Day 1 & 2: (Thursday - Friday, 12 - 13 May, 2016) – Houston to Taipei

Report to Houston International Terminal by 9:00pm and proceed to the EVA Airlines ticketing counter for flight BR-51.  Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.

Meals: D/B (in flight)

Day 3: (Saturday, 14 May, 2016) – Taipei to Ha Noi

After a short layover in Taipei where we endure the Big Speech, we depart for Vietnam.  We land at Noi Bai Airfield (heavily bombed during the American War) and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, clear customs, and board our waiting motorcoach.  We then cross the Red River and its dikes to explore the Ha Noi environs.  We explore the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton); the John McCain Monument; and the fascinating War Museum.  This evening we visit (mission permitting) 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.  Tonight we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.

Meals: L (in flight)/D

Day 4: (Sunday, 15 May, 2016) – Ha Noi to Qui Nhon

This morning we have an early morning flight from Noi Bai Airfield to Pleiku.  Upon arriving in Pleiku, we travel north on Highway 14 (now called the Ho Chi Minh Trail Highway) 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).  We visit the Ave Maria 100-year old rosewood church and the Vinh Son Montagnard orphanage.  We return to Pleiku and then travel east on Highway 19 and stop at Mang Yang Pass, site of the 1954 annihilation of the French Group Mobile 100 armored column, for a look-see.  We will also stop at An Khe and An Khe Pass before arriving at our hotel in Qui Nhon.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 5: (Monday, 16 May, 2016) – Qui Nhon to Quang Ngai

Early this morning we are up and on the road.  Venturing north on Highway 1 we stop at Bong Son Bridge and LZ English.  Continuing farther north, we come to Duc Pho and take time to climb Nui Dang and explore LZ Bronco.  Following lunch in Quang Ngai, we visit My Lai (4), site of the infamous massacre.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 6: (Tuesday, 17 May, 2016) – Quang Ngai to Hoi An

Today we visit Hill 43, Chu Lai Air Base, and Ky Ha Helicopter Base.  Continuing north, we stop for lunch in Da Nang and then a photo stop at My Khe Beach, the famous "China Beach," which was used as an in-country 'R&R' by U.S. troops.  A little farther south we pass through the site of the Marble Mountain Air Facility, a U.S. helicopter base during the war, and stop at a marble carving shop.  The Marble Mountains are visually-striking hills that rise from the flat coastal region - these are home to Buddhist shrines and numerous caves.  This area is famous for their stone-sculpture industries.  We will ascend to the top of the largest mountain and explore the VC hospital area located deep within.  Our last stop is a wood-carving and silk shop as 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.  Luckily for Hoi An, its importance waned long before the Vietnam War, and it was left isolated and untouched.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 7: (Wednesday, 18 May, 2016) – Hoi An

Today is a well-deserved free day to relax and heal our aching bones from the climb up Marble Mountain yesterday.  Or you may 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.  It ceased to be an important 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 to sample some the many local restaurants and night spots.

Meals: B/_/_

Day 8: (Thursday, 19 May, 2016) – Hoi An to Hue

Our first stop is Red Beach II (where U.S. Marines made their first amphibious landing in March 1965).  Continuing north, we make our way up the breathtaking Hai Van Pass (Pass of the "High Clouds"), stopping at the top to take in a parting view of Da Nang and her Bay.  Hai Van Pass has been a vital military strategic foothold for centuries, and was used by French and U.S. armies in France's Indochina War and American's Vietnam War.  Bunkers and fortifications dot the hillsides.  We stop for photos at the fishing village of Lang Co and at Elephant Pass.  We pass by Dam Cau Hai, one of the largest lagoons in all of Southeast Asia encompassing 112 square kilometers.  After lunch in Hue, we begin our study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battle for the southern city.  The Battle of Hue (1968) was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war, and we spend the remainder of the day visiting strategic sites around the city.  We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5, covering, among others, the old Shell Gas Station, 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 the high school that graduated Ho Chi Minh, General Giap, and President Diem.  Next, 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.  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.  Our battle study complete, we take some time to visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 9: (Friday, 20 May, 2016) – Hue to Dong Ha

Leaving very early we head inland.  Vietnam is a very long, thin country, and we traverse it today from the coast almost all the way to its border with Laos, and then turn north at A Loui, back on Highway 14.  This is an area of beautiful dense jungled hills and it's easy to imagine how supplies coming via the Ho Chi Minh Trail travelled somewhat undetected.  This area - around the A Shau Valley and A Luoi - saw some fierce fighting in the late 1960's.  Probably the most famous is the Battle of Hamburger Hill (1969) which saw many casualties on both sides.  This mountaintop outpost was controversially abandoned by the victorious U.S. soon after the fight.  We view the hill from a great distance and pay our respects.  Continuing north, roughly parallel to the border, we pass through stunningly beautiful countryside.  This area was heavily napalmed during the war - an estimated 69 tons of napalm were dropped during the Battle of Hamburger Hill alone - and it's astounding how well nature has recovered.  The road we take was part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail (the HCM Trail was not one continuous road, but an extensive network of paths spanning four countries).  Despite heavily bombing the area, the NVA supply route consisting of numerous trails was never completely cut off.  Passing through the A Shau and Da Krong valleys, we come to the Da Krong Bridge where we turn west on Route 9, which was the main U.S. supply route from the coast to Khe Sanh.  In Khe Sanh village, we stop for lunch.  We then head north to Khe Sanh Combat Base where we spend ample time exploring.  Khe Sanh Combat Base was a U.S. jungle outpost close to the Laos border.  It grew into a major base and airstrip under LBJ and was the scene of a 77-day siege in 1968 and many vicious hill battles in 1967-68.  There is a small museum here and the airstrip is being reconditioned.  Back on Route 9 we make our way east, stopping at the Rockpile and Camp Carroll.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 10: (Saturday, 21 May, 2016) – Dong Ha to Hue

This morning we walk to the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by Capt. John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive).  Our route today takes us north of Dong Ha along the Tonkin Gulf beach road.  We cross the Song Ben Hai (the river that was the only true physical demarcation zone - DMZ - between the North and the South) into North Vietnam to 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, are still in very good condition and saved the villagers' lives.  After visiting them, we ride south again, returning over the Hien Luong Bridge (also known as the Peace Bridge), where there is a memorial to the victims of the war.  Back on the southern side, we proceed to the FSB Gio Linh (Forward) which overlooks the DMZ from the American side.  We then visit the U.S. base at Con Thien (the Hill of Angels).  After stopping for photos at the Cam Lo Bridge, we lunch in Dong Ha.  Turning south we stop to visit Ai Tu Airfield (the Quang Tri Airstrip).  This section of Highway 1 is 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 cut down by communist NVA troops and artillery.  We stop at the north side of the Quang Tri Bridge where the worst of the slaughter occurred, because the downed bridge prevented escape.  In Quang Tri City south of the bridge, the 'Battle of 81 Days and Nights' for the city's Citadel is evidenced by Bo De School.  The battle is famous for the huge amount of ordnance fired by both the ARVN and the NVA.  We also visit Long Hung Church, a Catholic Church in which the ARVN troops sought refuge during the invasion from the north and in which the NVA troops sought refuge as they retreated during the ARVN counter-attack.  It has been left as it stood after the battle, with scars from grenades, rockets, and bullet-holes.  Continuing south, we return to Hue.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 11: (Sunday, 22 May, 2016) – Hue to Ho Chi Minh City

Today we fly to Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhut Airport.  Departing the airport, we head into the center of the city (still called Saigon by most Vietnamese) and visit the War Remnants Museum; Reunification Hall (Old Presidential Palace); Norte Dame Cathedral; the Old Post Office; and drive past the former U.S. Embassy area which now houses the new U.S. Consulate.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 12: (Monday, 23 May, 2016) – Ho Chi Minh City

We rise early and head to Tay Ninh Province to visit the Cao Dai Holy See Temple and observe the noon ceremony.  Simply stated, the Cao Dai cover all bases.  Among their saints of worship are Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, Pericles, Julius Caesar, Confucius, Sun Yat-Sen, Joan of Arc, and for some reason, Thomas Jefferson and Victor Hugo.  After lunch we explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground labyrinth of some 75-miles combined.  At least 43,000 enemy soldiers died defending this strategic maze of tunnels which contained supply depots, arms caches, training facilities, hospitals, and troop accommodations.

Meals: B/L/D

Hotel: 

Day 13: (Tuesday, 24 May, 2016) – Ho Chi Minh City

Our first stop today is Cha Tam Church where South Vietnam President Diem had fled and disguised himself as a priest during the 1963 coup.  It was from this place that Diem was captured, taken away, and murdered.  We then travel south to the town of My Tho in the Mekong Delta where we take a boat trip on the Mekong River to visit Thoi Son Island (Coconut Island), local houses, and workshops.  Tonight we enjoy our Farewell Dinner.

Meals: B/L/D

Hotel: 

Day 14: (Wednesday, 25 May, 2016) – Ho Chi Minh City

Today, our last full day in Vietnam, is a free day.  You can take a walk to Ben Thanh Market or stroll along old Tu Do Street (now Dong Khoi Street) to explore a myriad of little shops where you can discover special gifts to bring home.  Or simply sit and watch the world go by from one of the city's many cafés.  Lunch and dinner are on our own.

Meals: B/_/_

Hotel: 

Day 15: (Thursday, 26 May, 2016) – Departure

After breakfast, we transfer to Tan Son Nhut 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 Houston at approximately 11:20 p.m. this same day.

Meals: B/L/D (in flight)