Day 1 & 2: (Monday - Tuesday , 11 – 12 June) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal. Depart Los Angeles on our flight to Hong Kong. We lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Wednesday, 13 June) – Ha Noi - or - Ho Chi Minh City
Today we have a Breakaway Tour going to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After a short layover in Hong Kong, we depart for Vietnam. Arriving at Ha Noi’s Noi Bai Airfield (heavily bombed during the war) we proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, clear customs, board our motorcoach, and cross the Red River and its dikes to explore the Ha Noi environs. We visit the Ho Chi Minh House, the One Pillar Pagoda, the John McCain Monument, Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) and the fascinating War Museum. Tonight we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Thang Long Opera
Breakaway Group - After dinner, Breakaway Tour Group will be transferred to Noi Bai Airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After landing at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhut Airfield, we are transferred to our hotel for the evening.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Vien Dong
Day 4: (Thursday, 14 June) – Ha Noi to Da Nang - or - Ho Chi Minh City to Qui Nhon
Main Group - On the way to the airport we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We catch our flight from Noi Bai Airport to Da Nang Airfield. On arrival we check into our hotel have lunch at a local restaurant and head for Marble Mountain and explore the VC Hospital area located deep within. Afterwards we can go for a swim in the South China Sea at China Beach. Tonight after dinner we are free to roam the streets of Da Nang.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Bamboo Green
Breakaway Group - Early this morning we transfer to Tan Son Nhut Airport for flight to Qui Nhon. Upon arrival at Qui Nhon we transfer to our hotel & check-in. Afterwards we tour Qui Nhon, site of 1st Air Cavalry's arrival in Vietnam in September 1965.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Quy Nhon
Day 5: (Friday, 15 June) – Da Nang - or - Qui Nhon to Pleiku
Main Group - We get an early start and head west to visit Dia Loc, Hill 37, Hill 65, Hill 52 and Liberty Bridge (North End). We cross the Song To Bon River into the Arizona Territory and visit the site of Operation Foster. We will spend the time needed in these areas. As we return to Da Nang we stop at Hill 55, 7th Marine Regimental Hill. Dinner on your own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Bamboo Green
Breakaway Group - After breakfast we departure up Route 19 for An Khe and site of Air Cavalry's first Base Camp. We proceed to Pleiku and check into out hotel. Tour Pleiku, site of Camp Holoway, Pleiku Air Base and other Air Cavalry sites. Overnight in Pleiku.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Gialai
Day 6: (Saturday, 16 June) – Da Nang to Hoi An - or - Pleiku
Main Group - We depart early south on Highway 1 and turn west to Hill 119 overlooking Alligator Lake, Liberty Bridge (South End), and An Hoa Combat Base. We make a special visit to the My Son Holyland located deep in the foothills of the Que Son Mountains. My Son is the site of Trakieu, the ancient capital of the Cham Kingdom and contains ruins dating back to the 5th Century. Afterwards, we go into Antenna Valley and return East through the Que Son’s to LZ Ross and LZ Baldy. We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner and a chance to shop in the ancient port town of Hoi An, formerly known as Faifo. You can roam the streets of this city after dinner.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Breakaway Group - After breakfast, we proceed to Tea Plantation southwest of Pleiku and other Air Cavalry sites along Route 14. Tour old Special Forces Camp at Plei Me where the 1/7 Cavalry helicoptered into the Ia Drang in November 1965. LZ Albany and Ia Drang Valley are restricted. The Ia Drang Valley is visible from this site. Overnight in Pleiku.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Gialai
Day 7: (Sunday, 17 June) – Hoi An - or - Pleiku to Hoi An
Main Group - After breakfast we depart for Chu Lai where we will visit the Airbase, Hill 43 and the beach. We continue south to the villages of Thoung Hoa and Tan Hy(1). We explore these villages and then head back north to Hoi An. Dinner on your own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Breakaway Group - Early breakfast and departure via road to Hoi An along Highway 1. We will visit sites along Highway 1 to Hoi An. We arrive late and rejoin Main Group in Hoi An.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 8: (Monday, 18 June) – Hoi An to Da Nang
We depart early for Da Nang where you will have a free day to decompress, relax, shop, or for personal exploration. Visit the beaches, Monkey Mountain or Marble Mountain. Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Tourane Hotel, My Khe Beach
Day 9: (Tuesday, 19 June) – Da Nang to Hue
We then head north on Highway 1 through Da Nang where we will visit Red Beach 2 (were the Marines first landed in 1965) and then across Nam O Bridge and past the Esso Plant on our way up the Hai Van (Sea Clouds) Pass with a stop at the top to explore old French bunkers and take in a parting view of Da Nang Bay. We continue north to Phu Loc and turn west to approach Bach Ma Resort where we have lunch and explore. We continue north on Highway 1 to Phu Bai and into Hue City where we walk the south side of the Perfume River and study the battles of the 1968 Tet Offensive. We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5, covering among others, the former MACV Compound, Tran Cao Van Street, Girl's High School, the ARVN BOQ, Hue University, Treasury, Provincial Capital Building, and the Church of the Redemptress. After dinner you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Festival
Day 10: (Wednesday, 20 June) – Hue to Dong Ha
After breakfast we explore the north side of the Perfume River and the Citadel with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to the northern battle. We finish at the Imperial Palace and visit the Forbidden City. After lunch we depart north to Dong Ha and visit the Lew Puller School and Cua Viet on the river. We cross the Dong Ha Bridge and tell the story of John Ripley and the Easter Offensive of 1972.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hieu Giang
Day 11: (Thursday, 21 June) – Dong Ha to Hue
We travel north to Gio Linh, Song Ben Hai river and turn south to Con Thien (The Hill of Angels), Cam Lo Bridge all parts of Leatherneck Square. We turn west on Highway 9 and stop at Camp Carroll, the military artillery plateau. We continue west to the Rockpile and Razorback, Khe Gia Bridge, CaLu and the Da Krong Bridge. We eat lunch in the village of Khe Sanh and then visit the Khe Sanh Combat Base and the Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei. We return to Hue for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Festival
Day 12: (Friday, 22 June) – Hue
Spend the day with last minute shopping and relaxation. Group farewell dinner tonight.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Festival
Day 13: (Saturday, 23 June) – Hue to Ha Noi
After breakfast, we head to Phu Bai Airfield for our flight to Ha Noi. We arrive at Noi Bai Airport and transfer to our Hotel. We will visit JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts. The balance of the day is preparing for the journey home and last minute shopping. This evening we enjoy a visit to the Marine House, home of the U.S. Marine Corps Security Guard responsible for the protection and defense of the U.S. Ambassador and the American Embassy.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Thang Long Opera
Day 14: (Sunday, 24 June) – RETURN to CONUS
After breakfast, we transfer to Noi Bai Airfield for our short flight to Hong Kong. We depart from Hong Kong, re-cross the International Dateline, and land in Los Angeles this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
