Vietnam Mission 2015
November 7 – 15, 2015

Hi Guys!!  OK, here is the long awaited follow up to our preliminary notice for our North Vietnam Mission, November 7-15).  As a mission trip to Asia requires a greater time commitment than our typical Latin America missions but will prove to be well worth the time commitment.

Vietnam has an incredibly vibrant and growing economy, however, once you leave the urban centers, the locals live much as they have for centuries.  Ky Nam in the Ha Tinh province (where we will conduct our first two clinics) is a small, extremely poor fishing village located approximately 75 km north of Dong Hoi where hundreds of families have been displaced by the ongoing construction of a massive Chinese steel mill.  Unfortunately, it appears that the locals will receive very little benefit from the construction project, as the vast majority of the 5,000 current employees are reportedly Chinese nationals.

Phang Nha our last clinic site is a delightful, quaint village that is located in the Phong Nha-ke Bang National Park, home of absolutely gorgeous limestone mountains, dense jungle and of the just recently discovered Son Doong cave (the largest in the world (go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/29/son-doong_n_3873341.html for an incredible photo essay of Son Doong) and Hang An cave (third largest in the world).  They are part of the Tu Lan cave system which is now listed as an UNESCO Heritage site.   While still in it’s infancy, the recent recognition as a tourist destination will hopefully lead to improved living conditions of the villagers.  The Hmong ethnic population living in and around the park live much as they have during the last 500 yrs.  Monsoon rains not  infrequently inundate the valley completely engulfing the villages.

This will prove to be one of our most rewarding and productive missions as you get to immerse yourself in the incredibly warm, open and gracious Vietnamese culture!

The currently proposed agenda is:

Nov 7:  Arrive Hanoi, VN (Have to leave the US on the 6^th to arrive on the 7^th)
Nov 8:  Free day to explore Hanoi
Nov 9:  Fly to Dong Hoi (early am flight). Short bus ride to Ky Lam and do afternoon clinic at the smaller village clinic outside of Ky Lam
Nov 10,11:  Clinics at the larger community clinic in Ky Lam
Nov 12:  Short bus ride to Phong Nha;  Late morning thru afternoon clinic
Nov 13:  Vistit the Tu-Lan cave system
Nov 14:  Fly to Hanoi early am to allow time to explore the Old Town of Hanoi and
the multiple historic sites such as the “Hanoi Hilton”.  We will stay in the magnificent, historic Hotel Metropole www.sofitel-legend.com/hanoi/en, which has hosted famed diplomats, heads of states, writers and entertainers.  Located in the Historic French District, it has been rated one of, if not THE finest hotel in Vietnam.
Nov 15:  Fly home.  (Typically, if you leave VN on the 15^th, you’ll arrive back in the States on the 15^th due to crossing the International Time Zone)

Again, the central area of Vietnam has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and is not to be missed!  Please let me or Steve know if you are interested or have any questions regarding this incredible mission!

The tax deductible donation for this mission is $1,985; this includes airfare to and from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, all lodging and transportation costs in country, meals, medications and supplies (Airfare to and from Vietnam and alcoholic drinks not included).

Ed Atwell,  M.D.                            Marty Stewart
ed@moramerica.com                   marty.moa@gmail.com
atwelle@gmail.com                     (678) 901-2122
(770) 655-5268

Steve Mason
steve@masonimage.com
(360) 607-8400

Medical Outreach of America, Inc.
Building Bridges, Connecting Worlds
www.medicaloutreachofamerica.com