Writing SVIP

Fill in the blanks to complete the passage.

A. there were no cars, only bicycles and motorbikes

B. Seeing hundreds of small lights floating on the dark river was magical

C. I tried the local Cao Lầu noodles, and they were really good

D. I was worried that there would be too many tourists

E. We also visited an old meeting hall with big wooden columns

_________

I went to Hoi An Ancient Town a few months ago for a day trip with my friends. It was on a sunny Saturday. I was excited to see the old streets, but (1) .

When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was the yellow walls of the houses. The town looked very old and beautiful. The streets were small, and (2) . I saw the river with many colorful boats. It was like going back in time!

My friend and I rented bicycles to see the town. We visited the Japanese Covered Bridge. It was small but very famous. I took many photos of the bridge and the river. (3) . The architecture was different and interesting.

Later, we walked slowly through the lantern streets. Many shops sold bright, colorful silk lanterns. We stopped at a street food stall for lunch. (4) . The food was warm and comforting.

In the evening, we took a small boat on the river. We bought two paper lanterns and put them on the water for good luck. (5) . It was the best part of the day.

I had a wonderful trip. I didn't worry about the tourists because the town felt so peaceful and lovely. I learned a lot about the history of Vietnam through the old buildings. I hope to return there again soon!

Fill in the blanks with the suitable headings.

1.

I went to Hoi An Ancient Town a few months ago for a day trip with my friends. It was on a sunny Saturday. I was excited to see the old streets, but I was worried that there would be too many tourists.

2.

When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was the yellow walls of the houses. The town looked very old and beautiful. The streets were small, and there were no cars, only bicycles and motorbikes. I saw the river with many colorful boats. It was like going back in time!

My friend and I rented bicycles to see the town. We visited the Japanese Covered Bridge. It was small but very famous. I took many photos of the bridge and the river. We also visited an old meeting hall with big wooden columns. The architecture was different and interesting.

3.

Later, we walked slowly through the lantern streets. Many shops sold bright, colorful silk lanterns. We stopped at a street food stall for lunch. I tried the local Cao Lầu noodles, and they were really good. The food was warm and comforting.

4.

In the evening, we took a small boat on the river. We bought two paper lanterns and put them on the water for good luck. Seeing hundreds of small lights floating on the dark river was magical. It was the best part of the day.

5.

I had a wonderful trip. I didn't worry about the tourists because the town felt so peaceful and lovely. I learned a lot about the history of Vietnam through the old buildings. I hope to return there again soon!

Before / we / arrive, / I / see / many terraced rice fields / the hillsides.

My dad / be / interested / trekking, / so / we / walk / down / the valley / many hours.

I / feel / a little scared / because it / be / high, / but the scenery / be / worth it.

After / come / home, / I feel / stronger / love / the fresh mountain air.

a. Although the heat was challenging, we kept moving forward.

b. Suddenly, I heard a loud, strange call—it was a colorful exotic bird, hidden in the leaves! Eventually, after nearly three hours of difficult hiking, we emerged onto a high cliff.

c. Last year, I went trekking deep inside a remote jungle in Thailand. The air was thick and incredibly humid, making every step feel heavy.

d. We followed a narrow, muddy path, where sunlight barely reached us through the dense canopy above.

e. The view of the valley below was breathtaking. I felt completely exhausted but incredibly satisfied by the adventure.

a. The family was incredibly welcoming, although their house was very simple.

b. Every morning, I helped the children collect water from the nearby stream, which felt like a real adventure. In the evenings, we sat together outside and shared a simple, delicious meal.

c. We couldn't speak the same language, but we communicated perfectly using gestures and warm smiles.

d. Last spring, I decided to visit a very small, remote village hidden in the hills. My intention was to stay with a local family to truly understand their culture.

e. I realized that happiness does not depend on having many things.

a. Last autumn, I visited Hanoi and decided to spend an evening exploring the Old Quarter.

b. I carefully chose a vendor for Phở and sat on a small plastic stool. After finishing the soup, I moved on to sample some crispy Nem Cua Bể.

c. Everything tasted wonderfully authentic and fresh. I truly experienced the city's heart through its street food that night.

d. I felt slightly overwhelmed but excited to try the city's famous food.

e. The streets were incredibly crowded and full of energy, with motorcycles passing constantly. The air carried a delicious smell of cooking from every corner.

a. Although the building was basic, it was full of laughter and energy.

b. One little girl eventually asked me to read her a story. As I read, she held my hand tightly.

c. Last December, I spent a week volunteering at a small orphanage in a small town. When I arrived, I was quite shy, unsure how to interact with the children.

d. My main job was simply helping them with their homework and organizing games.

e. That moment made me feel extremely happy and purposeful. I realized that giving your time is much more important than giving money.

a. Instead of calling travel agents, I opened a mobile booking app on my phone. I found the app incredibly useful and efficient.

b. Within fifteen minutes, I compared different airlines and successfully booked a direct flight.

c. Although I was initially worried about the process, the app made planning simple and fast. It even sent me instant notifications about my gate change.

d. Next, I easily secured a small, affordable hotel room near the venue.

e. Last summer, I needed to travel quickly for a friend's wedding, and I had very little time to arrange everything.

a. I walked slowly, trying to take everything in. I stopped at a small stall to try some local street snacks.

b. Music came from every bar, creating a chaotic but exciting atmosphere.

c. Last weekend, I visited Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City. I had heard it was famous, but the reality was incredible.

d. Although I felt a little overwhelmed by the energy, it was a fantastic experience.

e. The street was incredibly crowded, and the noise level was surprising.

a. Fortunately, I remembered I had a translator app on my phone. I spoke into the phone, and it instantly translated my words into the local language.

b. I was trying to order dinner, but I struggled to explain what I wanted.

c. The app truly solved the problem and made me feel more confident traveling alone in places where language is a barrier.

d. I was traveling in a small town last summer, and I quickly realized that nobody spoke English.

e. The waitress immediately understood and smiled. Eventually, we managed to have a short but pleasant conversation using technology.

Dear Travel Agency Team,

I am writing to ask about your "Alpine Discovery" tour package that I saw on your website.

a. Could you please confirm the available dates for this tour in June or July?

b. I also need to know the total price for two adults.

c. What exactly is included in the cost? Does the package cover flights, the hotel accommodation, and meals, or only the activities?

d. Please send me a detailed itinerary or a PDF brochure with all the necessary information.

e. I am very interested in booking, but I have a few important questions first.

Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to your reply.

Best regards,

Nguyen Khang

Dear Sarah Johnson,

Thank you so much for booking your "Alpine Discovery" trip with us!

a. We are very happy that you chose GlobeTrek Adventures for your upcoming adventure.

b. If you have any questions before then, please reply to this email or call us.

c. We will send your full travel documents (including your flight details, hotel vouchers, and detailed itinerary) in a separate email within the next 48 hours.

d. Please check your spam folder just in case.

e. This email confirms that your reservation is now complete. You are officially all set to travel on October 28, 2025!

We look forward to helping you have a wonderful and stress-free trip!

Best wishes,

The Team at GlobeTrek Adventures

Dear Travel Agency Team,

I am writing about my upcoming trip with your company.

a. Do you offer a personalized itinerary planning service?

b. Also, please let me know if there is an extra cost for using this personalized service.

c. Could you please explain the process for requesting these changes?

d. For example, I would like to know if it is possible to add an extra day in Vienna at the end of the trip, or maybe change one of the museum visits to a food market experience.

e. The standard itinerary for the "Alpine Discovery" tour looks wonderful, but I want to ask about adding some personal touches.

Thank you very much for the details. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Kien Tran

Dear Maria Rodriguez,

a. The exciting date for your European Cities Express adventure to Rome is getting closer! It's time to start the final preparations.

b. Please download the file today! We are always here if you need advice or have any last-minute questions.

c. You can find the guide attached to this email. It is named "Ready to Go: Your European Cities Express Guide."

d. This document has three important sections to help you prepare: Your Travel Documents: A reminder to check your passport and any needed visas; Health and Safety: Tips for basic medicine and local safety rules; Packing Essentials: What you definitely need to bring for your journey.

e. To make things easy, we have created a special, easy-to-use checklist for you.

We wish you a fantastic trip!

The Team at Global Journeys

Hi Alex,

a. If you want to go faster, the subway/metro is great for long distances.

b. For getting around late at night, it's best to use a taxi app like Uber. They are a bit more expensive, but very safe and reliable.

c. It's fast, but check the map, as some stops might be a bit far from where we live.

d. The best way is often the local bus. They are cheap and run often, stopping near all the main places. You can buy a day ticket for about £5.50.

e. I'm so excited for your visit next week! I wanted to send you a quick note about how you can travel around London easily.

See you soon!

Best,

Chris

Hi Maya,

How are things going? I have a really cool idea for our next adventure!

a. Plus, the local restaurants are fantastic and the whole trip would be much cheaper.

b. How about we aim to go in September? Can you quickly check what flight and hotel prices look like for us?

c. I've been looking at a beautiful place called Kotor in Montenegro. It's a special, old town right by the water, surrounded by huge, beautiful medieval walls.

d. This destination is much more relaxed and a lot less busy than a huge city like Venice.

e. I think you would really love to walk up to the old fortress for amazing views of the crystal-clear bays below.

Let me know what you think of this idea!

Best,

Sam

Hi Lily,

a. A great spot is the neighborhood near Ponte Vecchio. Many small workshops are hidden on the side streets there.

b. I was thinking about your trip to Florence and wanted to share my best advice for shopping.

c. You can often see people making things! Look especially for handmade leather goods or find some nice bottles of fresh local wine or olive oil.

d. Buying here is a wonderful way to find special gifts and support the local families.

e. Big tourist shops are easy, but for truly unique items, you should visit the local artisans and small markets. I promise you will have a better experience!

Have a fantastic time searching for these treasures!

Best,

Emma