School Trips

Once a year around November, St. Paul Middle & High School students go on school trips in and around Vietnam to see and experience our host country’s beauty, participate in service-learning, and bond with classmates and teachers. We currently partner with The Learning Project for these trips, you can find out more about them by visiting their website HERE.

School Trips 2024

An unforgettable adventure...
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School Trips 2023

Middle School and...
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School Trips Details

Grade 6: Cuc Phuong Jungle Adventure

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND ADVENTURE TRIP

This educational trip to Vietnam’s oldest national parks exposes students to the conservation work being done to protect endangered species throughout Vietnam. The students will get up close and personal with animals such as Moon Bears, Pangolins, Gibbons and the unusual Binturong! 

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • Facilitate awareness of wildlife conservation in Vietnam
  • Foster understanding of rehabilitation practices within wildlife conservation
  • Encourage team building through physical challenges with peers
  • Practice using the scientific process and field studies techniques
  • Develop practical skills in design technology

KEY ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP

  • Primate Centre visit + animal observation
  • Service learning at the Primate Centre
  • Turtle Centre visit + turtle bingo
  • Carnivore Centre night visit to see nocturnal animals
  • Bear sanctuary tour + sky walk
  • Bear sanctuary feeding enrichment workshop
  • Night hike + nocturnal wildlife spotting in the park
  • Cave of the prehistoric man visit
  • Cycle ride through the park
  • Botanical gardens hike + tree study
  • Ecology field study: insect pitfall traps
  • Team building challenge
  • Talent show extravaganza!

Grade 7: Mai Chau Cultural Discovery

CULTURAL DISCOVERY & EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

The Mai Chau valley has been home to a number of ethnic minority groups for hundreds of years and a draw to tourists more recently. The stunning natural landscape now lends itself to a range of outdoor pursuits, while this itinerary allows for an understanding of the local White Thai culture.

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • To enhance cultural awareness of White Thai community through knowledge gathering activities, craft sessions and experiential learning.
  • To encourage leadership and team building through collaborative challenges with peers that require decision making, utilization of different skill sets and communication skills.
  • To enhance personal development through encouraging positive attitude to physical activity.

KEY ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP

  • Mai Chau Scavenger Hunt (weaving, rice farming, traditional dance, stilt house making)
  • Rock Climbing
  • The Learning Project Bamboo Challenge
  • Walk and swim in the Mai Chau valley
  • Develop life skills on the market tour and
  • Cooking class
  • Night Walk through the quiet rice fields

Grade 8: Ba Vi Exploration

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND CULTURAL HERITAGE TRIP

The Ba Vi National Park is a living museum, a place where ancient traditions continue to influence the way of life of local people. Just 50km from Hanoi the park offers a peaceful environment for the students to embark on a number of engaging activities and active challenges. 

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • To enhance understanding of Kinh and Muong culture through experiential activities.
  • To foster leadership and team building through group challenges.
  • To appreciate the importance of sustainable agriculture through organic farming.

KEY ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP

  • Team games and survival skills at Son Tinh Camp
  • Traditional farming activities (fishing, cooking and rice planting);
  • Water Puppet team challenge: hands on experience of the artistic heritage of the Kinh people. Students learn about the ancient water puppet tradition and work together to create and perform their own show;
  • Paddle Boarding at Ao Vua lake; 
  • Cycling in the small roads and tracks;
  • Hiking in the local area.

Grade 9: Cat Ba Ocean Awareness

MARINE CONSERVATION AND ISLAND ADVENTURE TRIP

The health of our oceans depends on behviour both onshore and offshore. On this trip students will explore an island environment and consider the ways in which humans impact their environment.

Students will take part in a beach clean and waste audit in the national park and learn about the effects of debris on the marine environment. Other activities include kayaking and climbing in spectacular Lan Ha bay.

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • To facilitate awareness of marine conservation issues through marine debris study and collection.
  • To encourage team building through kayaking and team challenges with peers.
  • To enhance personal development through physical challenges such as hiking and climbing.

KEY ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP

  • Ocean awareness and beach clean on a beach in the national park;
  • Kayaking and climbing with trained professionals;
  •  Cycling along safe roads to the peaceful Viet Hai village;
  • STEM challenge Raft Building on Tung Thu Beach!

Grade 10: Sapa Valley Skills and Culture Adventure

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND PERSONAL CHALLENGE

Sa Pa valley lies at the heart of the mountainous north of Vietnam and boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country, including Fansipan mountain, the highest peak in mainland Southeast Asia. This trip gives students the opportunity to engage with this stunning natural environment, as well learning about the many ethnic minority groups in the region as they learn local Hmong textile and culinary techniques, and stay in authentic Hmong stilt house homestay accommodation.

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • To earn, develop and practice new skill sets pertaining to outdoor adventure; knot tying, shelter building, survival situation readiness, camping risk assessment, tent set-up and break-down, compass and map reading, orienteering and navigation.
  • To build confidence in outdoor activities and self-belief in the ability to overcome physical

challenges

  • Engage with the local Hmong community in a positive manner, in order to better understand their way of life, culture and unique textile and culinary techniques
  • Share lasting memories, strengthen existing relationships and build new ones

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Hiking through the Sapa valley
  • Compass and map navigation and orienteering workshop
  • Fansipan Legend cable car experience
  • Indigo batik textile class with the local Hmong
  • Hmong cooking class
  • Night light photography workshop

Grade 11: Bai Tu Long National Park Adventure

BAY DISCOVERY & BIOLOGY STUDY TRIP

Bai Tu Long Bay is a beautiful and less crowded destination in northeast Vietnam, near the border with China. It is part of a limestone plateau that also includes Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bai Tu Long Bay offers stunning views of karst islands, white sand beaches, and clear blue water. It is also home to a rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, with many fishing villages, caves, and historical sites to explore.

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • To enhance personal development through physical challenges such as Standup Paddle Boarding and hiking on an uninhabited Island
  • To work together in teams to achieve goals; Silly Bicycle Challenge, Shelter Building on Beach
  • To facilitate awareness of marine conservation issues through marine debris study and collection

KEY ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP

  • Learning about Large Sea Turtle Conservation through participation in the Bai Tu Long National Park program
  • Rocky Shore Biology Sampling on Robinson beach (optional)
  • 4 man bicycle team challenge : explore ecosystems on an unusual bicycle tour 
  • Hike on uninhabited Ba Mun Island
  • Stand Up Paddleboard
  • Working as a team on the TLP Shelter Building and Beach Clean activities

Grade 12: Celebration Cruise!

HA LONG BAY CRUISE AND AMUSEMENT PARK TRIP

This trip is designed to be a reward and celebration for the Seniors on their final year at school. A chance for them to relax, hang out and have fun. They will spend one day on board the luxury

Ambassador Cruise boat which will make it’s way around the spectacular karst structures of world famous Ha Long Bay. They will kayak and visit Titov Island which has a great beach. After the cruise the group will head to Ha Long city and spend two nights in a 4-star hotel and spend the afternoon at the Sun World Dragon Park, a fun-packed theme park followed by a ride on the Queen Cable Car on the final morning, which travels an impressive 188m above the sea!

TRIP OBJECTIVES

  • To celebrate your final year of school with friends
  • To explore Ha Long Bay by boat and kayak

KEY ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP

  • 2 day, 1 night on board the 5-star Ambassador Cruise
  • Fine dining with panoramic views of the world-famous Ha Long Bay
  • Kayaking in Ha Long Bay
  • Relaxing on the beach on Titov Island
  • Exploring the adrenaline-inducing rides at the Sun World Dragon Park
  • Enjoying the views from the 188m Queen Cable Car