Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday , 10 11 April) 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, 12 April) Ha Noi to Hue
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. We arrive at Ha Nois Noi Bai Airfield (heavily bombed during the war); we proceed through immigration, retrieve bags and clear customs. We then proceed to Vietnam Airlines for a short flight to Hue. Once in Hue, we will check into our hotel next to the Perfume River where you will have time to relax before dinner. Tonight we enjoy our Welcome Dinner. After dinner, you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 4: (Wednesday, 13 April) Hue to Khe Sanh
Departing Hue early, we head north on Highway 1, stopping at the Long Hung Church, Bo De School and the Lew Puller School before arriving in Dong Ha. Once in Dong Ha we will visit the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). We then turn west on Route 9, our first stop will be the Cam Lo Bridge. Continuing on Route 9 we visit Camp Carroll, the Marine artillery plateau. We continue on to the Rockpile for a short hike to the Razorback. Along the way we will come upon other sites that were of military importance during the war, including the Khe Gia Bridge, Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud) and Ca Lu. Entering Khe Sanh village, we head north to the Khe Sanh Combat Base where we will spend ample time exploring. Next is the Lang Vei Special Forces Camp, overrun in the first ever NVA tank assault. Co Roc Mountain soars to the heavens just across the border.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Thai Ninh Khe Sanh
Day 5: (Thursday, 14 April) Khe Sanh to Hue
Our first stops today will be at Hills 861 and 861A. After our hill climbs we will cross the Da Krong Bridge and head south on the Ho Chi Minh Hwy as we plunge into the Da Krong Valley and later the A Shau Valley. Arriving at the village of A Loui, we turn east towards Hue and the relaxed comfort of our riverside hotel.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 6: (Friday, 15 April) Hue
This morning we take a relaxing cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Tombs. Afterwards we begin our study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battle for the southern city. We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5, covering, among others, the Shell Gas Station, the former MACV Compound, Tran Cao Van Street, Girl's High School, ARVN BOQ, Hue University, Treasury, Public Health Building, Provincial Capital Building area, and the Church of the Redemptress. We then cross the river to the Citadel, with its ramparts and towers, and visit 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 then visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 7: (Saturday, 16 April) Hue to Da Nang
This morning we head south on Highway 1 towards Da Nang. At Phu Loc, we visit Hill 264 and Dong Nhut Hill. Continuing south, we pass through the seaside fishing village of Lang Co Bay before heading up the Hai Van (Sea Clouds) Pass with a stop at the top to explore old French bunkers and take in a view of Da Nang Bay. Continuing down the Hai Van, we cross over the Nam O Bridge and then head up into the mountains to the Ba Na Resort where we will have lunch. Returning to Da Nang, we stop at Red Beach 2 (where the Marines first landed in 1965). Afterwards we check into our hotel on the west bank of the Hΰn River.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 8: (Sunday, 17 April) Da Nang
Today we head out west (along the north side of the Arizona Territory) to Thuong Duc and the Thuong Duc SF Camp. Along the way we will visit Hill 501, Hill 200, An Diem and Liberty Bridge (north end). Returning to Da Nang we will stop at Camp Reasoner.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 9: (Monday, 18 April) Da Nang
Today we break our Tour Group into 2 Groups
Group 1 - Will be heading out to Hill 119 and Team Spillway today. Dinner on your own.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Group 2 - Will have a free day in Da Nang to explore the city, visit China Beach, Monkey Mountain or if you wish, take a taxi down to Marble Mountain where you can climb the 150+ steps to the top to explore the VC hospital area located deep within. Several hundred families have marble carving shops in the village of Nui Kim Son at the base of the mountains. Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 10: (Tuesday, 19 April) Da Nang to Hoi An
Depart early to LZ Ross, the Que Son Pass and west to Antenna Valley and the Team Serviceman II area. Then we return to Highway 1 and to An Hoa Combat Base. 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.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Pacific
Day 11: (Wednesday, 20 April) Hoi An
Today we once again break our Tour Group into 2 Groups
Group 1 - Will be heading out to Hill 488 and Hill 407 today.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Group 2 - Will have a free day in Hoi An to roam the streets and shops of this ancient port city (formerly known as Faifo) where Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese traders once walked. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the shopping district and to the beach, or you can just relax by the hotels swimming pool. Lunch on your own.
Meals: B/_/D Hotel: Sepon
Day 12: (Thursday, 21 April) Hoi An to Quang Ngai
Today we depart south on Highway 1 to Quang Ngai. We will visit Hill 43, Crescent Beach, Chu Lai Airfield and Ky Ha. As we move further south we cross the Song Thu Bon Bridge, enter the Operation Starlite area and before arriving in Quang Ngai for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Central
Day 13: (Friday, 22 April) Quang Ngai to Qui Nhon
Today we depart south on Highway 1 to Qui Nhon. We will pass by LZ Snoppy before entering Mo Duc. Further south we enter Duc Pho and visit Nui Dau Hill (Hill 164). Continuing south into the II-Corps area we pass by LZ English and LZ 2 Bit before finally reaching Qui Nhon. As we enter the city we will visit the Cham Twin Towers before checking into our hotel for the evening. Tonight we gather for our very special Farewell Dinner.
Meals: B/_/D Hotel: Saigon Quy Nhon
Day 14: (Saturday, 23 April) Qui Nhon to Ha Noi
Today we have a 09:30 flight to Ha Noi, we 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 and Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton). This evening we enjoy a visit to the Marine House, home of the U.S. Marine Corps Security Guard responsible for the protection of the U.S. Ambassador and the American Embassy.
Meals: B/_/D Hotel: Thang Long Opera
Day 15: (Sunday, 24 April) RETURN to CONUS
For those opting for one of our fabulous post tours, your day begins as we bid our new friends a happy journey home. After breakfast, those heading home 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 1:25 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
