Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 30 - 31 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, 01 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 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: Gondola
Day 4: (Wednesday, 02 April) – Ha Noi
Today we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House and the One Pillar Pagoda. Later we head over (mission permitting) to JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts. This evening we enjoy a visit (also mission permitting) 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: Gondola
Day 5: (Thursday, 03 April) – Ha Noi to Qui Nhon 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 Duc Pho, Nui Dang, LZ Bronco, My Lai, and the Operation Starlite area.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Petro Setco
Day 6: (Friday, 04 April) – Quang Ngai to Hoi An
Today we travel north on Highway 1. We will visit Phu Long (1), Hill 30, LZ Ann, Binh Son Airfield, An Chau (2), Hill 43, Chu Lai, Crescent Beach, Ky Ha, Ky Hoa Island, Tam Ky Airfield and Hill 68 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, 05 April) – Hoi An
Today we depart early to the for LZ Baldy and LZ Ross. Heading up the Que Son Pass, we view LZ Ryder before heading down into Antenna Valley taking ample time for exploration. Upon our return to Hoi An, we stop at a silk and wood factory.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 8: (Sunday, 06 April) – Hoi An
Today is a free day for shopping and exploring the streets of Hoi An, lying by the pool, or sunning at the beach. Lunch and Dinner on our own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 9: (Monday, 07 April) – Hoi An
Today we head south on Highway 1 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. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 10: (Tuesday, 08 April) – Hoi An to Da Nang
Today we head west to the Arizona Territory to visit Hill 200, Dai Loc, Hill 37, Hill 65, and Liberty Bridge (North End). As we make our way to Da Nang we stop at Hill 55, the 7th Marine Regimental Hill. Returning to Highway 1, we head north to Marble Mountain where we 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 to view Monkey Mountain for a photo op before checking into our hotel on the Han River. Dinner is on our own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 11: (Wednesday, 09 April) – Da Nang to Hue
Departing early this morning, we pass through Dog Patch as we leave 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, Joan of Arc 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, 10 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, 11 April) – Hue to Lang Vei to Dong Ha
Today we head north on Highway 1 toward the DMZ. We pass through Quang Tri City and Dong Ha. 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 and Army 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 Dong Ha.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Dong Ha
Day 14: (Saturday, 12 April) – Dong Ha to Hue to Ha Noi
This morning before boarding our bus, we will walk to the Song Bo Dieu where we walk across the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). On our return to Hue, we will visit the Lew Puller School, the Bo De School, and the Long Hung Church. Once back in Hue you will have the afternoon free. We gather tonight for our Farewell Dinner, afterwards we will transfer to Hue/Phu Bai Airfield for our 9:15 p.m. flight to Ha Noi.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Airport View Hotel
Day 15: (Sumday, 13 April) – Departure
After a leisurely morning, we transfer Ha Noi’s Noi Bai Airfield for our 12:10 p.m. 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)
