SORRY! This trip is being rescheduled for 2012. Please give us a shout if you’d like to be kept on the list and updated when we’ve chosen some new dates.
info (at) WanderTours (dot) com
Vietnam Transformation Tour with Ainslie MacLeod
11-day tour through Vietnam (co-ed)
Spiritual and workshop leader: Ainslie MacLeod
Tour leader: Beatrice Crouch
“Ainslie MacLeod is at the frontier of exploration into the soul and its profound influence on our physical selves.”
-Dr. Mehmet C. Oz
Author of You: The Owner’s Manual
Ainslie MacLeod currently has a 2-year wait list for new sessions. Book this tour today and you’ll be given preferred placement for a session with Ainslie prior to the tour!
This 11-day tour is more than a travel experience through Vietnam. This is a transformational journey with renowned spiritual guide, Ainslie MacLeod. In addition to touring some of the most popular sights in Saigon, Danang and Hanoi, participants will be led through intensive daily workshops with Ainslie who is the author of The Instruction and The Transformation. Ainslie has been interviewed by Oprah on her Soul Series, and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz is quoted as saying, “Ainslie MacLeod is at the frontier of exploration into the soul and its profound influence on our physical selves.” This tour is sure to be a journey of a life time!
Your trip begins in Saigon, where the group will take part in workshops, and tour this vibrant, growing city as well as the Mekong Delta. The group will then fly to Hue and be based in this central region of the country for more workshops and sightseeing. The journey finishes up in Hanoi with workshops, a tour of Hanoi’s highlights as well as an overnight on a traditional junk boat in Ha Long Bay!
Read these Vietnam Holiday and Vacation Tips
Read Vietnam FAQs
View Beth’s Vietnam photo gallery
Itinerary
Arrival – Saigon
Upon arrival in Saigon, a guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. During the first evening, there will be a welcome dinner and overview of your time in Vietnam given by Ainslie. Overnight at the Majestic Hotel in Saigon.
Day 1
September 14, 2011 – Saigon
In the morning, the group will have a half-day workshop at the hotel. This will be followed by lunch and then, in the afternoon, the group will enjoy a half-day city tour of Saigon. Depending on the timing, this will include the following:
* Reunification Palace which is preserved almost exactly as it was in April 1975, when its gates were stormed and the war ended.
* Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office which are built in classic French architecture.
* Ben Thanh Market where you can find an extensive selection of goods ranging from shoes to beautiful silk ao dais (traditional Vietnamese dress).
Dinner will be at a local restaurant. The group will then transfer back to the hotel for a one-hour workshop. Overnight in Saigon at the Majestic Hotel.
HIGHLIGHT! You’ll be invigorated by the exciting pace of Saigon, a city filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. Wander the bustling streets and you’ll understand why it’s the commercial center of the country.
Day 2
September 15, 2011 – Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
On this day, the group will drive to My Tho (pronounced “me taw”) and then travel by traditional boat along a vast network of canals and channels along the Mekong Delta and visit the local floating markets. Lunch will be served in an orchard and the group will visit a bonsai garden before returning to Saigon in the late afternoon. After dinner, the group will return to the hotel for a one-hour workshop. Overnight in Saigon at the Majestic Hotel
HIGHLIGHT! The South’s Mekong Delta is known as the ‘rice bowl’ of the country. Vietnam relies heavily on the production of the region’s rice harvest. The area is also famous for its wide range of flowers, vegetables and delicious tropical fruits.
Day 3
September 16, 2011 – Ho Chi Minh City – Flight to Hue
The group will leave early in the morning and fly to Hue. Your bags will be left at the hotel (it will be too early to check in, your luggage will be sent on by the tour operator). On arrival, you will depart for a tour of Hue. This will include the walled Citadel containing the spectacular former Imperial Palace. The group will also see the final resting place of the Emperors at one of the most impressive Royal Tombs. Lunch will be provided in the afternoon followed by a half-day workshop.
After dinner, there will be one-hour workshop at the hotel. Overnight at La Residence in Hue.
HIGHLIGHT! Hue is famous for being the capital of imperial Vietnam. It’s where the Nguyen dynasty ruled from the early 1800’s to about 1950. The architecture and history are quite unique compared to the rest of the country.
Day 4
September 17, 2011 – Hue – Danang
After breakfast, the group will transfer to nearby Danang. After checking into the hotel, you’ll enjoy lunch and then a half-day workshop. There will be a short break before dinner at a local restaurant, then back to the hotel for a one-hour workshop. Overnight at Furama Resort in Danang.
Day 5
September 18, 2011 – Danang – Hoi An – Danang
After breakfast, the group will drive to Hoi An. There will be a half-day workshop at a local hotel and then a lunch break. In the afternoon, the group will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
The group will then return to Danang and, after dinner, have a one-hour workshop at night. Overnight at Furama Resort in Danang.
HIGHLIGHT! Situated along the Perfume River, Hoi An boasts a wide variety of cafes and tourist shops selling hand-tailored clothes. This village is slow-paced and charming.
Day 6
September 19, 2011 – Danang
After breakfast, the group will enjoy a visit to Marble Mountain, a famous location during the Vietnam-American war. The group will return to the hotel for a half-day workshop with a lunch break. This afternoon you are free until dinner with another one-hour workshop at night. Overnight at Furama Resort in Danang.
HIGHLIGHT! The Vietcong secretly kept a hospital in the caves of Marble Mountain which stands very near to China Beach. It was this area where the U.S. military came for R&R during the Vietnam-American war.
Day 7
September 20, 2011 – Danang
In the morning, the group will visit the nearby Cham Museum and then return to the hotel for lunch and an afternoon half-day workshop.
Following dinner, the group will have another one-hour workshop. Overnight at Furama Resort in Danang.
Day 8
September 21, 2011 – Danang – Flight to Hanoi
On this day, the group will fly to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you’ll transfer to your hotel and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, there will be a half-day city tour that may include:
* The Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070.
* Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island on Hoan Kiem Lake. This temple dates back to the 13th century.
* A one-hour cyclo tour through the tiny, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter, this is a must for any visitor to Hanoi!
* A traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.
In the evening, there will be dinner at local restaurant, then a one-hour workshop. Overnight at The Intercontinental Hotel in Hanoi.
HIGHLIGHT! Hanoi has become a mecca for artists and has a thriving cafe and restaurant culture. The tree-lined streets and relative peace and quiet here are vastly different from Saigon.
Day 9
September 22, 2011 – Hanoi – Ha Long – Overnight on private Indochina Junk boat
In the morning, the group will transfer from the hotel in Hanoi to Ha Long City, about 4 hours away, with a refreshment break en-route. You will meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded Bai Tu Long Bay.
You’ll visit ancient limestone caves and go sea kayaking and swimming if the weather permits. Return to the junk refreshed and invigorated and enjoy time on deck with a drink and a view of the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars. Overnight aboard the Dragon’s Pearl.
HIGHLIGHT! You’ll enjoy a lovely overnight stay on a houseboat on Ha Long Bay. This waterway is surrounded by limestone karsts and is well known for being a destination for adventurers seeking climbing and watersport activities.
Day 10
September 23, 2011 – Ha Long – Hanoi
After a refreshing sleep on the boat, you’ll wake up to coffee and enjoy breakfast on beautiful Ha Long Bay. The boat will cruise through Bai Tu Long and visit the floating fishing village of Vung Vieng. You’ll meet the locals and learn about daily life here. You’ll then return to the main dock around noon where the bus will be waiting to depart for Hanoi, arriving at the hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hanoi.
Day 11
September 24, 2011 – Depart Hanoi
After breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel and be transferred to the airport for flights out of Vietnam. You may choose to stay longer, in which case additional nights and/or tours can be arranged.
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Costs:
Interested in sharing? We do our best to pair up same-sex travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing – PLEASE send in deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement charge? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)
Price includes: Hotel transfer to and from airport at beginning and end of trip. All in-country transportation, hotels and meals. Includes daily workshops with Ainslie MacLeod.
Price does not include: International flights to and from Vietnam, Vietnam visa (available separately), souvenirs, travel or evacuation insurance, personal purchases (such as books and snacks), beverages and tips.
We recommend MedEx Assist for travel and/or evacuation insurance.
This tour is limited to 25 people and requires a $1,000 deposit on a first come, first served basis.
Registration Form Transformation Tour 2011 (PDF)
Please make payable and send check with registration form to:
Beth Whitman
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
For questions, please contact Beth:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-937-6789
Deposits and full payment may also be made with a credit/debit card through PayPal. Simply send payment to: beth (at) wandertours (dot) com.
Ainslie MacLeod currently has a 2-year wait list for new sessions. Book this tour today and you’ll be given preferred placement for a session with Ainslie prior to the tour!
Vietnam Transformation Tour Packing List (PDF)
Vietnam Transformation Tour 2011 Itinerary (PDF)
Workshop and Psychic Leader
About Ainslie MacLeod
Ainslie MacLeod is an internationally acclaimed psychic, and author of The Transformation: Healing Your Past-Life Fears to Realize Your Soul’s Potential (Sounds True, 2010) and The Instruction: Living the Life Your Soul Intended (Sounds True, 2007).
For more than a decade he has used his psychic abilities to explore the influence of the soul on human beliefs and behavior. More recently, his investigations have led him to focus on uncovering past-life trauma to heal unexplained fears, phobias and other blocks to happiness in the present.
Ainslie has been a featured guest on Oprah’s Soul Series, and is a faculty member at the Omega Institute and Kripalu. He was the recipient of a gold medal for his first book, The Instruction, from the Independent Publisher Association.
He currently lives on a tranquil island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two children.
Tour Guide
About Beatrice Crouch
In the early 90’s, Beatrice moved to Seattle to start a tour company specializing in trips to Vietnam and Southeast Asia. From her first visit to Vietnam it was love at first sight!
Going to Vietnam as an American in 1995 held mixed emotions for her, as she was not sure how she would be greeted. What she found was a country that held much beauty not only in the countryside, but in the gracious hospitality of the people.
Beatrice has traveled to Vietnam many times, and on each trip it always leaves her wanting more. She considers the country to be truly one of the most beautiful and diverse, with a rich culture, abundant natural beauty and some of the most charming, gracious people she has met through her travels.
Vietnam is a country where she found a life she loves, as well as the love of her life. In 2001, she met her husband while she was doing business in Vietnam and he was backpacking through Southeast Asia. They now live on a island in the Northwest with their lovely daughter. She looks forward to taking you on a journey to Vietnam, a place she holds dear in her heart!