Global Education Study Tour 

Enjoy the preview of our T-Shirts

​

Visa Requirement

​

Please remember to bring your passport-style photo for your visa. I have the Visa approval letter for all participants, so please don't forget to bring your picture and $25 cash as specified below.  We will get the visa stamp at arrival at the Ho Chi Minh airport. Please make sure to bring the following with you:

​

1. Two passport-style photos ( 2” x 2”, white background)

2. Visa stamp – $25 Paid to customs at the airport. Please bring cash (USD)

3. Visa approval letter – Provided by the tour company ($20 charged to student account)

4. Total visa cost: $45 USD / person (for 1 month single entry visa)

5. Please don't forget to bring your PASSPORT!

For Indonesia, the tour company has informed that citizens of US, Ghana, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Vietnam don’t need entry visa to Indonesia. However, they are asking the group to bring one additional passport-style photo in case the Indonesia customs requests. Please pay attention to these guidelines. 

​

Meeting at Chicago Airport

 

OUr first meeting will be at the ANA Airline desk area, at 8:30 am. We will fly on Sunday, June 24, at 11:50 am from the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Please make sure to arrive at O’Hare no later than 8:00 am, so we can have our first meeting and group check-in together. Here is the airline information:

​

• Airline: All Nippon Airways (ANA)

• Date and Time: Sunday, June 24, at 11:50 am, Chicago O’Hare

• Flight Number: ANA 11

• Destination: Ho Chi Minh via Tokyo

• Return flight: ANA from Jakarta, arriving in Chicago on Sunday, July 8, at 3:45 pm

For assistance and contact at the airport, please call my cell phone: (269) 240-4135

​

Ride to Chicago Airport 

​

 

Our bus will leave from the Andrews Gym parking lot on Sunday, June 24, at 6:30 am to the O’Hare airport. If you will be on campus and need a ride, please email your confirmation as soon as possible since we will select the van according to the number of passengers. Please email to: marinho@andrews.edu and ericafernan@andrews.edu. Please check the list below, and if you want to join the list, please let us know immediately, since seats are limited:

​

1. Kwadwo Frimpong-Manso

2. Prudence Campbell

3. Erica Batista

4. Chelsea Cobb

5. Asia Kirkland

6. Sharon Aka

7. Christian Ledesma

8. Marlene Alvarez

9. Rick Bianco

10. Janet Ledesma

11. Robson Marinho

​

Attention: Baggage Allowance

​

The domestic flights and ground transportation are planned for one bag per person plus one carry on. Each bag should weight no more than 44 pounds or 20 Kilos. The carry on should weight no more than 15 pounds or 7 Kilos. Please try to plan your luggage accordingly to avoid extra airlines fee.

​

Volunteer Support Team

​

Our Support Team is now complete, and thanks to those who volunteered. We still need colleagues to  help with sharing short messages for our daily devotionals. If someone is willing to volunteer for helping with this, please email me. Please see the list below:

​

• Tour Secretary:  Erica Zacariotto 

• Spiritual Team:  Prudence Campbell and Marlene Alvarez

• Health Assistant:  Sharon Aka

• Photo Support:  Kwadwo Frimpong-Manso

• Blogger:  Rick Bianco

• Video Recorder:  Serge Gariepy and Christian Ledesma

​

Helpful Reminders

Local Information

 

Hello all, as we approach our study tour, please check the additional information provided by our Vietnamese participant Tran.  Thanks Tran, for sharing these tips and information:

 

• The official currency of Vietnam is Vietnam Dong (VND). Please ask the tour guide if you want to exchange your own currency in Vietnam. Ask for a range of notes, and remember that 20,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 VND notes are more easily used.  For your information and reference, a small souvenir will cost you around VND 50,000 - 100,000, while a cup of coffee in a coffee shop may cost you VND 50,000 on average. Current exchange rate (which may be varied a bit when you arrive in Vietnam): 1 USD = 22,735 VND. 
   

• Credit cards can be used mostly in big stores and shopping mall, not in the market. You are, however, recommended to visit the market as it is a 'specialty' of Vietnam :-)
   

• Our tour takes place in June, the rainy season in Vietnam. Make sure that you bring a waterproof jacket and / or an umbrella with you just in case. 
   

• Prepare the visa photo and cash ($25 USD) to get the visa at the airport.

​

​

Dress Code

​

We will wear casual most of the time, but make sure to have business casual for the days when we will visit the universities. July is the hottest month in Vietnam with an average temperature of 84°F (29°C). It is hot and humid and the region experiences its highest rainfall. Don’t forget comfortable shoes for long walks.

 

Packing List

​

For those who need a reminder, we are suggesting a tentative Packing List to make your trip easier and safer. The list includes detailed items such as personal toiletries, relaxed summer pants, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, money cards, light sweater or fleece jacket, electronics, small first aid kit, passport and document holder, and many other items to make your trip comfortable and pleasant. Please click on the Packing List to see a planning guide for your trip.

 

Travel Expenses

 

The Study Tour registration covers all the air and ground transportation from Andrews University, plus three meals per day during the tour, except the days when we fly, which will be on your own. Visa fee and personal documents are not included. You will need some cash for personal expenses and tips for the tour guides as explained below.

​

​

Helpful Information

​

• Calling cards – It is much cheaper to make phone call with local calling cards.

• Cell phone – In case you want to use your cell phone, make sure to set up an international plan and check the rates with your provider (usually expensive).

• ATM available – Cash machines should be available at most cities and selected banks, and it is a safe way to cash money. Most banks charge a transaction fee of 1% to 3%, or more, so make sure to check with your bank.

• International credit cards – Very practical and safe way of spending money. Also subject to transaction fees, so check with your bank. In addition, make sure to inform your bank that you will use your card internationally, otherwise they may block it for security reasons.

• Frequent flyer number: Everybody is eligible to win around 12,000 reward miles in this trip, which counts towards free travel in the future. If you don’t have a frequent flyer plan, I recommend that you enroll at https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/account/account.aspx , and bring your account number to the check-in. Just follow the instructions on the website.

• Tour guides tips: Attention Please – It is usual in the tour industry to give tips to the tour guides and drivers in every city. Usually the recommendation is around US$5.00 per person per day, and it is expected that we give according to our satisfaction with the guide. We will collect the tips every day, so please bring some cash and use your judgment and generosity as you feel comfortable.

 

Roommates 

 

Our group is complete now and we anticipate developing long-term friendships with our tour mates. As a reminder, hotel rooms are assigned on a double occupancy basis. A couple of you requested roommate preference, so we have made arrangements as requested. All other participants will be assigned a friendly colleague.

​

Updated Itinerary

​

Sunday, June 24: DEPART FROM CHICAGO

 

Chicago O’Hare, at 11:50 am

​

Monday, June 25: HO CHI MINH CITY

 

Evening: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City at 9:05 pm

• Hotel check-in

• Tour briefing

 

Tuesday, June 26: HO CHI MINH CITY

 

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, Vietnam's largest and most vibrant city, packed with timeless traditions. With a tropical climate, it is the economic center of Vietnam.

​

Morning: Visit to University of Social Sciences & Humanities (USSH)

• Introduction about Vietnamese education system. Speakers: USSH faculty

• Meeting with USSH faculty and graduate students

• Tea break

• Introduction about programs at Andrews University School of Education. Speakers: Prof. Robson and Prof. Janet

• Campus tour

Afternoon: Sightseeing tour including the following traditional attractions:

• Reunification Palace

• Central Post Office

• Notre Dame Cathedral

• Book Street

• Evening: Saigon by night from the top (Saigon Skydeck – Bitexco building)

• Dinner at Hoang Yen restaurant (located on Bitexco building)

 

Wednesday, June 27: HO CHI MINH CITY

​

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Visit to Le Hong Phong High school for the Gifted

• Meeting with LHP faculty and students

• Campus tour

​

Afternoon: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City to An Giang Province, a province with the biggest population in the Mekong Delta. It is the key producer of rice in the country and famous for its natural beauty. 

• Arrive in Chau Doc, transfer to hotel, overnight at Victoria Chau Doc.

 

Thursday, June 28: AN GIANG PROVINCE

 

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel

• Take a boat trip to visit the floating village and floating fish farms. The Floating market was accredited by UNESCO in 2013 as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Visit to An Giang University (AGU)

• Introduction about AGU. Speakers: AGU faculty

• Meeting with AGU leadership, faculty and students

• Tea break

• Vietnamese traditional music performed by AGU students

• Campus tour (AGU primary, high school and university)

• Lunch

Afternoon: Visit to Tra Su Forest tour; an ecosystem of cajuput trees, covers an area of around 850 hectares

​

Friday, June 29: AN GIANG PROVINCE

 

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Departure from An Giang to Ho Chi Minh City 

•  

Afternoon: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

​

• Dinner

 

Saturday, June 30: HANOI

​

Welcome to Vietnam's capital city, with over 1,000 years of history and culture. It is an attractive, laidback city with charming French-Colonial-style buildings.

• Morning: Worship at Hanoi Seventh-Day Adventist Church

• Afternoon: Sightseeing tour to many of the city's highlights, including the Temple of Literature.  You will also see the Hoan Kiem Lake, and the fascinating network of alleyways and shop houses that make up the Old Town. Today's attractions include:

• Literature Temple

• Old Town

• Hoan Kiem Lake

• Water puppet show

 

Sunday, July 1: HANOI - HALONG BAY - HANOI

 

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Take a cruise on Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the world's most amazing scenery and one of Vietnam's favorite destinations. You'll cruise by islets, caves, beaches, and visit Thien Cung, Dau Go grottos. Enjoy lunch on board.

​

Afternoon: Departure from Ha Long back to Hanoi.

• Sightseeing tour to visit the Dong Trieu Pottery Village in route.

• Arrive in Hanoi. Free at leisure.  Overnight in Ha Noi.

​

Monday, July 2: HANOI-JAKARTA

 

Morning: Departure from Hanoi to Jakarta (via Ho Chi Minh)

• Lunch in Jakarta

Afternoon: Welcome to Indonesia and its exotic attractions!

• Dinner in Jakarta

 

Tuesday, July 3: JAKARTA

 

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning and Afternoon: After lunch, enjoy a visit to Fatahillah Square, Monas Tower, and Istiqlal.

• Dinner

 

Wednesday, July 4: JAKARTA

 

Morning: Visit to Universitas Indonesia

• Introduction about Indonesian education system. Speakers: Universitas Indonesia faculty

• Meeting with Universitas Indonesia faculty and students

• Campus tour

Afternoon: Visit to BINUS University

• Meeting with BINUS faculty and students

• Campus tour (BINUS university and primary school)

 

Thursday, July 5: JAKARTA

 

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning and afternoon: A guided city tour to visit

• Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

• Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum,

• National Monument 

• ITC Mangga Dua Mall

​

Friday, July 6: JAKARTA

 

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Departure from Jakarta to Bangdung

Afternoon: Sightseeing tour to visit Tangkuban Perahu Volcanoes

​

Saturday, July 7: BACK TO BANDUNG

​

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Worship at Universitas Advent Indonesia (UNAI), in Bandung, West Java

Afternoon: Meet with faculty and students and enjoy a sightseeing tour around campus.

Evening: Departure from Bangdung to Jakarta

 

Sunday, July 8: JAKARTA-CHICAGO

​

Departure from Jakarta to Chicago, arriving at 3:45 pm (same day)

​