News Reporter
This winter, students are traveling to Vietnam with the Outdoor Program to climb Vietnam’s highest peak, trek through villages and eat unique Vietnamese cuisine. The trip is from Dec. 14 through Jan. 21 and is offered as a J-term course.
Outdoor Program leader and highly experienced traveler Chad Thatcher will be guiding students on the adventure. He is hoping to take 10-15 students.
“I have lead 20 international trips to 50 different countries, and I have traveled to 105 countries,” Thatcher said.
He wanted to go to Vietnam for this trip for several reasons.
“We have wanted to get back to Southeast Asia for a while,” Thatcher said. “Vietnam seemed like a great place to check out. Vietnam has everything I look for in a travel destination: great landscapes, outdoor adventure, culture, food, and oceans.”
Exploring Vietnam exposes students to a rare culture.
“The Vietnam experience is a cultural smorgasbord of Hindi, Chinese, French and American influences that is infused within a Communist Party ideology that makes for an intoxicating and unique cultural experience,” Thatcher said.
Many beautiful sights and exciting adventures are available for students going to Vietnam.
“Vietnam is big on nature and booming cities, such as white-sand beaches, pristine rain forests, atmospheric old French hill stations, ancient imperial ruins, busy ports, limestone formations jutting out of the ocean, buzzing metropolises, and one of the world’s most legendary watery deltas,” Thatcher said.
The trip begins in the capital of Hanoi and ends in the city of Ho Chi Minh, with many adventures between.
“All of these environments provide the perfect platform for learning the values of expedition planning,” Thatcher said.
This trip is offered as an upper level kinesiology course called KINE 396: Expedition Planning, but students can also receive credit for a number of other kinesiology courses.
The approximate cost of the trip is about $5,230. This includes airfare, food, lodging, passports and visas, tours, and a tuition fee of $650.
“Remember that the only money that goes to the University is tuition,” Thatcher said. “All other expenses depend on your personal spending habits.” “For example, you do not have to spend money on diving, and money for food and lodging can be trimmed as you become more familiar with your surroundings.”
Thatcher encourages students to stop by the Outdoor Program office to learn about upcoming trips.
lpratt@coloradomesa.edu
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