Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 10 - 11 March) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 8:30 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 12 March) – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. We arrive at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhut Airport and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, and clear customs. As we depart the airport, we will pass by the old MACV HQ, the U.S. Army's 3rd Field Hospital and head into the center of the city (still called Saigon) to our hotel. After we freshen up, we begin our tour of Saigon visiting the War Remnants Museum; Reunification Hall (Old Presidential Palace); Norte Dame and the former US Embassy which now houses the new US Consulate. This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 4: (Wednesday, 13 March) – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Today we visit the Cha Cham Church in Cholon before heading south on Highway 1. We pass through Tan An on our way to the town of My Tho in the Mekong Delta. We will take a boat trip on the Mekong River to visit Thoi Son Island, local houses, and workshops. We return to Saigon for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 5: (Thursday, 14 March) – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
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 lunch in Tay Ninh, we will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels complex. We pass close to the Iron Triangle and through Hobo Woods on our way back to Saigon.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 6: (Friday, 15 March) – HCMC to Pleiku
Today, we have an early morning flight to Pleiku. After breakfast in Pleiku, we travel north on Highway 14 to Kontum. Kontum was one of the major objectives of the 3-prong 1972 Easter Offensive attacks by the NVA.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huang Anh Giarai
Day 7: (Saturday, 16 March) – Pleiku to Qui Nhon
This morning we will head east on Highway 19 towards An Khe. Between Pleiku and An Khe we pass through Mang Yang Pass where the French Mobile Group 100 was ambushed and annihilated on June 24, 1954. Crossing the An Khe Bridge, we enter the city of An Khe and take time to explore. Continuing east we cross over An Khe Summit and head down through An Khe Pass on our way to the coastal town of Qui Nhon.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huang Anh Qui Nhon
Day 8: (Sunday, 17 March) – Qui Nhon to Hoi An
This morning we head north on Highway 1. Our first stop will be a Cham Temple just north of the city. Continuing north we pass by many US Military locations such as Phu Cat, LZ English, Nui Dau, Duc Pho, My Lai and the Operation Starlight area on our way to Chu Lai where we will have lunch on the beach. After lunch we continue north through Tam Ky. Finally, we check into our hotel in the ancient port city of Hoi An (formerly known as Faifo) where Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese traders once walked. Shopping is excellent here and one of the best places for tailor-made clothing.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 9: (Monday, 18 March) – Hoi An
This morning we travel west along the south side of the Tu Bon River. We pass Go Noi Island and Liberty Bridge (south side) before arriving at 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 in the early afternoon and visit a Silk Factory before returning to our hotel.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 10: (Tuesday, 19 March) – Hoi An to Hue
This morning we head north on Highway 1 to visit Marble Mountain where we will visit a marble carving shop and then climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC hospital area located deep within. Afterwards we drive through the old MMAF (Marble Mountain Air Facility) on our way to Red Beach 2 (where the Marines first landed in 1965). Continuing north on Highway 1, we make our way up the breathtaking Hai Van Pass (Pass of the "Sea Clouds"), stopping at the top to take in parting views of Da Nang Bay. About eight miles before entering Hue, we pass by Phu Bai Airfield and Camp Eagle. Once in Hue City, we visit the old MACV building, the old Hue University, and other sites related to the southern battle of the 1968 Tet Offensive Battle for Hue. After dinner, you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 11: (Wednesday, 20 March) – Hue
This morning we take a relaxing Dragon Boat cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Tombs. We return to Hue for lunch. This afternoon we visit the Citadel, with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to the northern battle. We finish at the Imperial Palace and the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 12: (Thursday, 21 March) – Hue to Dong Ha
Leaving very early, we head north on Highway 1 with our first stops in Quang Tri City where we visit Long Hung Church and Bo De School. We enter Dong Ha and visit the Lew Puller School and the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). Next is Gio Linh FSB (Forward) which overlooks to DMZ. We walk across the Peace Bridge into North Vietnam over the Song Ben Hai (the river that was the only true physical demarcation between the North and South). We then explore the tunnel complex in the artillery village of Vinh Moc before returning to Dong Ha for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Dong Ha
Day 13: (Friday, 22 March) – Dong Ha to Khe Sanh to Da Nang
Today we travel east on Route 9, our first stop today is the Camp Carroll artillery plateau and the Khe Gia Bridge. Next we pass the Rockpile and the Razorback. Along the way we will come upon other sites that were of military importance during the war, including Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud), Ca Lu, and 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. After lunch in Khe Sanh village we visit a Bru montagnard village before returning to Da Nang for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 14: (Saturday, 23 March) – Da Nang to Ha Noi
After breakfast, we head to Hue/Phu Bai Airfield for our early flight to Ha Noi. We arrive at Noi Bai Airport, 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. Before dinner tonight, we have been invited to the Marine House, home of the Marine Security Guard responsible for the protection of the U. S. Ambassador and the Embassy.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: May De Ville City Centre
Day 15: (Sunday, 24 March) – Departure
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 2:05 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
