MAIN CONFERENCE - HOI AN & HO CHI MINH CITY
14 - 22 MAY 2025
Wednesday 14 May
On arrival at Danang Airport the pre-conference tour group will be met and transferred by coach to the Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa in Hoi An. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to relax. The pre-conference group from Hanoi will arrive at the hotel mid-afternoon.
For those who are interested in getting clothes tailored, you might like to head straight to the Old Town this afternoon to place your order. The tailors in Hoi An are truly masterful and you won't want to miss the opportunity to have a custom-made piece to take home.
Welcome Dinner
Enjoy a casual dinner this evening where a private garden area awaits. This is where we'll come together for a delightful dinner, a chance to unwind and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting.
Overnight: Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa
Meals: Dinner
Thursday 15 May
The main conference sessions commence this morning with the official Opening Session. Sessions start at 8.30am and conclude at 1.00pm.
At the conclusion of the conference sessions, a buffet lunch will be served in the hotel restaurant.
Walking tour of Hoi An
This afternoon you can discover this charming historic town, a major south-east Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries and now a living museum. Roam narrow cobbled lanes where Dutch and French colonial houses are squeezed between Chinese tea warehouses and Japanese temples - a clue to the town's mixed heritage. Inhale the aromas and flavours of Hoi An's lively market stalls. Step inside the Old House of Duc An and Fukia Assembly Hall. Marvel at the 400 year-old Japanese covered bridge - one of the few built outside Japan.
At the conclusion of the tour, you may choose to remain in the Old Town for dinner and return to the hotel at leisure. This is your chance to explore the historic streets of Hoi An at your own pace and perhaps browse the quaint shops, and soak in the captivating atmosphere that makes this town a true gem.
This evening is at leisure (dinner at own expense). There are restaurants and bars at the hotel to choose from or venture into the Old Town and discover some of the many hidden dining gems. Just ask our local guides to point you in the right direction!
Overnight: Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Friday 16 May
Day 2 of conference sessions continue in Hoi An this morning from 8.30am and conclude at 1.00pm.
At the conclusion of the conference sessions, a buffet lunch will be served in the hotel restaurant.
The afternoon is at leisure for optional tours. Cooking enthusiasts can take a culinary and cultural journey in the serene Tra Que vegetable village and learn how the Vietnamese nurture their identity through cuisine and caring for their crops. Start with a visit to the bustling local market to find the freshest ingredients, then get hands on to whip up some special local dishes.
Group Dinner
Dine beside the tranquil Do River this evening at a classic Vietnamese House. Hoi An is a tranquil village, inhabited by unassuming, warm-hearted people and the traditional cuisine is familiar and beloved by locals. We’re sure you will have lasting memories of this special evening.
Overnight: Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Saturday 17 May
The morning is at leisure prior to an approximate midday departure from the hotel. This is your chance to finalise any tailoring projects, squeeze in some last-minute shopping or just relax before the buzz of Saigon. Our flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City is a short 1.5 hours. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Grand Opera Hotel, located in the heart of District 1. Saigon is the bustling heart of Vietnam and a city that effortlessly blends its rich historical heritage with a modern, cosmopolitan vibe.
Drinks Reception
Enjoy a cocktail reception this evening with panoramic riverfront views, leaving you time to explore the restaurant scene at leisure. Ho Chi Minh City straddles the line between the past and the future, a place where rooftop bars and skyscrapers tower over wet markets and banh mi carts. Ho Chi Minh City may be known for its gritty, grassroots street food situations, but so too is it a modern metropolis with some of the world’s most exquisite fine dining restaurants. From upscale Vietnamese dishes to award-winning international cuisines, Ho Chi Minh City has it all.
Overnight: Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, canapes & drinks
Sunday 18 May
Day 3 of conference sessions continue today in Saigon. Sessions will once again commence at 8.30am and conclude at 1.00pm.
There will be time to get lunch at leisure before departing on this afternoon's inclusive city tour. Let your guide unravel the history of Saigon’s turbulent past on this half-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Head to the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum to learn about the city's dramatic demise when it was the capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam.
See colonial buildings like the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Get a glimpse of vendors selling fruit and vegetables at Ben Thanh Market and visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda.
This evening is at leisure (dinner at own expense). If you are adventurous and want to try some street food, head to Ho Thi Ky Market which is the biggest flower wholesale market in the city, where fresh flowers are brought in by truckloads from Da Lat and neighboring provinces. Ho Thi Ky food street is only a few hundred meters long, yet it has managed to pack an implausible number of food and drink stalls into that space. Students, TikTokers and young professionals head here to eat after class, snack on the go and snap flicks for social media. The street is Instagram-famous for good reason. Everything is both delicious and affordable and it’s possible to eat for under VND10,000 per dish (less than A$1 per dish). Sweet and savory noodle soups, snails, fruits and cakes are all on offer, from Saigon staples like pha lau to unique specialties like tamarind seed sweet soup.
Overnight: Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Monday 19 May
Day 4 of conference sessions continue this morning from 8.30am and conclude at 1.00pm.
Lunch is at leisure (own cost).
This afternoon is at leisure for optional tours. You might like to take part in a cooking class at a nearby restaurant. Create your own unique Vietnamese dishes and learn about Vietnamese culture and the modern, authentic flavours of Vietnamese food. Explore the colourful and vibrant Tan Dinh Market with your chef to buy the necessary ingredients for the cooking class before returning to the restaurant where you will follow the chef across four iconic dishes, learning skills and techniques. At the end, celebrate by tasting your creations.
This evening is at leisure (dinner at own expense). You don't need to spend a fortune to get good food in Saigon. Check out the Michelin Guide here for some very reasonable options.
Overnight: Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Tuesday 20 May
Day 5 (and the last day) of conference sessions continue from 8.30am and conclude at 1.00pm.
A range of optional activities will be offered this afternoon.
If you prefer to visit one of the very interesting museums on your own, you can choose either the History Museum or the War Remnants Museum. Built in 1929, the History Museum houses a collection of artefacts illustrating the evolution of Vietnamese culture since ancient times, while the War Remnants Museum contains an at-times grisly display of wartime photographs and relics including an American tank, an original 20th century French guillotine and a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter.
History Museum
War Remnants Museum
For the adventurous ones, see and taste the city from the back of a vintage Vespa! Enjoy a unique view of the city after dark as your weave through buzzing streets. Plunge into the maze of narrow alleyways to savour the sizzling street food at places only locals know. Then, journey downtown for a taste of Banh Xeo, a local delicacy. Stop at a hidden coffee shop for a taste of Vietnamese coffee and enjoy acoustic music before finishing the evening with a drink at the city's top live music venue.
This evening is at leisure (dinner at own expense).
Overnight: Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Wednesday 21 May
Today is a full day at leisure to take advantage of two full day optional tours.
Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
Travel to the small community northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and its famous wartime landmark – the Cu Chi tunnels. This incredible network of narrow tunnels was built during resistance to the French colonisation and used extensively throughout the war. Take a guided exploration of the complex network, discovering underground storage, make-shift hospitals and sleeping quarters. Travel one way by coach and return by speed boat for a 1.5 hour scenic boat trip back to the city.
Or…Mekong Delta Tour
Escape the bustling streets of Saigon and immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the Mekong Delta on this full-day tour. Discover the vibrant heart of Vietnam's agricultural heartland, where the mighty Mekong River gives life to a captivating tapestry of floating markets, quaint villages and lush orchards. Enjoy fresh fruits and tea with your host before heading out again for a trip through the canals by sampan, a boat used on the delta waters for centuries. Continue your trip to cruise to Ben Tre province - the land of coconuts where you can tour a coconut farm and witness the process of making coconut candy, rice paper and other coconut-based products. Pause for a riverside five-course lunch filled with local specialties.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Mekong Delta
Farewell Gala Dinner
Our gala dinner will be held at the Reunification Palace, where the official handover of power took place during the Fall of Saigon in 1975. Dine in the historic Conference Hall which is where President Thieu delivered his resignation speech at 7.30pm on 21 April 1975 and continues to be used today for official receptions and other important events.
Overnight: Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Thursday 22 May
We say farewell to Ho Chi Minh City today. Those continuing on to Cambodia for the post-conference program will transfer to the airport this morning for the flight to Phnom Penh.
Coach transfers will be scheduled to the airport in line with the returning flights to Australia.
Meals: Breakfast
PSA TRAVEL (IMPACT ORGANISATION)
ABN 45 094 598 339 ATAS Travel Accredited Member No. A12682
Address: Unit 24, Level 3, 2 Brandon Park Drive, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150 Australia T: 1300 240 825 or +61 3 8595 0992 E: info@impactevents.com.au