellow)

• Closed in shoes

• Hat/Cap

Work Clothes (all to be thrown away before returning)

• 3 Work shorts

• 3 Work shirts

• Old pair of sandshoes/joggers

• Work Gloves

Extras

• Lauries Backpack

• Toiletries, Sunscreen, Insect Repellent

• Universal adaptor (electronics)

Important Information

Closed in shoes are to be worn at any time we are walking in the streets; this is whether we

are sightseeing or on the work site. Work clothes will be washed regularly.

*Please ensure items are clearly labelled with permanent marker