SOHS Vietnam Tour 2018: South Otago High School Vietnam Tour 2018

This blog is designed to keep family and friends updated on the South Otago High School Vietnam tour 2018. I aim to post each evening about the days events. There will be times when I am unable to post, however, I will do me best.

I had an idea to run a Vietnam trip two years ago. It was through my contacts at other schools and hearing the benefits that I decided that this should go ahead.

We held our first meeting in March 2017 where approximately 80 students were interested in the trip. This number was soon narrowed down to 37 (as well as 12 parents and 4 staff).

Fundraising kicked into place soon after and we completed the following activities
- Cheeserolls
- Catering (Clutha Vets & Rotary Club)
- Nothing Naughty Bars
- Christmas Hams

In total, student managed to fund raise over $20,000 through the school and I know that students fund raised for themselves along the way also.

So tomorrow, the 12th of April, we are off. I have attached a summary of what we are doing below.

Thursday 12^th April – Dunedin to Auckland
Friday 13^th April – Dunedin to Singapore where we will stay in the Singapore transit hotel
Saturday 14^th April – Singapore to Hanoi. We will spend three days in Hanoi visiting historic features such as Ho Chi Minh’s house, Hoa Lo Prison as well as a number of markets.
Tuesday 17^th April – Overnight cruise on Halong Bay
Wednesday 18^th April – Fly to Hoi An where we will visit the village of My Lai and learn about the My Lai Massacre which occurred during the Vietnam War.
Saturday 21^st April – we will be visiting Hue where we will take a boat trip down the perfume river
Sunday 22^nd April – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City where we will spend two nights and will visit the Cu Chi tunnels which were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
Tuesday 24^th April – Fly back home via Singapore and Christchurch.

I want to thank a number of people who are able to make this trip possible and I apologise if I have left anyone out.

- Parents who have let their students take part in this amazing trip and who have helped fund raise.
- South Otago High School Board of Trustees for approving the trip
- People in the district who have supported fundraising
- Rod Deverson, Mike Beeby, Leesa Bathgate and Helen Williams for giving up their time as staff to help me.
- David Smith - Hello World (travel agent)
- Shirt sponsors (Soper Electrical, Davidson Tyres and Gold's Bakery).

Photos below of some of the fundraising we did.