Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea
Faculty: Brent Wilson and Jeff Duerr
Class Meeting Time: Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Trip Dates: May, 2026
Cost: $2,400
Highlights
This tour will study the history, culture, food, and influence of western values and religion in Asian cultures by visiting South Korea, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. All three countries have been ravished by war in their history. While each country has chosen a slightly different path to reconciliation, you will have an opportunity to experience these differences and the cultural impact they make on everyday citizens. Students will have the opportunity to visit several religious temples and historical sites. Some of the sites will include Changgyonggung (summer palace built in 1104 for the first Yi king), Namdaemun (14th century gate into the city), and even the DMZ between North and South Korea while in Seoul. You will actually be allowed to “step” into North Korea. In Hong Kong we will spend much of our time in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. In Vietnam we will visit many historical and religious sites within Hanoi, including a day trip to the “Hanoi Hilton,” the prison that housed many United States Airmen during the Vietnam War, including Senator John McCain. We have even scheduled a half-day Vietnamese cooking class in Hanoi itself. Lastly, we will also travel to Ha Long Bay, one of Vietnam’s most treasured locations with over 3,000 islands within the bay. We will spend a couple days and nights aboard a “junk” as we travel throughout the islands. This trip offers food beyond anything you have ever thought of, which is both scary and exciting. Most of the locations we stay have "barely an understanding" of vegetarian, but they most definitely do not understand vegan. Spicy foods are the rule, not the exception. Dietary constraints can cause issues on this trip. Please keep this in mind if choosing this trip.
Tentative Itinerary
| Day 1-2 | Leave PDX & travel to Seoul. |
| Day 3-7 | Seoul and the surrounding communities. Some of the things we will do and see are: Changdokkung Palace, home of South Korea's royal family. Piwon, a secret garden used for gathering after church services. Changgyonggung Palace, the summer palace for the first Yi king, built in 1104. Namdaemun, a "gate" into old Korea and cultural center. Chongmyo, a Royal shrine where Confucian rituals are held. Korean National Museum and Buddhist Exhibit. Visit a Korean school and orphanage. |
| Day 8-12 | Arrive in Hong Kong. Some of the things we will do and see are: Walk around Tsim Sha Tsui and see the Clock Tower, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Star House, Ocean Terminal, Kowloon Park, and the Promenade for a view of Victoria Harbor. Mix with the crowds and see what it is like in one of the most densely populated cities in Asia. Visit the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Museum of History Hong Kong, and Lei Cheng Uk Museum. Hong Kong island - Central: We will visit government buildings and modern skyscrapers such as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the Bank of China. Go to Hong Kong Park with its greenhouse, an aviary, pools, fountains, a restaurant, and the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Visit Victoria Peak, taking the tram to the highest point on the island for a panoramic view of Hong Kong. Hong Kong island - Aberdeen: We will take a bus along the south side of the island, stopping at Hong Kong University and the Fung Ping Sham Museum with its collection of Chinese antiquities (ceramics, bronzes and jade). In Aberdeen we will tour the harbor and its houseboat community. |
| Day 13-15 | Travel to Ha Long Bay on the eastern coast of Vietnam. Take a boat trip through the bay, which is a national point of pride among the Vietnamese people. Ha Long bay has approximately 3,000 islands within its circumference. Ha Long Bay is considered to be the second most diverse ecosystem in the world, next to the Amazon region. Explore the many natural caves of Ha Long Bay, along with native fishing villages. |
| Day 16-19 | Arrive in Hanoi. Visit several Buddhist temples and other religious venues. Pair up with Vietnamese University students and spend one day with native families in their homes. Visit historical sites and museums such as Vietnam National Museum and the location of the "Hanoi Hilton" and its significance to the Vietnam War. Visit and view Ho Chi Mihn at his mausoleum. |
| Day 20 | Flight home to PDX. |
