By Tri Dung
Early November a group of 26 students and 4 teachers from Northview secondary school, Singapore paid a week long tour to HCMC. The trip was conducted by Sapio & Vietcircle in Hanoi and HCMC. In HCMC they took a city tour and an excursion to Cu Chi and then, a day tour to My Tho, Mekong Delta. The special thing with this group is that the staff of Northview school aimed their students to learning the history of Vietnam and the hardship the Vietnamese had to paid in the past for regaining their independence as well as in framing today’s life. There are; thus, two lecturers in HCMC and one more in My Tho for embedding them with necessary information.
Initially at the History Museum of HCMC the group was briefed by Mr. Phan Xuan Anh, MBA, well-known travel service advisor in HCMC, lecturer at the International school for Tourism and Marketing, HCMC. The 4,000-year long path of national defense and reconstruction was recalled. The resettlement of the people in all places by no means lessened their unity and support for each other especially at risk of danger or being invaded. The nation’s thread binds everyone and all siblings will stand up arm in arm straight forwarding for salvation.
At the Cu Chi tunnels relic located some 65 km NW from downtown Saigon the group first met with Mr. Nguyen Tri Dung, a senior tour guide in HCMC. Named expert on smoke and fire Mr. Tri Dung gave the audience a 45 minute presentation on Vietnam war history threading from the first steps of the French in Indochina to the American involvement in the theory of Domino effect, from the ascalation of wars in Vietnam to the history-making moment of 11:30 hrs, April 30th, 1975 when the NLF troops marched onto the Independence Palace ending the war.
And, on the background, Cu Chi came up with a flame honoring the sacrifices and perseverence despite of land-shaking bombings and tunnel rats' ferocious attacks.
The hardship experienced by the local people was once again highlighted the day after in My Tho, Mekong Delta by Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Deputy Rector of the International school for Tourism and Marketing, HCMC. The mud coloring earliest settlers in the rice granary of Vietnam is now the mud in which the students stood half-legged in water catching fish, learning how to grow rice.
More than normal tourists’ enjoyment, the students learnt about humanity and the teachers were very pleased. Danz, one of the teachers, revealed the target of this kind of tour. Singapore is a high developed country. The young generation now have everything for a modern life. They have cell phones at hand; they have cyber games to be absorbed in. But, they only see sky scrapers blocking the blue sky; they enjoy comforts but know hardly anything about losses and sufferings taken by their parents and previous generations for their happiness today. The schools feel worried and need a change. They contacted and decided to go to Vietnam. They at last selected HCMC and Mekong Delta since this region has lots of things to see and learn in service of the targets aimed.
History and Hardship tour is not a new thing abroad but for the Vietnamese market, it is. Vietnam has been preferred by foreign travel companies thanks to its long history of fighting the invaders and the hard working people along with their efforts in struggles across the country. Through those above-mentioned activities and even military training lessons or field attack rehearsals on request the students will learn about team building, hardship sharing spirits and eventually, love their family, society and nation more.
Vietcircle has been known for its success in mapping and operating this kind of tour. This time saw another fulfillment of commitment for this pioneer company.
For contact:
Vietcircle, 53C Ho Hao Hon, Dist.1, HCMC
Tel: 08.38389069
Website : www.viet-circle.com