On 27th January 2005, thirty-eight students of the British School Muscat embarked on the trip of a lifetime. We began a 10 day tour of Vietnam, while also stopping off en-route in Bangkok.
These students and the staff who accompanied them (Mr Furlong, Mr Reeves, Mrs Robins, Ms Fensome and Mrs MacDonald) would witness sights and experiences that they will remember of the rest of their lives.

From the moment we arrived in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, we knew that this was going to be a trip that would pack in as much as possible. To stand in front of the 'Reclining Buddha' was to be in awe. This was the same for most of the trip around the exotic and enchanting temples of Wot Po.

A few hours later, we were in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam. As we traveled through the streets of this former French city, we noted the beautiful mix of Chinese and French architecture that was around every corner.

As soon as we arrived, we began to absorb the culture and history of this fascinating country. Some of the students made a real effort in absorbing this culture, with Richard Newell becoming a 'dab hand' at Vietnamese during the trip! Visiting Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum gave us an insight into the country and was the first indication for the students of the importance of the man that the Vietnamese people lovingly named "Uncle Ho". He died in 1969, yet the people still idolize him. His image is everywhere and it is still with real reverence that the local people talk of him.

As well as visiting the 'tourist haunts' we also sought to experience the 'real' Vietnam. To this end, the forty-three of us sat in a long line of cyclos (Rick-shaw style vehicles) and we went in procession, through the streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter. It was a chaotic yet fascinating journey. Sitting in the cyclo while the driver negotiated the teeming streets was certainly hair-raising. Later we visited the famous Water Puppets show. This colourful spectacle and the sheer skill of the performers brought gasps of awe from the audience.

As the tour progressed, the group would soon settle into a highly efficient airport routine as we flew from city to city (in all, we caught six different flights during our travels!). While the teachers sorted out the tickets, the students would soon settle down and begin playing cards to wile away the time.
Visiting the ancient city of Hue, was a highlight of the trip. Housing the former emperors 'Forbidden City', this huge walled site contained many ruins that were very impressive. Hue also gave many of the students their first taste of another delight of Vietnam. Shopping!!! Many of the girls (including the staff!) soon found shops in the city that could design and make silk dresses, with Merueyrt amongst those modeling delightful creations. It was also in Hue where we celebrated the first of the two birthdays on our trip. Both Steven Mackay and Michael Yates had birthday cakes provided for them by the hotels we stayed in and we all serenaded them with the 'Happy Birthday' song.

Possibly the most scenic location of our stay in Vietnam was Hoian. The streets were lined with beautiful lacquered houses. The interiors featured intricate carvings and antique furniture. The city had numerous shops to satisfy even the most die-hard of shoppers (Kirsty, Jess, Ronny, Stacey, Ms Fensome and Mrs Robins!) with silk embroidered bags being a particular favourite. We even visited a 'silk factory' where the children saw the whole process from the silk worms through to the incredibly cheap finished products. Satisfied shoppers included Mr Furlong with a very tasteful blue shirt and Fabian who picked out a lovely pair of silk boxer shorts!

Cruising down the Perfume River was another fantastic experience. Traveling in two boats, we sailed down this huge sweeping waterway. It was very atmospheric as the sun began to set on the glistening river (an excellent photo opportunity!).

One of the most eerie locations we visited were the ruins of My Son. Location of the ancient Champa kingdom, My Son is set in the lush mountains of central Vietnam, a two hour drive from Hoian. All the temples were from the 4th -12th centuries and to walk around this ancient civilization and to view inside the structures was a very memorable experience.

Our final destination, Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by the locals), was themostcosmopolitanlocation we stayed in. It had a more 'western' feel than Hanoi, incorporating modern architecture alongside traditional structures. The pupils enjoyed the opportunity of visiting the designer boutiques, the bustling markets and sites such as the War Museum.

Saigon was also a base to visit other sites in the south. One of the most memorable was the visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels complex. It was from here that the Viet Cong masterminded much of their guerilla war operations. We went down the tunnels and looked on with morbid fascination as the guides explained how many of the booby traps operated (Michael Smith particularly enjoyed this part of the trip!).

Feeling like an extra in 'Apocalypse Now', we also had the opportunity of sailing down the Mekong Delta. We began by sailing past the bustling floating markets where all manners of produce was being sold from traditional boats. We then traveled down the tributaries of the Delta and experienced the rural sights of the riverside villages before enjoying a lovely lunch. A truly fascinating journey.

During those ten days away, the students and staff experienced a culture they will remember forever. For many it has inspired us to revisit Vietnam and for all it left us with many memories which we will always treasure ………