Join a humanitarian travel experience of a lifetime, personally led by author and humanitarian Le Ly Hayslip!
This special Citizen Diplomacy Delegation Travel Program, sponsored by The San Diego World Affairs Council is inspired and
informed by Hayslip’s groundbreaking memoirs, When Heaven and Earth Changed Places and The Child of War, Woman of
Peace, which tell the story of Le Ly’s life as a young peasant girl at the outbreak of the Vietnam War and on through the entire
conflict, her struggles in the US as an immigrant. Her inspiring life story was subsequently Oliver Stone subsequently adopted
both of her books into “Heaven and Earth,” the third film in his trilogy of the Vietnam War, following “Platoon” and “Born on
the 4th of July.” Raised during a time of great conflict in her country, Le Ly has lived in the US since 1970. Le Ly has made it her
life’s mission to build bridges between the two countries and by rebuilding her motherland and ancestral village.
During these special 2 week travel programs Le Ly will lead participants on a deeply personal and immersive tour of Vietnam,
unlike any other travel program. As part of this special Citizen Diplomacy Delegation program you will be not be a typical
tourist, but a global traveler, not only absorbing the sights, sounds, and tastes of Vietnam, but interacting and giving back to
the community in truly profound way while leaving a sustainable impact in the community, not to mention discovering the beauty
breadth, and resiliency of the Vietnamese people and culture.
Bright light Corporate Provides
- All Lodging
- All meals in country
- Bilingual, Local, Onsite group leader
- On-site Bright light volunteers state-side representative
- Medical & emergency insurance
- Community service project funding
- All cultural activities expenses
- All community donations
- Certificate of Global citizenship
- Opportunity to earn global
Make a Difference
Program participants will work to implement sustainable improvements in the community including educational, health, and hygiene practices, especially through cleanliness, and teach kids how to maintain health by preventing disease in the children. Teach and learn from one another, embrace a new and different culture, and participate in experiences that change lives.
Educational Enrichment
Learning never ends and our program offers a unique opportunity to increase your fund of knowledge via personal experiences curatedjust for you! Journey with Le Ly, you can learn more about war, peace, and what Vietnam’s 5000 years of culture and tradition are all about! Enjoy behind-the-scenes access to local sources of knowledge and wisdom while visiting with locals in a profound cross-cultural exchange!
Cultural Connections
This program will connect you with local citizens “in the know” that will proudly share the inside secrets about their community and provide
opportunities to take a deep dive into culinary, musical and artistic landscape of the locale – all via direct and immersive experiences. Unlike other travel programs, this experience allows you to interact directly with Le Ly, as she takes participants to visit her birthplace, holds memorial services for veterans who did not return from the war, guides the group to participate in activities and become immersed in the Vietnamese culture and lifestyle – from villagers in the countryside to the ethnic minority communities.
Two Program Dates are available
Today is dedicated to the remembrance of “D day” in Red Beach (March 8, 1965) when the first official US troops landed
on the Red Beach in Danang for the start of the Vietnam War. In the morning we will attend and celebrate the grand “Reopening” of Village of Hope Orphanage (celebrating 32 of service to the community). Participants will interact with the
community, engaging in English language practice, technology tutoring, and shared artistic endeavors. Lunch will be
shared with everyone at the center. In the afternoon, we will visit Red Beach, and have a ceremony for those souls who
arrived here on March 8, 1965, but did not return after 1975. We will partake in a candlelight vigil led by the Buddhist
Monks on Da Nang beach.
After departing Da Nang, will drive to the Imperial City of Hue. Along the way, we will cross the majestic Hai Van Pass
with its spectacular landscapes and views. There, participants will have the opportunity for exploration, hiking, and
shopping. After a group lunch we will check into the Huong Gian Hotel Perfume River for some much-needed R & R. In
the afternoon there will be a walking tour of the The Citadel, home of the last Vietnamese King of the Bao Dai Dynasty
We will enjoy the group dinner and enjoy some traditional singing on Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.
We will visit the oldest pagoda of Tu Hieu, where Thay Thich Nhat Hanh started his monkhood at the age of seven and
now serves as one of the premier mindfulness centers in the world. There, participants will be able to sample the
vegetarian cuisine at Tu Hieu Temple. From there, we will journey to Truong Son Martyr’s Cemetery where we will
experience a traditional Vietnamese ceremony to communicate with spirits. Free time for dinner.
We will cross the famed Hien Luong Bridge at the Ben Hai River where the 17th parallel divided Vietnam into two
countries from July 1954 through July 1976. We will tour the famed US military sites from the war including the Marine
hilltop base at Khe Sanh. the Rock Pile observation post, the bridge at Dong Ha and the North Vietnamese Tunnel
complex at Vinh Moc. Overnight stay in Quang Binh.
Rest and relax on the beach or catch up on some souvenir shopping. Optional opportunity to meet with a group of
authorities in Da Nang city for a Q-A session.
Transport to the airport.
Guests will be picked up at the international airport for transport to the hotel. We will kick off this special expedition with
a group dinner, hosted by author and humanitarian Le Ly Hayslip in historic Ho Chi Minh City.
Leave the busy streets and modern buildings of Ho Chi Minh City is behind on this Ben Tre day trip. Following breakfast,
drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta, a remarkable agricultural area referred to as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’. On
arrival in Ben Tre Province, we’ll board a local boat for the first glimpse of life on the Mekong Delta’s maze of
waterways. Cruise among the river islands with whimsical names such as Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix Islands.
En route, visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut – an abundant material in the Mekong region. Also,
visit Turtle Island to explore an orchard and taste its fresh, tropical fruits. Then, we’ll switch gears and travel by horsedriven cart for a different perspective, cruising along country roads to a lush garden and tasting the honey that is harvested
by the residents and famous throughout Vietnam. We’ll return to the waterways, this time using a rowing boat. Taking
advantage of this boat’s smaller size, we’ll cruise up the narrow Xep canal, which is set amongst a dense grove of palm
trees. Following this Delta adventure, we will return to land for lunch before returning to Ho Chi Minh City we’ll
stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda – this massive Buddhist pagoda boasts impressive architecture and an incredible collection of
statues, including a life-size jade image. Having gained a greater understanding of Ho Chi Minh City’s culture and
history, the group will enjoy dinner hosted by a very special friend of Le Ly Hayslip.
Relax on the drive to Tay Ninh, watching the landscapes change from concrete buildings to rice paddies and villages
dotted with wooden houses. At Tay Ninh we will visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could have come
straight from a Walt Disney fantasy. Admire the whimsical statues and colorful paintings covering this remote temple
building. Learn about the origins and beliefs of this unusual religion, which blends the world’s major faiths into a unique
mosaic. Following a lunch break, we will enjoy an afternoon humanitarian visit to Mái Ấm Mây Ngàn in Tây Ninh were
we will drop off much needed supplies. This center cares for orphans and even adults left by family members who can no
longer afford to care for them. The center welcomes all, from one year old to 100, including people with disabilities and
mental illness. On our way back, Le Ly will have a big surprise at the hottest spot in Cu Chi hosted by Mr. Binh and his
family with a traditional Vietnamese homemade dinner! In the evening, program participants are free to explore the city.
Today we will explore the many wonders of Vietnam’s southern metropolis. We will start with a trip to the Jade
Emperor Pagoda and continue with a visit to Tan Dinh Market (said to be the oldest in all of Ho Chi Minh City). Dating
back to the 1800s, this typical Vietnamese market sells all sorts of goods, though it is particularly
known for its local foods and fabrics. Enjoy a much more local market experience, where tourists seldom visit. Le Ly will
share a story of the market and traditional medicine before we head to the FITO Museum, which has an impressive
collection of over 3,000 items related to developing traditional Vietnamese medicine. After the museum visit, fuel up with
a local lunch before delving into Vietnam’s past at the Tet Offensive History Museum and a walking tour from the
historic Presidential Palace through the city center where you will be able to see the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi
Street (formerly Rue Catinat), the Continental Hotel, Opera House, and City Hall in order to learn more about Vietnam’s
colonial past. In the evening we will take an evening flight to Danang.
We begin the day with a visit to Mother’s Love Health Clinic, built by 3 US/VN vets and former VCs in 1989 in Le Ly’s
village. We will then visit the Man Quang Primary School before continuing on the enjoy a luncheon at Le Ly’s regional
birthplace, the house built in 1927. There, Le Ly will demonstrate her respect to the ancestral temple, family shrines, and
how she communicates with heaven. Wonderful stories will be shared by Le Ly, her bother Bon Nghe (who was a North
Vietnamese NVA), and Le Ly’s friends who she grew
Today is dedicated to the remembrance of the 50th anniversary of liberation by the North Vietnam (Viet Cong). We will
enjoy many different kinds of celebrations with good food and entertainment festivals around the city. Dinner will be
held at the Village of Hope, after playing and interacting with the children at the center.
After checking out of the hotel, we will journey to Peace Village Orphanage in Quang Nam Province. After touring the
facilities we will distribute donations and interact with the inhabitants. Lunch will be shared with the staff and
administration at the center. After lunch, we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mỹ Sơn, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site of Hindu Temples built between the 4th – 14th century by the kings of Champa in Duy Xuyen District.
While at Mỹ Sơn, Le Ly will share the Champa ghost story before heading back with the group to enjoy dinner in Hoi
An. We’ll visit the night market in Hoi An for best Cao Lau. The next morning we go to Hue!
After departing Hoi An, will drive to the Imperial City of Hue. Along the way, we will cross the majestic Hai Van Pass
with its spectacular landscapes and views. There, participants will have the opportunity for exploration, hiking, and
shopping. After a group lunch we will check into the Huong Gian Hotel Perfume River for some much-needed R & R. In
the afternoon there will be a walking tour of the The Citadel, home of the last Vietnamese King of the Bao Dai Dynasty
We will enjoy the group dinner and enjoy some traditional singing on Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.
We will cross the famed Hien Luong Bridge at the Ben Hai River where the 17th parallel divided Vietnam into two
countries from July 1954 through July 1976. We will tour the famed US military sites from the war including the Marine
hilltop base at Khe Sanh. the Rock Pile observation post, the bridge at Dong Ha and the North Vietnamese Tunnel
complex at Vinh Moc. Overnight stay in Quang Binh
Enjoy a boat ride and visit Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Ke Bang National Park – a UNESCO site characterized by
beautiful mountains, tropical forests, and underground rivers – renowned for its ancient limestone karsts and vast network
of many caves. Evening flight to Hanoi.
Today we will travel by private bus to visit West Lake to admire the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda before
continuing on to explore the famed Temple of Literature, wandering around this incredible compound which was
constructed in 1076. You will be fascinated by the stories of the building and get a glimpse of the past when it served as a
university and temple. Afterward, we’ll head over to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology for a private tour and browse and
learn about the remarkable diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. Lunch will be held at The Secret Garden and then
we will visit the Ho Chi Minh complex and see the famous Mausoleum from a viewing point before taking a short walk to
Ho Chi Minh’s former house. Built on stilts, this was where he lived from 1958 to 1969 as he orchestrated the movement
that eventually led to Vietnam’s independence. Walking around the serene ground we will learn all about Ho Chi Minh’s
life and legacy
After breakfast, we will travel eastward to the bays along the Gulf of Tonkin. Our final destination is the most exquisite –
Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site with nearly 3000 limestone karst islands rising from the beautiful waters. It
is a wonder of serene natural beauty, with caves, beaches, floating villages and markets. Then, we will arrive at our jetty
in Halong City and, once aboard, enjoy a lunch while cruising the bay. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets
anchor for the night among the karst formations, where dinner will be served on board.
Enjoy your fresh morning in the middle of the bay as the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served while
the vessel cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. We will transfer back to Hanoi
making stops to visit the Women’s Museum and the infamous Hanoi Hilton before finishing the day at the water puppet
theatre and enjoy a live performance of this unique northern Vietnamese art form.
Today we will depart from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and enter the surrounding, quieter countryside in Hoa Lu. We’ll
be guided through exploration of the ruins of Vietnam’s first capital, learning about the Dinh (968-980) and Le
(980-1009) Dynasties, experiencing the ancient tombs and ruins of this once-imposing Citadel. You’ll have some time to
rest, relax, or souvenir shop before attending a special Farewell Dinner
Transport to the airport in Hanoi.
Learn more about Le Ly Hayslip and her incredible work here!
Empowering Global Citizens
