Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 15 - 16 April) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 7:00 pm and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart Los Angeles on our flight to Taipei. Lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 17 April) – Ha Noi
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. At Ha Noi's Noi Bai Airfield, we proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, clear customs, and board our motorcoach and cross the Red River and its dikes to explore the Ha Noi environs. We visit the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton); the John McCain Monument; and the fascinating War Museum. Tonight we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Thang Long Opera
Day 4: (Wednesday, 18 April) – Ha Noi
Today we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House and the One Pillar Pagoda. Later we head over to JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts. 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/L/D Hotel: Thang Long Opera
Day 5: (Thursday, 19 April) – Ha Noi to Quang Ngai
This morning we have an early morning flight from Noi Bai Airfield to the coastal town of Qui Nhon. Upon arriving in Qui Nhon, we travel north on Highway 1 from the Qui Nhon airport towards Quang Ngai. Along the way we will visit sites around Duc Pho, Nui Dau, Hai Mon Village and My Lai (Pinkville).
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: My Tra
Day 6: (Friday, 20 April) – Quang Ngai to Hoi An
Today we travel north on Highway 1 to the Operation Starlite area. We then visit Chu Lai, Cresent Beach, Ky Ha, Hill 43 and Tam Ky before reaching Hoi An. This evening you are 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, 21 April) – Hoi An
Today we depart early to the Que Sons, LZ Ross, LZ Baldy, LZ Ryder and west to Antenna Valley. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 8: (Sunday, 22 April) – Hoi An to Da Nang
Today we head south on Highway One and cross the Song Thu Bon. Turning west, we parallel Goi Noi Island. After stopping at 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. Returning to Highway 1, we head north to Marble Mountain where we can visit a marble carving shop and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC hospital area located deep within. Continuing north we drive through the old Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), stop at China Beach on the South China Sea and visit Monkey Mountain for a photo op before checking into our hotel on the Han River.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 9: (Monday, 23 April) – Da Nang
Today we head west to visit Dai Loc, Hill 37, Hill 65 and Liberty Bridge (North End). As we return to Da Nang we stop at Hill 55, the 7th Marine Regimental Hill. Dinner is on your own.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 10: (Tuesday, 24 April) – Da Nang
Today is a free day to relax or explore on your own. Lunch and dinner is on your own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 11: (Wednesday, 25 April) – Da Nang to Hue
Departing early this morning, we pass through Dog Patch as we depart Da Nang City. We make visits to Red Beach 2 and Nam O Bridge, before heading up the Hai Van with a stop at the Pass to explore old French bunkers and take in a parting view of Da Nang and the bay. Continuing down the Hai Van, we make several interesting stops along the way north before reaching Phu Bai and Camp Eagle. Soon thereafter, we enter Hue (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam) and 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 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 arrive at our hotel on the southern bank of the Perfume River for a relaxing evening. After dinner, you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 12: (Thursday, 26 April) – Hue
This morning we take a relaxing cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Tombs. After lunch we visit 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/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 13: (Friday, 27 April) – Hue to Lao Bao to Dong Ha
Today we head north on Highway One toward the DMZ. We pass through Quang Tri City and visit Long Hung Church, Bo De School, and the Lew Puller School as we come into Dong Ha. At the Song Do Dieu we walk over the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). Continuing north we stop at Gio Linh FSB Forward (Alpha 2) and the Peace Bridge over the Song Ben Hai, the river that was the only true physical demarcation between the North and South. We then head west to visit Con Thien (the Hill of Angels) and south to Cam Lo Bridge. The four quadrants of Leatherneck Square are Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien and Cam Lo. At Cam Lo we turn west on Highway 9 to visit Camp Carroll, the Marine artillery plateau. We continue west past the Rockpile, the Razorback, and Khe Gia Bridge. After lunch in 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. We overnight in Dang Ha.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huu Nghi
Day 14: (Saturday, 28 April) – Dong Ha to Hue
This morning we head back to Hue and the relaxed comfort of our riverside hotel. Tonight we gather for our very special Farewell Dinner.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 15: (Sunday, 29 April) – Hue to Na Noi to CONUS
We have an early morning departure today from the Hue/Phu Bai Airfield to Ha Noi’s Noi Bai Airfield. Arriving in Ha Noi, those heading home have a 12:10 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 3:30 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
