Proposed Itinerary

22 May 2011 (Sun)

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

SQ186 (1740H – 1845H) OR VN740 (1310H – 1410H)

Check in hotel

Lavender Hotel

Add: 208 – 210 Le Thanh Ton Street, Dist. 1, HCMC

Tel: 848. 2222 8888

23 May 2011 (Mon)

Ho Chi Minh Full Day City Tour with the objective of understanding the historical areas and enabling the participants to contrast the congested “old city” of Districts 1, 3, Chinatown in District 5 with the “new urban development areas of Districts 2, 7 and Thu Thiem.

In addition, participants will have the opportunities to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, Islamic Mosque, Hindu Temple and Chinese Temples plus the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, which are classical beauties of the old architectures that have existed since French colony and compare with the modern skyscrapers such as Vincom Center and Bitexco Financial Towner which were developed in recent years.

24 May 2011 (Tue)

Visit Cu Chi Tunnel, which is one of the most famous and historical aspects of Vietnam War. Stretching over 200 km, the tunnel is like a maze with 3 levels deep and consists of innumerable trap doors, storage facilities, weapon factories, command centers and kitchens. This is an evidence of planning of a complex structure in difficult conditions during the war.

Visit Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. Caodaiism is a syncretistic monotheistic religion which is unique to Vietnam. Built by the ingenious locals, the architecture of this temple is an exceptional structure that reflects its blended traditions.

25 May 2011 (Wed)

Full Day workshop at Can Gio Biosphere Reserve. Being recognized by UNESCO in 2000, Can Gio Biosphere Reserve plays an important role as a “Green Lung” of the Ho Chi Minh City, which helps in climate control and prevention from storms and erosion.  Participants will venture into the forest, communicate with the locals, undertake reforestation efforts and visit the local communities to have an insight of how they are involved in environmental protection in the midst of rapid urbanization.

26 May 2011 (Thu)

Full Day exposure to understand the retail evolution in Vietnam and appreciate the co-existence of tradition and modern trade, which makes Vietnam one of the fastest, growing retail market in the world. Participants will have the opportunities to compare and contrast traditional retail shops verses modern trade establishments. This will include visits to the traditional Ben Thanh Wet Market which was built in the beginning of 20^th century and is a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, An Tay Wholesale Market and contrast with Saigon Co-op, Big C, Lotteria which offer a wide spectrum of sale methods based on modern marketing techniques as well as the specialty shops at Vincom Center Shopping Mall and Hung Vung Plaza.

27 May 2011 (Fri)

Full day workshop to Binh Duong Province including visits to Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park 1 & 2 as well as Binh Duong New City. Participants will be guided through the primary considerations and the reconciliation of competing resources when undertaking urban planning of a new city. The influence of Singapore’s planning ideology in the vision of an urban area of a foreign country through the evolvement of self-stainable industrial parks and integrated townships where communities are able to work, play, live and grow will also be highlighted.

28 May 2011 (Sat)

Free & Easy till departure

Depart for Singapore

SQ 173 (1310 – 1610) OR VN 741(0920H -1210H)