Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 23 March - 24 March 2025) – Enroute

Report to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by 8:00 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter.  Depart Los Angeles, CA on our flight to Taipei.  Lose one day crossing the International Dateline.

Meals: D/B (in flight)

Day 3: (Tuesday, 25 March 2025) – Taipei to Da Nang

After a short layover in Taipei where we endure the Big Speech, we depart for Vietnam.  We land at Da Nang Airfield and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, clear customs, and board our waiting motorcoach.  We then make our way to Nui Kim Son, home of 3rd AMTRAC BN.  Next is the Marble Mountain complex.  This area is famous for their stone-sculpture industries.  These marble mountains are visually striking monoliths that rise from the flat coastal plain and are home to Buddhist shrines and numerous caves.  We climb to the top of the largest monolith and explore the VC hospital area located deep within.  Back on the coastal road, we pass through the site of the Marble Mountain Air Facility (a U.S. helicopter base during the war).  Next, we drive to My Khe Beach on the South China Sea.  My Khe was better known as "China Beach", which was used as an in-country 'R&R' Center (Stack Arms) by U.S. troops.  We then retire to our hotel on the Han River.  Tonight, we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.

Meals: L (in flight) /D

Day 4: (Wednesday, 26 March 2025) – Da Nang and Parts West

This morning, we head west on old Route 4 (Thunder Road) to Hill 55, followed by Hill 37.  Passing through Dai Loc, we continue west to Hill 65 for a hike to the top.  Next, we visit Hill 26.  Returning to Dai Loc, we turn south to Liberty Bridge, stopping at both the north and south ends.  Go Noi Island is on the agenda before heading north again, passing Hill 10 (now a Vietnamese army base).  Our last stops of the day will be Hill 327 (Freedom Hill) for the former sites of 1st Med BN, Camp Hoover, and the Big PX.  Passing along Dog Patch, we return to our hotel.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 5: (Thursday, 27 March 2025) – Da Nang to Quang Ngai

Today, we travel west along the south side of Goi Noi Island and 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 then make our way to An Hoa Regimental Combat Base.  Leaving An Hoa, we sweep west and south to enter Antenna Valley.  Next, we pass over the Que Son Pass and enter Que Son Town.  We take time here to explore LZ Ross.  Our last stop is LZ Baldy (an active-duty military base) for a Kodak moment.  Tonight, we stay in Quang Ngai.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 6: (Friday, 28 March 2025) – Quang Ngai to Duc Pho and Hoi An

Early this morning, we head south on Highway 1, with stops at Duc Pho and Nui Dau Hill.  As we return north, we stop at My Lai (4), location of the infamous massacre in 1968.  We then venture to the site of Operation Starlite.  Our last stops are Chu Lai Base where we visit the Airfield, Crescent Beach, and Ky Ha.  Soon thereafter, we arrive in Hoi An.  Hoi An, a beautiful well-preserved ancient trading port, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Its temples and architecture show the different cultural influences of its time and its lovely Japanese covered bridge is unique to this town.  Luckily for Hoi An, its importance waned long before our war, and it was left essentially isolated and relatively untouched.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 7: (Saturday, 29 March 2025) – Hoi An

Today is a free day.  You can relax by the pool, or you March want to roam by yourselves the streets and shops of this ancient port city, formerly known as Faifo, where Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese traders once walked.  The town ceased to be an important trade harbor when its inlet shoaled, and the port was moved north to Da Nang.  Shopping is excellent here and is one of the best places for tailor-made clothing.  There are literally hundreds of amazing little shops in this town.  Lunch and dinner are on our own today.  Be sure to sample some of the many local restaurants and night spots in this fascinating little city.

Meals: B/_/_

Day 8: (Sunday, 30 March 2025) – Hoi An to Hue

Departing early this morning, we stop at Red Beach II (where U.S. Marines made their first amphibious landing in Vietnam in March 1965).  After crossing Nam O Bridge which spans the Song Cu De flowing out of Elephant Valley, we head up the breathtaking Hai Van, stopping at the Pass of the High Clouds to take in a parting view of Da Nang and her bay.  The Hai Van Pass had been a vital strategic military foothold for the Chinese for centuries and was used by the French during France's Indochina War and by the U.S. in America's Vietnam War.  Bunkers and fortifications dot the hillsides here.  Continuing down the Hai Van to sea level, we cross Lang Co Bridge which separates Dam Lap An from the sea.  We then pass by Dam Cau Hai, one of the largest lagoons in Southeast Asia, encompassing 112 square kilometers.  At Phu Bai, we turn into Camp Hochmuth to visit the Force Recon area.  We then make a brief stop at the west end of Phu Bai Airfield.  As we cross the Phu Cam Canal, we enter Hue (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam).  After lunch, we begin our study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battle for Hue.  The Battle of Hue was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war, and we spend our day visiting strategic sites in the fighting.  We start in the southern city.  We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5 covering, among others, the Shell Gas Station, Football Stadium, the former MACV Compound, Tran Cao Van Street, Joan of Arc Girl's High School, Hue University, Treasury, Public Health Building, Provincial Capital Building area, and the Church of the Redemptress.  Famous for its university, this town, known for open and radical thinking, is also home to Quoc Hoc High School that graduated Ho Chi Minh, General Giap, and President Diem.  We then retire to our hotel next to the Perfume River.  Dinner is on our own tonight, after which you can roam the fascinating shops along Le Loi Street until late at night.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 9: (Monday, 31 March 2025) – Hue

This morning, we move to the LCU Ramp to board our Dragon Boat for a relaxing cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda.  It was from this pagoda that in 1963 Monk Thich Quang Duc was driven to Saigon where he immolated himself in protest to the SVN government's oppressive treatment of the Buddhist people.  After lunch, we enter the Citadel with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to the northern battle, including the Chuck Meadows and Dong Ba Gates and Phase Line Green.  We finish at the Imperial Palace gate blown by L/3/5, 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.  Tonight, dinner is on our own.

Meals: B/L/_

Day 10: (Tuesday, 01 April 2025) – Hue to Dong Ha

Today, our first stop is Camp Evans.  Farther north, we come upon the My Chanh Bridge.  It was here that the ARVN held the line against invading NVA forces during the 1972 Easter Offensive and from which they launched their counterattack to drive Ho's forces back toward the DMZ.  North of here is the section of Highway 1 known as the 'Highway of Horror'.  During the NVA's 1972 Easter Offensive, thousands of local refugees - most of which were old people, women, and children trying to flee south - were mercilessly slaughtered by communist NVA troops and artillery.  The north side of the bridge is where the worst of the massacre occurred.  Massive numbers of people were trapped because the downed bridge prevented escape.  Soon thereafter we enter Quang Tri City where we visit La Vang Basilica (site of a 1798 appearance of the Blessed Virgin), passing through the LZ Sharon, LZ Nancy, and LZ Ann areas.  Returning to Highway 1 we stop at Long Hung Church.  Long Hung was a Catholic church in which ARVN troops sought refuge during the 1972 Easter Offensive invasion from the North and in which NVA troops sought refuge as they retreated during the ARVN counterattack.  The church has been left as it stood after the battle, with scars from grenades, rockets, and bullets.  Our last stop in Quang Tri City is the Bo De School, which provides a shocking and violent reality of the 'Battle of 81 Days and Nights' for the city and its Citadel.  The battle is infamous for the huge amount of ordnance fired by both ARVN and NVA forces.  We then cross the Quang Tri River, pass the old airfield, and stop at the Lew Puller School as we enter Dong Ha.  Next, we walk the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by Capt. John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive) over the Song Bo Dieu.  After lunch, we continue north and drive through the southern DMZ and stop at the Hien Luong Bridge (better known as the Peace Bridge), walking over the Song Ben Hai (this river was the only true physical demarcation between the North and the South).  Now in North Vietnam, we explore the tunnel complex in the artillery village of Vinh Moc.  The Vinh Moc Tunnels are an incredible complex of tunnels that were dug by local people to evade the constant US counter-battery bombing of the area.  The tunnels include kitchens, wells, and a 'hospital,' as well as living quarters for roughly 60 families.  The tunnels, which are at a depth of 30m saved many villagers lives and are still in very good condition.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 11: (Wednesday, 02 April 2025) – Dong Ha

Early this morning, we head north on Highway 1 to Gio Linh FSB (Forward) aka Alpha-2 which overlooks the DMZ from the Republic side.  Turning south and then west, we pass through Alpha-3, and visit the U.S. base at Alpha-4, better known as Con Thien (the Hill of Angels).  A-4 was the western anchor of the McNamara Line.  Traveling south on the Rough-Rider Road, we cross 2/4's Bastard's Bridge (aka The Washout) and pass Charlie-2.  After pointing out Charlie-3, we stop for photos at Cam Lo Bridge.  Today, we have traversed the 4 quadrants of Leatherneck Square (Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien, and Cam Lo).  Turning west on Route 9 (the main U.S. supply route from the coast to Khe Sanh), we stop at Camp Carroll, (the joint-forces artillery plateau).  After crossing the Khe Gia Bridge, we stop at an overlook for photos of the Rockpile and Razorback.  We come upon other sites that were of military importance during the war, including Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud), Ca Lu, Valentine Ridge, and the Hairpin.  Soon we enter Khe Sanh Village, where we stop for lunch.  Next, we venture north to Khe Sanh Combat Base where we spend ample time exploring.  Under JFK, Khe Sanh Combat Base was a U.S. jungle outpost close to the border with Laos.  The area grew into a major military base and airstrip under LBJ and was the scene of a 77-day siege in 1968, as well as many vicious hill battles in 1967-68.  Our last stop is Lang Vei Special Forces Camp, overrun in the first-ever NVA tank assault.  Co Roc Mountain soars to the heavens just across the border.  Vietnam is a very long, thin country, and we have traversed it from the coast all the way to its border with Laos.  We then return to our hotel in Dong Ha.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 12: (Thursday, 03 April 2025) – Dong Ha to Da Nang

This morning, we settle in for the long drive back to Da Nang, but first we make a special visit to the KIA site of Recon Marine Joseph Lyons.  Tonight, dinner is on our own.

Meals: B/L/_

Day 13: (Friday, 04 April 2025) – Da Nang

Today, we ascend to the top of Ba Na Mountain aka Hill 1467 (which was once a Recon radio-relay site) to the new Hands Bridge and lunch on the mountain.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 14: (Saturday, 05 April 2025) – Da Nang

Today is a free day.  Lunch is on our own, but tonight all hands are required at our very special Farewell Dinner.

Meals: B/_/D

Day 15: (Sunday, 06 April 2025) – Da Nang to CONUS

After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to Da Nang Airfield for our flight to Taipei.  Departing from Taipei, we gain a day enroute by re-crossing the International Dateline, arriving in the continental United States this same day.

Meals: B/L/D (in flight)

Tour Price: $4,995.00 / Per Person is based upon Double Occupancy (2 people per room)
Single Supplement is $598.00

Ground Only Price: $3,995.00 / Per Person is also based upon Double Occupancy (2 people per room)
Single Supplement is $598.00

Tour Price Includes:

1. International roundtrip airfare from our Los Angeles, California (LAX) gateway.     Alternative Gateways
   • Ground Only Tours - International roundtrip airfare is not included.
2. Air-conditioned motorcoach transportation.
3. Vietnam airfare.
4. Vietnam Visa Processing and fees.
   • Ground Only Tours - Vietnam Visa Processing and fees may or may not be included.
5. Hotel Accommodations throughout tour.
6. Virtually all meals, as indicated in itinerary.
7. Historical Trip information packet, containing maps and other information pertaining to your tour.
8. Admission fees to all sites, museums and special attractions listed.
9. Services of our experienced Directors & English--speaking local guides.
10. Gratuities (NOTE: VBT American guides are prohibited from accepting tips.)
11. Bulk-baggage handling.