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Happy Sunday at Binh Luc Orphanage (BLVT1) – 1 day (Sunday)

Grade: Easy
Best Season: Year-round

Established in 1990, the Binh Luc Orphanage provides a home for 43 children aged between 3 and 15 years old as well as a 2 month old baby. The children of Binh Luc come from disadvantaged agricultural communities. In many cases the families cannot afford to raise or educate the children and are forced to abandon them. With limited assistance from the local government, the orphanage relies heavily on donations and sponsorship. Buffalo Tours is proud to be a leading patron for the orphanage. A monthly fund from Buffalo Tours is now directly transferred to Binh Luc Centre for a nutritional program.

To generate further awareness and funding for the orphanage, Buffalo Tours has a community project scheme in place, where travelers can volunteer their time to assist in the orphanage. Depending on time and availability, volunteers may be involved in English language training; preparing nutritional meals or building educational facilities and resources. Or simply join our Binh Luc day trip for a visit and a play with the children.

Morning:
Departing Hanoi at 8:30am, we will drive 70km to Ha Nam Province, it’s a very pleasant drive with beautiful landscape outside the window. We will arrive in the Binh Luc Orphanage Centre around 10:30am.

Upon arrival we will spend some time to talk to the orphanage Director – also a surrogate mum to the children. Then we will we meet the children and have a tour of the orphanage.

At midday we will join the children for lunch. You will have the chance to sit with the kids and learn some Vietnamese and provide them with the opportunity to practice their English.

Afternoon:
After lunch, around 1:30 – 2:30pm, we will gather in the classroom. With the support of the tour guide, we run 2 - 3 small English games and 1 fun game with the children. After the games, we will present any donations or gifts to Mrs. Hoa, the director.

Time and weather permitting, we can play some outdoor games before heading back to Hanoi (e.g.: badminton, football). Our vehicle will take us back to Hanoi at 3:15pm, arriving back in Hanoi around 5pm.

Pre Departure information

• During week times the children go to school and have to finish their homework after school, that is why we only run the trip on Sundays.
• The trip is suitable for all ages and we recommend small groups start from 2 up to 15 customers since the facilities in the orphanage are still very limited and out of sensitivity to the children.
• The trip cost already includes $15 donation money, the reason for this fixed amount is to make sure the donation from customers will best benefit the children and contribute to supplying for the most urgent requirements of the children. This is also the fairest and most responsible way to ensure the children are treated equally. As well as ensuring they do not equate ‘money’ with visitors or ‘foreigners’ and begin to expect it.
• In case you would like to donate more to the Binh Luc – Buffalo Tours Fund please contact our staffs for advice. and
• Additional gifts from you are welcome. Stationeries, books, color pencils, and education games… are highly appreciated, however please give this to our guide so he can give to the Director of the orphanage to be distributed fairly.
• All activities in the itinerary are only suggested, you are welcome to contact us and suggest more activities for trip (dental check, general health check, hair cut, basic football skill etc…). If you are in a big group and willing to do more like painting or gardening we could also arrange it. The orphanage is very simple and the opportunities to improve sanitary and structural conditions are endless! Tell us what your skills are and we can recommend the best volunteer activities for you. Otherwise, a visit and a friendly play is fine also!

Trip cost includes

• All ground transport
• Lunch at Binh Luc Orphanage Center
• Guide or assistant Staff
• 15US$ donation money to prepare activities equipments and support Library fund

Trip cost doesn’t include

• Admission at free time
• Personal expenses
• Tip and gratuities
  

No of Pax	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	From 10 up
Price	55	47	43	39	37	36	35	34	33