Day 1 & 2: (Saturday - Sunday, 26 - 27 March) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 6:30 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Monday, 28 March) – Taipei - HCMC - Da Nang
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. We arrive at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport, where we proceed through immigration; retrieve our bags and clear customs. We then proceed to Vietnam Airline's counter were we check in for our flight to Da Nang. Arriving in Da Nang we check into our hotel and have a few hours to rest and freshen up before we gather again for our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D
Day 4: (Tuesday, 29 March) – Da Nang
After breakfast we depart for Liberty Bridge and An Hoa Regimental Combat Base. Next, 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.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 5: (Wednesday, 30 March) – Da Nang to Hoi An
Today we visit Nui Kim Son Village (at different times, home to 1st & 3rd AmTrac Bn) and Marble Mountain. We then climb 130 steps up this mysterious mountain by the sea and visit the underground atrium located deep within (supposedly once used as a hospital for wounded Viet Cong). We then travel to Hoi An Town, where we tour a silk and wood-carving factory. In the afternoon you are free to roam the streets and explore hundreds of interesting shops in this ancient port city (formerly known as Faifo) where Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese traders once walked.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 6: (Thursday, 31 March) – Hoi An
Leaving early, we head west to LZ Ross and then return to Highway One to drive south to Chu Lai and the Batangan Peninsula (Van Tuong Peninsula) the site of Operation Starlite. Dinner is on our own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_
Those not wishing to make the long drive down to the Van Tuong Peninsula will have a free day in Hoi An for shopping, relaxing on the beach, or for personal exploration. Dinner and lunch is on our own.
Meals: B/_/_
Day 7: (Friday, 1 April) – Hoi An
Today is a free day in Hoi An for shopping, relaxing on the beach, or for personal exploration. Lunch and Dinner is on our own.
Meals: B/_/_
Day 8: (Saturday, 2 April) – Hoi An to Da Nang
Today will be devoted to individual pre-requested special sites such as: Hills 55, 65, 22, Dodge City, etc. Tonight we are on our own to sample the local restaurants and nightspots offered in Da Nang City.
Meals: B/L/_
Day 9: (Sunday, 3 April) – Da Nang to Hue
On our way north, we will stop at Red Beach II and Nam O Bridge. (If requested, we will visit the Village of Le My and Elephant Valley.) We drive the breathtaking Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds), stopping at the top to take in a parting views of Da Nang City and the bay. Continuing north on Highway 1 we stop at a few interesting sites along the way before entering into Hue City. Here 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 10: (Monday, 4 April) – Hue
This morning we will take a relaxing cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Tombs. After lunch you will have the rest of the day free to explore Hue. We will meet again for dinner.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 11: (Tuesday, 5 April) – Hue to Dong Ha
This morning 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 and the phase lines. 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 also visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors. We then depart for the DMZ stopping at sites along the way, such as Quang Tri City, Ai Tu Airfield, and the Lew Puller School.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 12: (Wednesday, 6 April) – Dong Ha
This morning we cross the Dong Ha Bridge and tell the story of John Ripley and the 1972 Easter Offensive. Next we travel along the north bank of the Song Bo Dieu and visit Dai Do to explore the battle area of BLT 2/4. We then visit the villages of Mai Xa Chanh near the south end of Jones Creek and My Loc. From My Loc we will cross the Song Cua Viet and visit the LCU Ramp at the mouth of the Song Cua Viet where 1st AmTrac Bn was based. We then visit Hill 31 and Fire Support Bases A1, C4, and Ocean View. Continuing north on the new coastal road, we cross over the Song Ben Hai to the NVA artillery village of Vinh Moc to explore its intricate maze of tunnels. Returning south, we cross the Peace Bridge over the Song Ben Hai, the river that was the only true physical demarcation between North and South Vietnam. Passing through Gio Linh we return to our hotel in Dong Ha.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 13: (Thursday, 7 April) – Dong Ha to Hue
Early this morning we head west on Route 9 and turn north at Cam Lo for a visit to Con Thien (the Hill of Angels). After Con Thien we head south to Cam Lo picking up Route 9 west again and stop at the Camp Carroll artillery plateau. We pass the Rockpile and Razorback and continue west through the Four Gates to Hell, the Khe Gia Bridge, Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud), Ca Lu, the Da Krong Bridge and the Hairpin. After lunch in Khe Sanh village, we continue almost to the Laotian border to the Lang Vei Special Forces Camp (overrun in the first-ever NVA tank assault). After Lang Vei, we proceed to the site of the Khe Sanh Combat Base where we will take ample time for exploration. We return to Hue for the evening. Tonight we gather for our Farewell Dinner.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 14: (Friday, 8 April) – Hue to Ha Noi
After breakfast, we head to Phu Bai Airfield for our flight to Ha Noi. We arrive at Noi Bai Airport and and board our motorcoach and cross the Red River and its dikes to explore the Ha Noi environs. We visit the Ho Chi Minh House, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), and the John McCain Memorial. 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 15: (Saturday, 9 April) – Departure
This morning we bid farewell to Vietnam and transfer to Noi bai Airfield for 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 this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
