CULTURAL IMMERSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
June 15 - July 5, 2025
LENGTH 21 Days
COMPLETING GRADES 9-12
SERVICE HOURS 25 - 30
ARRIVE Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN)
DEPART Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN)
TUITION $7,595
Journey through Southeast Asia with us this summer! Experience colorful Hanoi, the dramatic Halong Bay, majestical Angkor Wat, and the enchanting Luang Prabang. This three week adventure takes high schoolers to some of the best sights of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. As part of our travels, we work alongside our local partner on meaningful community service projects to help local villages and communities with ongoing projects. If you would like to experience multiple countries and unique cultures in Asia this summer, this trip is for you!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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TRIP OVERVIEW
Activities
Explore: Hoi An, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Binh Lieu, Ho Chi Minh City, Siam Reap, and Luang Prabang
Visit: Angkor Wat Temple and the Royal Citadel
Overnight Boat Trip: Halong Bay
Bike: To explore Siam Reap
Wander: Through local markets and stalls selling handmade crafts and fresh produce
Jungle Trek: Explore bamboo forests and hidden waterfalls in Binh Lieu
Service
A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work carried out could include some of the following:
Our first service project is a community development initiative focused on promoting sustainable tourism in Binh Lieu, a mountainous district about 1 ½ hours from Halong Bay. The area is surrounded by mountains, jungles, terraced fields, and small local communities and villages. We will work alongside the locals helping build traditional rammed earth houses and other basic construction tasks.
Our second service project will take place in Siam Reap, Cambodia. Under the direction of the locals, we get involved in community development projects that may include basic construction tasks such as building village roads, painting schools, building water wells, or constructing drainage for local people. Exact service projects change year to year depending on the needs of the communities we partner with.
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION
The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, additional in-country flights, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHOWERING
The group will be staying in a combination of private lodges and rustic hotels throughout the program. Rooms in lodges and hotels will be divided by gender and participants will sleep slumber party-style – rotating available beds nightly, and sharing beds as needed.
In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 1-2 days, even when showers are readily available in private housing accommodations. Western-style toilets are available at the accommodations.
food
All meals on this trip are planned and prepared by our in-country community partners. There may be opportunities to assist in food preparation depending on the preference of the partner.
Expect to eat meals that are consistent with the culture we are visiting. While other food options may be available, we will be sharing meals with our community partners, and eating what they eat as part of our cultural exchange. Meals are often filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Authentic Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian cuisine has many of the same flavors as Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian food outside of their home countries, but often differs in its composition; i.e. smaller portions, more grain, less meat.
We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.
TRAVEL
Families are individually responsible for travel arrangements to and from their program destination.
Due to limited flights to Vietnam, RLT requires that all participants meet at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) in California and then fly to Hanoi (HAN) together as a group. At the end of the trip, participants will depart from Luang Prabang in Laos (LPQ) back to Hanoi (HAN) as a group and return to San Francisco again.
RLT plans to offer travel coordination assistance in the Spring when we release these program-specific details. If it would be more convenient for your participant to book another flight, please contact the office for assistance. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.
There are also internal flights during this trip, with two of those flights being charged to families as an additional fee. For more details, please contact the office.
ADDITIONAL IN-COUNTRY FLIGHT
For this program, there are internal group flights that will be booked by RLT that is additional to the trip tuition. Two of these internal flights will be an additional charge for each family and the other is included as part of tuition. These flights are purchased by RLT and invoiced to families; you do not need to take any action to book this portion of the travel.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
For all international travel, we require participants to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 MONTHS past the end date of your participant's RLT trip. If your participant's passport is due to expire within those 6 months, please work on updating your participant's passport as soon as possible upon enrollment. According to the State Department, routine passport renewal will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks. It is your responsibility to ensure your participant's passport is up to date and meets these requirements. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Department of State website for all up-to-date and accurate passport recommendations.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Tourist visas are required for U.S. citizens to enter Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Families are individually responsible for applying for and purchasing visas for their child. RLT will provide detailed instructions and guidance in the spring to assist you with the visa application process. These instructions will include information on the necessary documents, fees, and application procedures.
As The Road Less Traveled is a U.S.-based company, we provide guidance primarily based on visa requirements for U.S. citizens. For those with citizenship from other countries, it is your responsibility to seek out the most up to date guidance on visa requirements. We are happy to provide any paperwork or support for documentation that is needed in the process of seeking out visas in those situations.
TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance. However, we require participants to purchase travel insurance through a third party for all international programs. For additional details, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.
VACCINE & MEDICATION INFORMATION
Please note that travel to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos typically includes a recommendation for additional vaccinations and medications. We encourage you to review the CDC websites for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos for the most up-to-date information and consult with your physician or a travel nurse before trip departure. More information will be provided to enrolled families from our Admissions Team in the Spring.
TECHNOLOGY
As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.
“The friends I have made are bonds I'm sure I'll never forget.”
- SUMMER 2024 VIETNAM ALUM TRAVELER -
SAMPLE ITINERARY
*Please note the itinerary listed below is the intended itinerary for this trip. No two trips are exactly the same. All itineraries are subject to change to ensure the best possible program experience. Weather, group dynamics, new opportunities, and the unpredictability of travel all shape the final trip itinerary - and it's all part of the adventure!
travel days to vietnam (Days 1 & 2)
We start our trip in San Francisco, CA for a flight that departs from SFO. We arrive on day 2 in Hanoi and settle into our accommodations as the group gets to know each other.
explore hanoi (Day 3)
After a busy few days of travel, we start the trip off at a leisurely pace, exploring the vibrant and colorful city of Hanoi. A highlight is a walking tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter, a maze of quirky streets with thousands of photo opportunities around each corner. Along the way, we will see local street life, traditional guilds, local markets, shopping areas, food venues, ancient houses, and historic temples.
EXPLORE NINH BINH (Day 4)
On day 3 we take a day trip to Ninh Binh. This land is famous for its spectacular karst landscapes and rustic countryside. We visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital city of Vietnam dating back to the 10th century. Hoa Lu is surrounded by high limestone mountains, and filled with temples dedicated to national heroes and Kings of the Dinh and Early Le Dynasties. From here, we will take a bicycle ride along a little country path, passing fascinating rice paddies and rustic villages. In the afternoon, we’ll take a leisurely ride in row boats along a peaceful stream amongst jutting mountains and undulating water rice paddies, getting through three natural caves of Tam Coc. Later that day, we’ll pay a visit to the Ngu Nhac Mountain with the famous Bich Dong Pagoda, which consists of three temples built on a cliff and in the cave of the mountains. We’ll drive back to Hanoi that night for a quiet evening.
Binh Lieu Volunteering (Days 5 - 7)
Our first service project is a community development initiative focused on promoting sustainable tourism in Binh Lieu, a mountainous district about 1 ½ hours from Halong Bay. The area is surrounded by mountains, jungles, terraced fields, and small local communities and villages. We will work alongside the locals helping build traditional rammed earth houses and other basic construction tasks.
jungle hike (Day 8)
Today is all about hiking! We continue exploring the Binh Lieu area, with a morning hike through the jungle, passing by the Song Mooc waterfalls. After visiting the waterfalls, we will embark on another exciting trek along buffalo trails through the anise and cinnamon forests. We’ll pass beautiful villages with traditional homes dotting the hillsides, terraced fields, and rolling mountains. After lunch in a local home, we’ll take a third hike through bamboo forests and untouched paths to reach a pristine waterfall hidden in the jungle.
halong bay cruise (Days 9 & 10)
We take to the water on an overnight boat trip, to absorb the breathtaking scenery of Halong Bay. It’s said to be one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. The bay consists of thousands of limestone islands soaring up from the emerald water. The different shape of islands here is the result of the work of wind and water through millions of years. With dotted pristine beaches, floating villages, amazing natural caves, and fascinating topography, Halong and its surroundings are an experience you won’t forget.
transfer to hOI AN and explore (Days 10 & 11)
In the morning, we’ll take kayaks to explore natural tunnels and floating villages along Halong Bay. We leave Halong in the afternoon and transfer to Hoi An, a unique city with grand architecture set on the riverside. Due to its location on the river, the all too frequent 21st-century city traffic and pollution are almost absent, making it a very welcoming place.
Hoi an biking and boat tour (Day 12)
We continue exploring Hoi An by bike and boat. We will take our bikes along the countryside to visit farms, local homes, and workshops where traditional lanterns are made. We will then take a bamboo boat rowing trip through the water coconut forests and finish our tour with a boat cruise on the Thu Bon River. The afternoon is free for us to explore the town and continue to take in the beautiful scenery.
Fly to ho chi minh city (Day 13)
After landing in Ho Chi Minh City, we’ll embark on an exciting cycle tour to discover some of Saigon's most iconic landmarks including the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office. We’ll end our tour with a visit to Ben Thanh Market, a bustling marketplace offering a great array of goods. We’ll take our time to wander through the vibrant stalls, engage in bargaining, and discover a variety of local handicrafts, clothing, and delicious street food. We’ll end our day dining in a local restaurant for a traditional meal.
Cu chi tunnels and MEKONG RIVER (Day 14)
We’ll leave Saigon for a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the most famous war relics in Vietnam and the World. This underground city consists of more than 200 km of narrow underground tunnels that connect hideouts, shelters, fighting bunkers, hospitals, schools, living rooms, and more. This system was dug and used as a stronghold of Viet Minh and Viet Cong during the war from 1948 to 1975. Next, we’ll continue our way to the Mekong Delta. Known as the rice basket of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta has been formed over thousands of years through the accumulation of alluvial soil along the course of the Mekong River. This region boasts breathtaking landscapes of evergreen rice paddies, tropical orchards, and picturesque mangroves lining the waterways.
service work in siam reap, cambodia (Days 15 & 16)
We say goodbye to Vietnam and fly to Siam Reap, Cambodia. From here, we jump straight into immersing ourselves in a local rural community as we start our second service project. Under the direction of the locals, we get involved in community development projects to help benefit the community. Projects vary year by year but can include tasks such as building village roads, painting schools, and building water wells or other drainage systems for the community.
Siam Reap exploring (days 17 & 18)
Time in Siam Reap wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the historic temples and buildings. The town is the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, the seat of the Khmer kingdom from the 9th–15th centuries. We learn about the history and heritage while exploring the surrounding area. We also visit Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia, and bike around the city.
Luang Prabang, laos (days 19 & 20)
For the last part of our trip, we spend time in Luang Prabang, Laos, where we explore its Buddhist temples and artistic heritage, and enjoy its laid-back atmosphere. From here we take time to reflect on the last 3 weeks and wrap up our trip with a visit to the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall and our famous last night RLT banquet.
Homeward Bound (Day 21)
We'll depart Laos in the morning and head back to Hanoi, where we will say our final goodbyes before boarding our flights home.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out and follow @therlt on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at photos from past participants and leaders.
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