Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 5 - 6 May) – 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, 7 May) – 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. Our first stop is lunch. We then visit the fascinating War Museum, the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), and the John McCain Monument. This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: May de Ville City Centre
Day 4: (Wednesday, 8 May) – Ha Noi
Today we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House and the One Pillar Pagoda. We then arrive (mission permitting) at JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts. After lunch we are free until 18:00 when we leave for (mission permitting) 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: May de Ville City Centre
Day 5: (Thursday, 9 May) – Ha Noi to Hoi An
Departing early, we transfer to Noi Bai Airfield and catch our flight to Da Nang. After lunch and a quick photo stop at China Beach on the South China Sea, we pass through the MMAF (Marble Mountain Air Facility) area. We then visit a marble carving shop and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC hospital area located within.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 6: (Friday, 10 May) – Hoi An
Today we travel southwest toward LZ Baldy, stopping at LZ Ross before reaching Que Son Pass to observe LZ Ryder (Hill 579). Continuing down into Antenna Valley, we follow the valley west and around to the north to An Hoa Regimental Combat Base.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 7: (Saturday, 11 May) – Hoi An
This morning our first stop is a silk and wood factory. We then travel west and parallel to the southern edge of Go Noi Island, until we arrive at Hill 119 and Hill 148 for a hike to the top. Our next stop is Liberty Bridge (south). We will 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. Tonight, we are on our own for dinner.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 8: (Sunday, 12 May) – Hoi An to Da Nang
Today is devoted to Go Noi Island sites and a stroll through Booby Trap Alley to visit locations requested by the participants.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 9: (Monday, 13 May) – Da Nang
Departing early this morning we drive southwest to Hill 55, Hill 37, and Hill 65. We also make our way to the Arizona Territory, Liberty Bridge (north), and requested sites in the Dodge City area.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 10: (Tuesday, 14 May) – Da Nang to Hue
Leaving very early this morning, we make our way north on Highway One. Passing through Dog Patch, we stop at interesting sites 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 eventually arrive in Hue where we devote ourselves to the study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battles for Hue. We will first walk the southern battle. 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, Hue University, Treasury, Public Health Building, Provincial Capital Building area, the Church of the Redemptress, and finally the ARVN BOQ. We also visit the Citadel, with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to the northern battle, including Phase Line Green, the Chuck Meadows Gate, and the Dong Ba Gate. 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 11: (Wednesday, 15 May) – Hue to Dong Ha
This morning we take a relaxing Dragon Boat cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Tombs. After lunch we head north on Highway One toward Dong Ha, stopping at sites along the way, such as Quang Tri City, the Ai Tu Airfield, and the Lew Puller School.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Dong Ha
Day 12: (Thursday, 16 May) – Dong Ha
Departing once again very early, we first stop at the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). We travel north on Highway One and cross the Peace Bridge into North Vietnam and walk across the original bridge that connected the two countries. We make a stop at Gio Linh FSB Forward (Alpha 2) located on the forward edge of the DMZ on the south. Next we visit Con Thien (the Hill of Angels). Following the route of the Rough Riders, we cross the Washout, pass C-2, C-3, and stop at the Cam Lo Bridge. We have just traversed the four quadrants of Leatherneck Square: Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien, and Cam Lo. Our next stop will be Camp Carroll, the Marine artillery plateau. We continue on to the Rockpile and the Razorback. Along the way we will come upon other sites that were of military importance during the war, including the Khe Gia Bridge, and Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud). After stopping at the Da Krong Bridge for photos and visiting a Bru Montagnard village, we stop for lunch in Khe Sanh Village. Next is Khe Sanh Combat Base where we will spend ample time exploring. Our final stop 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: Saigon Dong Ha
Day 13: (Friday, 17 May) – Dong Ha to Hue
After a leisurely breakfast, we make our way back to our hotel on the southern bank of the Perfume River in Hue (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam) for some much deserved time off. Be sure to enjoy the hotel pool. After lunch we are free until tomorrow morning. Tonight we are on our own for dinner. You can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 14: (Saturday, 18 May) – Hue to Da Nang
This morning we make a few stops along our way south before driving through the 6-kilometer Hai Van Tunnel. We then cross Nam O Bridge and make stops at Red Beach II and Monkey Mountain. Your afternoon is free. Lunch is on our own, but tonight all hands gather for a very special Farewell Dinner at the most famous restaurant in Da Nang, the Kim Do.
Meals: B/_/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 15: (Sumday, 19 May) – Departure
After an early breakfast, we head to Da Nang Airfield for our flight To Ha Noi. Transferring to the International Terminal, we board our 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 4:05 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
