Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 07 - 08 September) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 8:00 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 09 April) – 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 by most Vietnamese). We check into our hotel and have the rest of the afternoon free. This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner. Lunch is on our own.
Meals: B (in flight) /_/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 4: (Wednesday, 10 September) – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
This morning we have a half day city tour to include the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Hall, Norte Dame, and the Post Office. We will pass by the former US Embassy which now houses the new US Consulate. After lunch we will drive out to Long Binh and Ben Hoa to visit client requested locations there. For those who do not wish to visit Long Binh and Ben Hoa, you will have the afternoon free to explore on your own. Dinner will be on our own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 5: (Thursday, 11 September) – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Today we visit the Cha Cham Church in Cholon where President Diem had fled and disguised himself as a priest during the coup. It was from this place that Diem was captured, taken away and murdered. Heading south on Highway 1, we pass through Tan An before arriving at 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 will visit Dong Tam before we return to Saigon for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 6: (Friday, 12 September) – Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh
This morning we are up early and heading north-west on Highway 13. We pass close to the Iron Triangle as we arrive in Ben Cat. Just north of Ben Cat is Lai Khe and the southern end of Thunder Road. Heading north on Thunder Road we will make stops at An Loc, Quan Loi, and Loc Ninh (the northern end of Thunder Road). We will head back south on Thunder Road to TL751 west. South on Highway 239 to visit a location north of Dinh Duong where the Battle of Ong Thanh took place. From here we turn west, traveling past the Michellen Rubber Plantations before arriving in Tay Ninh where we will spend the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoa Binh - Tay Ninh
Day 7: (Saturday, 13 September) – Tay Ninh to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we visit Nui Ba Den Mountain (Black Virgin Mountain) and the Cao Dai Holy See (Temple) before leaving Tay Ninh. From here we visit the Cu Chi Tunnel Complex. We will pass through the Iron Triangle, Hobo Woods, and the Filhol Rubber Plantation on our way back to Saigon.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 8: (Sunday, 14 September) – Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat
This morning we have an early morning flight to the mountain resort town of Dalat. Once in Dalat, we will take in some sightseeing and this evening travel out to a Lat Village to hear some traditional Lat music.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Dalat
Day 9: (Monday, 15 September) – Dalat to Nha Trang
After breakfast we head downhill towards Phan Rang, from here we travel north to Cam Ranh Bay, and then onto the new coast highway to Nha Trang. We will visit locations alone the way per client request.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Intercontinental Nha Trang
Day 10: (Tuesday, 16 September) – Nha Trang
Today is a free day in Nha Trang to explore on your own, relax by the pool, or shop. Lunch and Dinner is on our own today.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Intercontinental Nha Trang
Day 11: (Wednesday, 17 September) – Nha Trang to Qui Nhon
After breakfast, we drive north to Qui Nhon. Along the way, we pass Tuy Hoa Airbase and visit several Cham ruins (the Cham people ruled what is today's Vietnam from the 3rd to the 15th Centuries).
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Quy Nhon
Day 12: (Thursday, 18 September) – Qui Nhon to Pleiku
This morning we head west on Highway 19 towards An Khe. We drive uphill through the An Khe Pass and over the An Khe Summit before arriving in An Khe where we will have lunch. As we leave town we cross over the An Khe Bridge. Continuing west we pass through the Mang Yang Pass where the French Mobile Group 100 was ambushed and annihilated on June 24, 1954. We finally arrive in Pleiku where we will spend the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Day 13: (Friday, 19 September) – Pleiku to Kontum to Ha Noi
After breakfast 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 (DMZ in I-Corps; Kontum in II-Corps; and An Loc in III-Corps). Once in Kontum, we will visit the Vinh Son Montagnard Orphanage. We will return to Pleiku for lunch. After lunch, we drive south to visit Plei Me. We return to Pleiku for our 5:10 p.m. flight to Ha Noi.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Gondola
Day 14: (Saturday, 20 September) – Ha Noi
Today we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House, and the One Pillar Pagoda. After lunch we visit the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) and the John McCain Monument.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Gondola
Day 15: (Sumday, 21 September) – Departure
After breakfast, we transfer to Tan Son Nhut Airport 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 4:00 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
