Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday , 07 08 June) Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal. Depart Los Angeles on our flight to Taipei. We lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 09 Sept) Ha Noi
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. Arriving at Ha Nois 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 Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), and the John McCain Monument. This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Thanh Long Opera
Day 4: (Wednesday, 10 June) Ha Noi to Da Nang
On the way to the airport we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We then catch our flight to Da Nang Airfield. On arrival we check into our hotel, have lunch at a local restaurant, and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC Hospital area located deep within. Afterwards, we may have time 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: Green Plaza
Day 5: (Thursday, 11 June) Da Nang to Quang Ngai
Depart south on Highway 1 to Tam Ky, Chu Lai and Quang Ngai. We stop along the way to visit areas of 5th and 7th Marines. In Chu Lai we visit Cresent Beach, Ky Ha and Hill 43. We arrive in Quang Ngai early afternoon and explore east to the coast and the My Lai Memorial.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: My Tra
Day 6: (Friday, 12 June) Quang Ngai to Duc Pho to Hoi An
Depart south on Highway 1 for Duc Pho, Nui Dau, and Hai Mon Village. We return north on Highway 1 to Hoi An check into the hotel and have the evening free to roam the streets and shops of this ancient port city (formerly known as Faifo) where Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese traders once walked.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 7: (Saturday, 13 June) Hoi An
Depart early to the Que Sons, LZ Ross, LZ Baldy and west to Antenna Valley, up and over the Tu Bon River Pass to 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. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 8: (Sunday, 14 June) Hoi An to Da Nang
Head north on Highway 1 towards Da Nang then we head west to visit Dai Loc, Hill 37, Hill 41, Hill 65 and Liberty Bridge (North End). As we return to Da Nang we stop at Hill 55, the 7th Marine Regimental Hill.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 9: (Monday, 15 June) Da Nang
Today is a free day to relax or explore on your own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 10: (Tuesday, 16 June) Da Nang to Hue - or - Da Nang
Today we have a Breakaway Tour going to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Main Group - Today we travel 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 through Phu Bai and enter Hue City (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam) and begin our study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battle for the New City on the southern side of the Perfume River. 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: Huong Giang
Breakaway Group - Today is a free day to relax or explore on your own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 11: (Wednesday, 17 June) Hue to Dong Ha - or - Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
Main Group - After breakfast we examine the 1968 Tet Offensive battles for the Old City and the Citadel with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to 1/5s battle on the northern side of the Perfume River, to include the Chuck Meadows and Dong Ba Gates and Phase Line Green. 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 cross the Dong Ha Bridge and tell the story of John Ripley and the 1972 Easter Offensive. We can also visit Cua Viet.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hieu Giang
Breakaway Group - After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang Airfield for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by most Vietnamese). After landing at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, you pass by the old MACV Compound and enjoy a ½-day tour of Saigon to include the Cha Cham Church, the Presidential Palace, the old US Embassy grounds, and the War Remnants Museum.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Vien Dong
Day 12: (Thursday, 18 June) Dong Ha to Hue - or - Ho Chi Minh City
Main Group - Early this morning we depart for numerous DMZ sites. We travel north to Gio Linh and then to the Peace Bridge over the Song Ben Hai (the river that was the only true physical demarcation between the North and South). Returning south and west, we visit Con Thien (The Hill of Angels), and the Cam Lo Bridge. We then turn west on Route 9 and make stops at the Rockpile and Razorback, Ca Lu, and the Da Krong Bridge. We 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: Huong Giang
Breakaway Group - This morning we will head northwest to visit sites in and around Tay Ninh Province which will include the Cao Dai Holy See (Temple) for the Noon Ceremony and Ba Den Mountain (Black Virgin Mountain) in the distance. After visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, we pass through the Iron Triangle and Hobo Woods on our way back to HCMC.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Vien Dong
Day 13: (Friday, 19 June) Hue to Ha Noi - or - Ho Chi Minh City
Main Group - After breakfast, we head to Phu Bai Airfield for our 9:00 a.m. flight Ha Noi. Mission permitting, we head to JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts. The balance of the afternoon is preparing for the journey home and last minute shopping. Before our Farewell Dinner tonight, we have been invited 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
Breakaway Group - Today we spend the day looking around the area of Duc Hoa and south of Duc Hoa. We return to HCMC for free evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Vien Dong
Day 14: (Saturday, 20 June) RETURN to CONUS
Main Group - After breakfast, we transfer to Noi Bai Airfield for our short flight to Taipei. Departing from Taipei, we gain a day enroute to the continental United States by re-crossing the International Dateline, arriving in Los Angeles at approximately 3:25pm this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
Breakaway Group - After breakfast, we transfer to Ton Son Nhut Airport for our short flight to Taipei where we will meet up with the main tour group. Departing from Taipei, we gain a day enroute to the continental United States by re-crossing the International Dateline, arriving in Los Angeles at approximately 3:25pm this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
