Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 22 - 23 March) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 7:00 pm and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart Los Angeles on our flight to Taipei and Hanoi. Lose one day crossing the International Dateline..
Day 3: (Tuesday, 24 March) – Hanoi
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. At Hanoi'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 Hanoi environs. We will visit the JPAC Headquarters (mission depending) and receive a briefing on MIA activities. We visit the Ho Chi Minh House, the One Pillar Pagoda, the fascinating War Museum, the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), and the John McCain Memorial. This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D
Day 4: (Wednesday, 25 March) – Hanoi to Da Nang
On the way to the airport we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We then catch our flight from Noi Bai Airport to Da Nang Airfield. On arrival we check into our hotel, have lunch at a local restaurant, and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC Hospital area located deep within. Afterwards we can go for a swim in the South China Sea at China Beach. Tonight after dinner we are free to roam the streets of Da Nang.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 5: (Thursday, 26 March) – Da Nang to TAOR West
Today we head west from Da Nang to visit Hill 41 (943-663), Hill 10 (923-691) and Phuoc Ninh 7. We explore these areas related to actions of 20 December 1967. If a route is available we climb "Charlie Ridge" to overlook the area. We continue west and south to Hill 37 (916-582), Hill 65 (879-578), Hill 22 (904-718), the village of Dai Loc and Liberty Bridge (North End). We can view Charlie Ridge from these locations. We will spend the time needed in these areas. We return to Da Nang and stop at Hill 55 (965-615), the 7th Marine Regimental Hill. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_
Day 6: (Friday, 27 March) – Da Nang to TAOR South
Today we head south and west to An Hoa Combat Base with stops at My Son Holyland, Hill 119 and the south end of Liberty Bridge. We head west and south to Antenna Valley by the Tu Bon River Pass and continue on to the Que Son Valley, LZ Ross and LZ Baldy as we return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 7: (Saturday, 28 March) – Hoi An to Chu Lai
We head south on Hwy 1 for Tam Ky and Chu Lai to visit 7th Marine Locations, Hill 43, Crescent Beach, Ky Haand Chu Lai Airfield. We will spend time to locate specific areas of interest. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 8: (Sunday, 29 March) – Hoi An
Today is a free day and evening in Hoi An to enjoy the beaches, 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
Day 9: (Monday, 30 March) – Hoi An to Dong Ha
Depart Hoi An to DaNang then north and west to Happy Valley and Elephant Valley areas north of Charlie Ridge. We will visit BaNa a radio relay and formerly a French Resort on top of the mountain.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 10: (Tuesday, 31 March) – Da Nang to Hue
Today we travel north through Da Nang stopping at Red Beach, the Nam O Bridge, the Esso Plant, and cross Hai Van Pass. We continue North on Highway 1 through Phu Bai and into Hue City where we walk the south side of the Perfume River and study the 1968 Tet Offensive battles for the New City. We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5, covering among others, the former MACV Compound, Tran Cao Van Street, Girl's High School, ARVN BOQ, Hue University, Treasury, Public Health Building, Provincial Capital Building, and the Church of the Redemptress. After dinner you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 11: (Wednesday, 1 April) – Hue to Dong Ha
After breakfast we explore the 1968 Tet Offensive battles for the Old City and the Citadel with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to the northern battle. We finish at the Imperial Palace and visit the Forbidden City. After lunch we depart north to Dong Ha and visit the Lew Puller School and cross the Dong Ha Bridge and tell the story of John Ripley and the 1972 Easter Offensive. We will visit Cua Viet in the evening.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 12: (Thursday, 2 April) – Dong Ha to Hue
We travel north to Gio Linh and the Peace Bridge over the Song Ben Hai. Returning south and west, we visit Con Thien (Hill of the Angels), and Cam Lo Bridge, all parts of Leatherneck Square. We then turn west on Route 9 and stop at Camp Carroll, the Marine artillery plateau. We continue west to the Rockpile,Razorback, Khe Gia Bridge, Ca Lu, and Da Krong Bridge. We eat lunch in the village of Khe Sanh and then visit the Khe Sanh Combat Base and the Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei. We return to Hue for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 13: (Friday, 3 April) – Hue to Hanoi
After breakfast, we head to Phu Bai Airfield for our early flight to Hanoi. We arrive at Noi Bai Airport and transfer to our hotel. The balance of the afternoon is preparing for the journey home and last minute shopping. 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
Day 14: (Saturday, 4 April) – 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 2:30pm this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
