Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 10 - 11 May) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 8:30 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 12 May) – Ha Noi
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. At Ha Noi'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 Ha Noi environs. After lunch, we will check into our hotel and have the afternoon off to rest from our flight. Tonight we enjoy our Welcome Dinner
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Gondola Hotel
Day 4: (Wednesday, 13 May) – Ha Noi
Today we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House and the One Pillar Pagoda. Afterwards, we visit the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton); the John McCain Monument; and the fascinating War Museum.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Gondola Hote
Day 5: (Thursday, 14 May) – Ha Noi to Qui Nhon to Quang Ngai
Early morning flight to Qui Nhon. We will have breakfast in Qui Nhon, then drive north on Highway 1 towards Quang Ngai. We will visit LZ Thunder (aka Nui Dau or Hill 164), LZ Bronco (aka LZ Montezuma), Duc Pho, LZ Dragon, and Mo Duc. Along the way we will pass LZ 2-Bit, Bong Son, LZ English, and LZ Snoppy.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Thien An Riverside Hotel
Day 6: (Friday, 15 May) – Quang Ngai to Hoi An
Continuing north on Highway 1 we will visit FSB/LZ Dottie, and the Operation Starlight area. We then visit Chu Lai, Cresent Beach, Ky Ha, Hill 43 and Tam Ky before reaching Hoi An. This evening you are free to 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 Hotel: Hoi An Green Heaven
Day 7: (Saturday, 16 May) – Hoi An
Today we depart early to the Que Sons, LZ Ross, LZ Baldy, LZ Ryder and west to Antenna Valley. We return to Hoi An for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Green Heaven
Day 8: (Sunday, 17 May) – Hoi An
Today is a free day for shopping and exploring the streets of Hoi An, lying by the pool, or sunning at the beach. Lunch and Dinner on our own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Hoi An Green Heaven
Day 9: (Monday, 18 May) – Hoi An to Da Nang
Today we head south on Highway 1 and cross the Song Thu Bon. Turning west, we parallel Goi Noi Island. After stopping at An Hoa Combat Base, 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. Returning to Highway 1, we head north to Marble Mountain where we can visit a marble carving shop and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC hospital area located deep within. Continuing north we drive through the old Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), stop at China Beach on the South China Sea and visit Monkey Mountain for a photo op before checking into our hotel on the Han River.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Brilliant Hotel
Day 10: (Tuesday, 19 May) – Da Nang to Hue
Departing early this morning we make visits to Red Beach II and Nam O Bridge, before heading up the Hai Van with a stop at the Pass to explore old French bunkers and take in a parting view of Da Nang and the bay. Continuing down the Hai Van, we make several interesting stops along the way north before reaching Phu Bai and Camp Eagle. Soon thereafter, we enter Hue (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam) and 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 former MACV Compound, Tran Cao Van Street, Joan of Arc Girl's High School, ARVN BOQ, Hue University, Treasury, Public Health Building, Provincial Capital Building area, and the Church of the Redemptress. We then arrive at our hotel near the southern bank of the Perfume River for a relaxing evening. After dinner, you can roam the fascinating shops on Le Loi Street until late at night.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang Hotel
Day 11: (Wednesday, 20 May) – Hue
This morning we take a relaxing cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Du Tombs. After lunch 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. 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 then visit the Forbidden City, home to the ancient emperors. Dinner on your own tonight.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Huong Giang Hotel
Day 12: (Thursday, 21 May) – Hue to Dong Ha
Today we head north on Highway 1 toward the DMZ. We pass through Quang Tri City and visit Long Hung Church, Bo De School, and the Lew Puller School as we come into Dong Ha. At the Song Do Dieu we walk over the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). Continuing north we stop at Gio Linh FSB Forward (Alpha 2). We then head west to visit Con Thien (the Hill of Angels) and south to Cam Lo Bridge. The four quadrants of Leatherneck Square are Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien and Cam Lo. At Cam Lo we turn west on Highway 9 to visit Camp Carroll, the Marine and Army artillery plateau. We continue west past the Rockpile, the Razorback, and Khe Gia Bridge. After lunch in Khe Sanh village, we head north to the Khe Sanh Combat Base where we will spend ample time exploring. Next is the Lang Vei Special Forces Camp, overrun in the first ever NVA tank assault. We overnight in Dong Ha.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Dong Ha Hotel
Day 13: (Friday, 22 May) – Dong Ha to Hue
This morning we visit the Mine Action Visitor Center before heading north on Highway 1 to visit the Peace Bridge and the Vinh Moc Tunnels. Returning south along the new coastal highway past Cua Viet to Quang Tri.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang Hotel
Day 14: (Saturday, 23 May) – Hue to Ha Noi
The morning is free for some last minute shopping in Hue. After lunch we transfer to the Hue/Phu Bai airport for our flight to Ha Noi. Tonight we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner. Lunch is on your own.
Meals: B/_/D Hotel: Sky Lark Hotel
Day 15: (Sumday, 24 May) – Departure
After a leisurely morning, we transfer Ha Noi’s Noi Bai Airfield for our 12:10 p.m. 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 3:30 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
