I-Corps and Places South

Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday , 09 – 10 August) – 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, 11 August) – Ha Noi

After a short layover in Taipei, 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.  After lunch and mission permitting, we head to JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts.  We will the visit the fascinating War Museum and the John McCain Monument.  Before our Welcome 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 (in flight) /L/D          Hotel: Thanh Long Opera

Day 4: (Wednesday, 12 August) – Ha Noi to Da Nang

This morning we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; the Presidential Palace; Ho Chi Minh House; the One Pillar Pagoda and the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) before heading to the airport for our 2:30 p.m. flight to Da Nang Airfield.  On arrival in Da Nang we will climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC Hospital area located deep within.  Afterwards we will drive to Hoi An and visit a Silk Factory before returning to Da Nang and checking into our hotel for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: Sandy Beach Resort

Day 5: (Thursday, 13 August) – Da Nang

This morning we will visit LZ Baldy & LZ Ross before heading to Antenna Valley and the Que Son Mountains.  Once in Antenna Valley we will spend the day climbing to the August 29, 1969 crash site of a USMC F-4 Phantom II fighter jet where Capt Jerry A. Zimmer and Lt. Albert S. Graf were lost.  -  Those not wishing to climb the mountain today will have a free day to explore the beaches and the great shopping that Hoi An has to offer.  Dinner tonight will be on your own.
Meals: B/L/_          Hotel: Sandy Beach Resort

Day 6: (Friday, 14 August) – Da Nang to Hue

Today we head back into the foothills of the Que Son Mountains to visit the My Son Holyland.  My Son is the site of Trakieu, the ancient capital of the Cham Kingdom and contains ruins dating back to the 5th Century.  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 will lunch in Lang Co before heading into Hue.  Once in Hue we will visit the old MACV building, old Hue University and other battle sites of the 1968 Battle for Hue along Le Loi Street.  After dinner, you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: Huong Giang

Day 7: (Saturday, 15 August) – Hue to Dong Ha

Early this morning we depart north on Highway 1 for the DMZ.  We will pass through Quang Tri City before entering Dong Ha where we turn west onto Highway 9 to Cam Lo.  From here we head northeast stopping at sites along the way, such as, the Washout; Con Thien (The Hill of Angels); the Peace Church; and the Marketplace, site of Operation Buffalo in July 1967.  We travel East on Route 605 connecting with Highway 1, and once again head north, stopping at the Peace Bridge and crossing the Song Ben Hai (the river that was the only true physical demarcation between the North and South).  Continuing north we will visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels before heading south back towards Dong Ha.  Just north of Dong Ha we will travel east along the north side of the Song Cua Viet and visit the beach area at Cua Viet.  Back in Dong Ha we will walk across the Bridge at Dong Ha before finally checking into our hotel.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: 

Day 8: (Sunday, 16 August) – Dong Ha to Hue

Today we head west on Route 9 and make stops at Camp Carroll; the Rockpile; Razorback; Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud); Ca Lu; the Da Krong Bridge; Khe Sanh Combat Base and the Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei.  We will also visit a Bru Village and the town of Lao Bao on the Lao boarder before returning to Hue for the evening.  Dinner tonight will be on your own.
Meals: B/L/_          Hotel: Huong Giang

Day 9: (Monday, 17 August) – Hue to Ho Chi Minh City - or - Hue to Da Nang

Today we break our Tour Group into 2 Groups

This morning, we take a Dragon Boat cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Nguyen Dynasty Tu Duc Tombs.  Returning to Hue we will enter the Citadel, with its ramparts and towers, and visit a couple of sites specific to the 1968 northern Battle of Hue, including the movements of “G” 2/5 and 1/5 during the Battle of the “Phase Lines”.  We finish at the Imperial Palace and visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors.  -  Afterwards, we will board our bus and head south to the Hue/Phu Bai Airfield where:

Group A - Will board a 7:10 p.m. flight to Ho Chi Minh City.  Arriving at 8:30 p.m. we will be driven to our hotel for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: Vien Dong

Group B - Will continue via bus to Da Nang where we will check in our hotel for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: Emerald Green Hotel

Day 10: (Tuesday, 18 August) – Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Duc - or - Da Nang to Nha Trang

Group A - Early morning departure for An Giang Province and the site of the Special Forces Camp B-43 at Chi Lang, Nui Cam and the Ambush Site of Lt. Kinsman’s Patrol on January 15, 1971 on Nui Ta Bec.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: 

Group B - Starting early today we head to the airport for our 09:10 a.m. flight to Nha Trang.  Arriving in Nha Trang airport (located at Cam Ranh) at 10:45 a.m. we will head north along the Cu Hin Pass to Nha Trang City.  Once we check into our hotel, you will have the rest of the day free to roam the town and beaches of Nha Trang.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: 

Day 11: (Wednesday, 19 August) – Chau Duc to Ho Chi Minh City - or - Nha Trang

Group A - This morning we head back to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with stops along the way for photo opportunities.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: Vien Dong

Group B - After breakfast we will travel north along Highway 1 to visit the areas around Ninh Hoa and Tuy Hoa.  We return to Nha Trang for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: 

Day 12: (Thursday, 03 August) – Ho Chi Minh City - or - Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City

Group A - Today we have the morning free, to rest up from the last two days travel or to do some shopping.

Group B - This morning we head back to Nha Trang Airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City.  Once in Saigon, we will proceed to our hotel where we rejoin Group A.

After lunch we begin our tour of Saigon visiting the War Remnants Museum; Cha Cham Church; Reunification Hall (Old Presidential Palace); Norte Dame and the former US Embassy which now houses the new US Consulate.
Meals: B/L/D          Hotel: Vien Dong

Day 13: (Friday, 21 August) – Ho Chi Minh City

This morning (with both groups) 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 14: (Saturday, 22 August) – RETURN to CONUS

After breakfast, we transfer to Ton Son Nhut Airport for our short flight to Taipei.  Departing from Taipei, we gain a day en-route to the continental United States by re-crossing the International Dateline, arriving in Los Angeles at approximately 3:55 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)