A dream trip for students at Springwood Sixth Form in King's Lynn

A group of Lynn sixth-formers have embarked on the experience of a lifetime.

The 16 Year 12 and 13 students from Springwood High School headed to Vietnam on a 16-day adventure that immersed them in the country’s culture.

They were accompanied by three members of staff on the “epic” trip, which started on October 18.

This trip of a lifetime saw them explore the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, along with spending time in Can Tho and the city of Ho Chi Minh.

In Hanoi, the Springwood students visited the cultural village of Dong Ngac, the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Temple of Literature, the Vietnamese History Museum and Army Museum, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Van Phuc Silk Village, as well as enjoying a walking tour of the Old Town.

They also took a cruise on the Red River Delta and spent time at UNESCO Heritage site Halong Bay, while evening entertainment included a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Outside the capital, the group spent time at the ancient city of Hoa Lu and Can Tho University, visited museums and temples, participated in traditional Vietnamese games, and took part in a Tam Croc boat trip.

A cruise on the Mekong Delta was another high point of the itinerary, complete with visits to the river’s floating markets.

The final leg of the trip saw the travellers in Ho Chi Minh City, where highlights included the Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, City Hall, and Coa Dai Temple.

They also had the opportunity to see the War Museum and Ho Chi Minh Museum, and to join war veterans on a tour of the famous Chu Chi tunnels, as well as visit local markets for souvenir shopping, and sample traditional Vietnamese Pho soup noodles.

Run by Challenges Abroad as part of the UK Government’s Turing Scheme to provide funding for international opportunities in education, the Vietnam History and Cultural Studies Tour aims to ‘ignite compassion and create a new generation of global citizens’ by helping students ‘develop their skills and grow as individuals’.

The programme, which has been running for over a decade, covers eight locations across Asia, South America, and Africa, and has seen over 6,000 participants take part since it launched.