12th CAV
08 April - 22 April, 2018
15 Days
Price: $3,795.00
Tour Reference: VN-18042
Ground Only Price is: $2,800.00 *
Deadline for registration is January 08, 2018
* Tour Registration Closed *
12th Cavalry Air Assault
Daily Itinerary

Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 08 - 09 April, 2018) – Houston to Taipei

Report to Houston Intercontinental Airport by 8:00 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter.  Depart Houston, TX on our flight to Taipei.  Lose one day crossing the International Dateline.

Day 3: (Tuesday, 10 April, 2018) – Taipei to Ho Chi Minh City

After a short layover in Taipei where we endure the Big Speech, we depart for Vietnam.  We land at Tan Son Nhut Airfield (once the busiest airport in the world) and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, clear customs, and board our waiting motorcoach.  We head into the center of Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by most Vietnamese) and point out sites such as the U.S. Army 3rd Field Hospital.  This evening we enjoy an early Welcome Dinner. Then the rest of the evening is yours to visit some famous hotels from the war days.

Meals: B (in flight) /_/D

 
Class I Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 4: (Wednesday, 11 April, 2018) – Saigon to Tay Ninh to Pleiku

Early today we depart north on Thunder Road (QL-13) for Tay Ninh Province, visiting Phuoc Vinh (XT 967 490), Quan Loi Airfield (XT 816 907), and An Loc (XT 760 893) and (XT 780 990).  On our way to Tay Ninh City, we explore sites of importance to the 12th CAV in the Fishhook Area.  We then visit the are around Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain) and the Tay Ninh Combat Base (XT 158 513).  After a special lunch we head back towards Saigon, we pass through the Filhol Rubber Plantation, Ho Bo Woods and Boi Loi Woods.  Time permitting, our final stop today is the Notre Dame Cathedral.  Across the street we can pick up amazing gifts at the Old Post Office.  We have dinner (El Frescos) and report to Ton Son Nhut Airport for our flight to Pleiku on Vietnam Airlines Flight 1426 departing at 6:55 p.m

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 5: (Thursday, 12 April, 2018) – Pleiku

Today we head north on Highway 14 to Dak To for a visit to the Dak To Airfields 1 and 2, followed by viewing of Hill 875.  On our way back, we stop in 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).  Ave Maria 100-year old Rosewood Church and the Vinh Son Montagnard Orphanage before we return to Pleiku we visit Camp Enari (AR 802 348), Artillary Hill (ZA 225 535).

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 6: (Friday, 13 April, 2018) – Pleiku to Qui Nhon

Today we travel east on Route 19 towards An Khe (BR 480 430), An Khe Pass (BR 582 438) and Camp Holloway (AR 802 472).  Continuing east we stop where the French Groupment Mobile 100 (BR 252 483) at Mang Yang Pass were caught in a devastating ambush.  Next we continue east to for a look and see.  We continue downhill on our way to the coastal town of Qui Nhon where we check into our hotel and have dinner.

Meals: B/_/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 7: (Saturday, 14 April, 2018) – Qui Nhon to Tam Quan

We begin our day very early as we travel north on Highway 1 (QL-1).  After Breakfast we will make brief stops at the former site of Qui Nhon City Airport and the location where the 1st Cav came ashore on September 11, 1965.  Our objectives are the intersection with DT-631 and then up 506 Valley to LZ Pony (BR 808 832) and LZ Bird (BR 743 817).

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 8: (Sunday, 15 April, 2018) – Tam Quan to Hoi An

Back on Highway 1 and stopping at LZ Uplift (BR 924 752), we head east to Hoa Hoi.  Next is the Bong Son Bridge (BR 870 960) and LZ English (BS 879 005), the Bong Son Airfield (BR 846 947), and Tam Quan (BR 893 135) and explore the Battle of Tam Quan sites.  We will visit other locations which were missed on Day 7 if needed.  Still headed north, we pass thru Quang Ngai continuing on to Hoi An.  Time permitting we may visit the Silk Factory in Hoi An.

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 9: (Monday, 16 April, 2018) – Hoi An

Free Day in Hoi An.  Lunch and Dinner on your own.

Meals: B/_/_

 
Class I Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 10: (Tuesday, 17 April, 2018) – Hoi An to Hue

This morning we drive north on the beach road and stop at an interesting marble carving shop, as this area is famous for their stone-sculpture industries.  The Marble Mountains here are visually-striking hills that rise abruptly from the flat coastal region - these mountains are home to Buddhist shrines and numerous caves.  A little farther north we pass through the site of the Marble Mountain Air Facility, a U.S. helicopter base during the war.  We also stop at My Khe Beach on the South China Sea for photos.  My Khe was better known as "China Beach" and was used as an in-country 'R&R' facility for U.S. troops.  We make a quick photo stop at Red Beach II (where the Marines first landed in 1965).  Next, we make our way up the breathtaking Hai Van Pass (Pass of the "High Clouds"), stopping at the top to explore old French bunkers and to take in parting views of Da Nang 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.  Later, about eight miles before entering Hue, we pass by Phu Bai Airfield (YD 887 148) and soon enter Camp Eagle (541 318) for a look-see.  We then enter Hue City (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam).  After lunch, we begin our study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battle for the southern 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, Girl's High School, Hue University, Treasury, Public Health Building, Provincial Capital Building area, and the Church of the Redemptress.  We then 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.  Next, we visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors.  Finally, we retire to our hotel on the southern bank of the Perfume River for a relaxing evening.  Be sure to enjoy the hotel pool.  After dinner, you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.

Meals: B/L/_

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 11: (Wednesday, 18 April, 2018) – Hue to Lao Bao

This morning we head north on Highway 1 to visit Camp Evans (YD 541 318).  Soon thereafter we enter Quang Tri City, stopping at LZ Sharon (YD 340 497).  Returning to Highway 1 we stop at Long Hung Church (YD 34258 51833), 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 counter-attack.  The church has been left as it stood after the battle, with scars from grenades, rockets, and bullets.  We also visit Bo De School (YD 33399 52193), 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 Bridge, passing through the Ai Tu Airfield (Quang Tri Airbase) (YD 30703 55521).  After lunch in Dong Ha, we proceed west on Route 9 (the main U.S. supply route from the coast to Khe Sanh), passing Cam Lo, Camp Carroll, the Rockpile, and LZ Stud, (YD 002 493), before arriving at Khe Sanh Combat Base.  After exploration, we continue west on Route 9, passing LZ Snapper (XD 845 344) to the south and then arrive at Lang Vei Special Forces Camp (XD 7844 3673), overrun in the first-ever NVA tank assault.  Co Roc Mountain soars to the heavens just across the border.  Tonight, we stay in the Laotian border town of Lao Bao in somewhat Spartan accommodations.

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 12: (Thursday, 19 April, 2018) – Lao Bao to Hue

After breakfast we travel west to the Vietnam/Laos Border Crossing.  We then Backtrack east on Route 9, we turn south at the Da Krong Bridge via Highway 14 (the new Ho Chi Minh Trail Highway) passing through the Da Krong and A Shau Valleys.  We stop at A Loui (YC 388 992) and A Shau Special Forces Camp (YC 499 837) before heading east on old Route 547.  We pass FSB's Bastogne and Birmingham before arriving at our hotel in Hue City.  Tonight, dinner is on our own.  You may want to grab a pizza or a burger at the DMZ Bar, just a short walk from our hotel.

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class II Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 13: (Friday, 20 April, 2018) – Hue

Today is a FREE Day.  Lunch and Dinner on your own.

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class I Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 14: (Saturday, 21 April, 2018) – Hue to Ho Chi Minh City

Up very early, we report to the Hue/Phu Bai Airport for our Vietnam Airlines Flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Flight VN 1371).  We then prepare for our homebound journey, do some last-minute shopping on our own, or just relax in the lounge and reflect on the adventures of the last two weeks.  Tonight, all hands are required at our very special Farewell Dinner (in the Asian Ruby Rooftop Restaurant).

Meals: B/L/D

 
Class I Tour Day - Click for more information.

Day 15: (Sunday, 22 April, 2018) – Ho Chi Minh City to CONUS to CONUS

After lunch, those heading home transfer to Tan Son Nhut Airport for the EVA Flight BR 396 at 3:55 PM 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 11:05 p.m. this same day.

Meals: B/L/D/D (in flight)

 
Class I Tour Day - Click for more information.
Tour Pricing Information

Tour Price: $3,795.00 / Per Person is based upon Double Occupancy (2 people per room)
Single Supplement is $598.00

Ground Only Price: $2,800.00 / 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 Houston, Texas gateway.
    • 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.
  12. Emergency Medical, Evacuation, Repatriation and Hospitalization Insurance included in each tour.

Why choose Vietnam Battlefield Tours?

Here's just a few reasons:

  1. VBT - We use only highly-experienced U.S. Marine Corps & U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran guides.
  2. VBT - Runs 15-day tours which ensures unrushed touring.
  3. VBT - Has all-inclusive pricing. (Beware of hidden charges forced on you by other tour operators).
  4. VBT - Gets you to places other companies cannot access.
  5. VBT - Our tours are designed for customization based on participant's requests (no off-the-rack tours).

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