Optometry and Eye Care in Vietnam
About the tour
Eye care in Vietnam is still developing at a national level. There are significant disparities between the rich and the poor and between urban and rural areas. A range of professional visits and meetings with optometrists will provide excellent insight into optometry and eye care in Vietnam. The professional programme is balanced by a wide range of cultural visits with ample opportunity to experience the beauty, culture and history of Vietnam and enjoy its fabulous cuisine.
There is an optional extension to the magnificent temples of Angkor in Cambodia after the tour.
Download our brochure Optometry and Eye Care in Vietnam Book now
Your tour leader
David Shannon
David Shannon graduated in 1986 from Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee, as a Doctor of Optometry. Between 2010 and 2013 he was Chairman of the AOP (Association of Optometrists). Previously he was AOP Board member responsible for OT (Optometry Today). He has consulted for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and has trained practitioners across the UK. Until 2014 he worked in the family practice, Shannon and Carton Ltd, in London. David has supervised undergraduate optometry students at City University’s contact lens clinic. David has led many successful optometry study tours, including to China, Cuba, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal and Peru, for Jon Baines Tours.
Need more information?
- Tel: (Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764
- Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Hanoi (Mon, 14 Mar) Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to the hotel.Take a walking tour of Hanoi’s ‘Thirty-six Streets’ including Medicine, Silk, Silver and Optical Streets, and visit Hoan Kiem Lake. In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner at Le Tonkin.
- Day 2: Hanoi (Tues, 15 Mar) Early start to visit the Hanoi Flower Market. Return for breakfast before visiting the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda and Hanoi Opera House. Visit the National Acupuncture Hospital and examine the use of traditional therapies in eye care. Talk: “Optometry around the world and in Vietnam” by David Shannon.
- Day 3: Hanoi (Wed, 16 Mar) Optional early morning coffee by the lake. Visit the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology. Learn about eye care and the status of optometry in Vietnam. Lunch at Koto. Learn about their initiatives with street children. Time at leisure.
- Day 4: Hanoi / Halong Bay (Thurs, 17 Mar) Drive to Halong Bay and board the Victory Star Junk.Cruise through beautiful Halong Bay, stopping at limestone caves, with options to swim, kayak or relax on deck.
- Day 5: Halong Bay / overnight train (Fri, 18 Mar) Cruise back to port Visit a traditional Water Puppet Theatre at Dao Thuc village. Take the Reunification Express train first class to Hue.
- Day 6: Hue (Sat, 19 Mar) Travel on one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world along the coast to Hue. Transfer to your hotel and afternoon at leisure before dinner in a local restaurant.
- Day 7: Hue (Sun, 20 Mar) Take a guided tour of Hue Citadel. Cruise back to the hotel by dragon boat along the Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda to see a service before dinner.
- Day 8: Hue / Hoi An (Mon, 21 Mar) Visit the School for the Blind and its low vision unit. Drive to Hoi An. Visit the Minh Mang Tombs and Khai Dinh Mausoleum. At leisure in the town to relax before dinner.
- Day 9: Hoi An (Tues, 22 Mar) Walking tour of the old quarter of Hoi An. Afternoon at leisure with options to have clothes made, visit the silk market, etc.
- Day 10: Hoi An (Wed, 23 Mar) Take boat across Thu Bon River and visit Kim Bong village, artisans’ villages and surrounding countryside littered with ancestral tombs and family temples. Lunch at a local herb and vegetable farm. At leisure or optional Vietnamese cookery class.
- Day 11: Hoi An / Ho Chi Minh City (Thurs, 24 Mar) Transfer to Danang and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Visit Ben Thanh Market. Visit Ngoc Toàn Opticians, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and Reunification Palace. Dinner at Indochine.
- Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City (Fri, 25 Mar) Visit Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital and learn about optometry education and its development. Meet with local optometrists. Afternoon at leisure or options to visit the War Remnants Museum or FITO Museum. Farewell dinner at Ngon.
- Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City (Sat, 26 Mar) Morning at leisure (or take extension to Siem Reap – see below). Depart Ho Chin Minh City for the airport.
Extension to Siem Reap
- Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City (Sat, 26 Mar) Fly to Siem Reap and transfer to the Hotel Lotus Blanc. At leisure. Dinner at the Foreign Correspondents Club.
- Day 14: Siem Reap (Sun, 27 Mar) Early morning visit to Angkor Thom and the Bayon. Return to the hotel for breakfast before visiting the Angkor Wat complex. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at Vrioth.
- Day 15: Siem Reap (Mon, 28 Mar) Morning at leisure before departing for the airport.
Tour cost
Ground only cost is USD $3,402 per person sharing (excluding international flights and transfers).