Hanoi CIP

I'll be heading for the first overseas CIP trip of my life on Saturday afternoon to Hanoi, Vietnam. Don't know what to expect there but definitely going to gain new insights. I'll just treat it as a 6-day camp. Have a great company going with me that will surely filled with entertainment daily. But on the other hand, extra work and meetings every night. My boss already prep me that he will be going through work stuff with me over the nights. That spoils my plan of reading and relaxing at night.

Did some reading up of the places I'll be staying and working.

1st day - 20th Nov
Staying at Pacific Hotel. http://www.pacifichotel.com.vn/bookroom.asp
Looks pretty good. And more importantly, WIFI access!!

2nd - 4th day - 21st to 24th Nov
Will be heading to Hai Duong Welfare Centre.
Address: No 93 duong Nguyen Luong Bang – Thanh pho Hai Duong.
Not much facilities there. Definitely no WIFI. I'll be glad enough if there is water and electricity. Nevertheless, I have air pillow, sleeping bag, light stick, torch and energy bars ready.

A little background of the centre:
"Hai Duong welfare center was established in March 1982. With about 1000 disabled and disadvantaged children coming from many parts of Hai Duong province, it's the biggest center of this type in the nort of VIetnam. The center aims to provide compulsory education and vocational training to create employment opportunities for the teenagers with many different age groups. The center has a wide variety of courses for children ranging from infants to 18 years old. For example, the nurses will take care of the orphans, while children between the ages of 6 to 12 will be provided with educational courses, and the older children are able to attend vocational training courses at the center. Furthermore, the center will help to look for job opportunities for the children when they finish their courses.

In the welfare center, the children are handicapped in many different ways. Some are deaf mute, some are mentally disabled, some are physically disabled, and some are both. Some of them can make many activities and some of them are heavily handicapped. So all the activities you plan have to be adapted to the children. They all have different skills and difficulties. Try to be imaginative and flexible. With one more or one less rule in a game you can make it more accessible to all of them. The children can have unexpected behaviours. Be ready to deal with it. There will be a Vietnamese teacher to help you in the activities."

5th day - 25th Nov
Will be staying at Viet Hotel!
http://www.hotels-in-vietnam.com/hotels/hanoi/viet_hotel.html
Back to civilisation. Free WIFI!!

6th day - 26th Nov
Back to Singapore on a morning flight.