Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday , 13 14 Sept) 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, 15 Sept) Na 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. After lunch we will visit the Presidential Palace; Ho Chi Minh House; the One Pillar Pagoda; the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), and the John McCain Monument. Tonight we have our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Thanh Long Opera
Day 4: (Wednesday, 16 Sept) Na Noi to Hoi An
This morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before heading to the airport for our 2:30 p.m. flight to Da Nang Airfield. On arrival in Da Nang we will visit the China Beach area and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC Hospital area located deep within. Afterwards we will drive to Hoi An and check into our hotel for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 5: (Thursday, 17 Sept) Hoi An
Today we head south on Highway 1 to Chu Lai where we will visit the Chu Lai Airfield; Crescent Beach; Hill 43 and Ky Ha. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 6: (Friday, 18 Sept) Hoi An
Today we will visit the area around Tam Ky. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 7: (Saturday, 19 Sept) Hoi An to Da Nang
Today we venture out to the south side of the Song Tu Bon. We follow parallel to the southern edge of Go Noi Island west, until we arrive at Liberty Bridge (south side). Next is An Hoa Regimental Combat Base and then 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.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 8: (Sunday, 20 Sept) Da Nang
Today we head west on Route 4 to the Arizona Territory, Hill 55, Liberty Bridge (north side) and Hill 65.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 9: (Monday, 21 Sept) Da Nang
Vietnam Battlefield Tours has allotted this day as free time for you to decompress, relax, shop, or for personal exploration. Visit the beaches, Monkey Mountain, Marble Mountain, or head west again to areas of interest on your own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 10: (Tuesday, 22 Sept) Da Nang to Hue
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
Day 11: (Wednesday, 23 Sept) Hue to Dong Ha
This morning we visit the Citadel with its ramparts and towers, and walk sites specific to the northern battle, including the Chuck Meadows and Dong Ba Gates. We finish at the Imperial Palace gate blown by 1/5, which allowed the ARVN to enter and lower the NVA flag that had flown from the main flagpole for 24 days. We also visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors. We then depart for the DMZ, stopping at sites along the way, such as Quang Tri City, Ai Tu Airfield, and the Lew Puller School. Our final stop will be the Bridge at Dong Ha (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive).
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Dong Truong Son
Day 12: (Thursday, 24 Sept) Dong Ha to Hue
Early this morning we depart for numerous DMZ sites. We travel north to Gio Linh and then turning 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
Day 13: (Friday, 25 Sept) Hue to Ha Noi
After breakfast, we head to Phu Bai Airfield for our 9:00 a.m. flight to Ha Noi. 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
Day 14: (Saturday, 26 Sept) RETURN to CONUS
After breakfast, we transfer to Noi Bai Airfield for the 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 3:05 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
