Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 04 - 05 September 2022) – Enroute

Report to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by 8:00 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter.  Depart Los Angeles, CA on our flight to Taipei.  Lose one day crossing the International Dateline.

Day 3: (Tuesday, 06 September 2022) – Taipei to Hue

After a short layover in Taipei where we endure the Big Speech, we depart for Vietnam.  We land at Da Nang Airfield and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, clear customs, and board our waiting motorcoach.  Leaving the city, we head north on Highway 1 and stop for photos at Red Beach II, where U.S. Marines made their first amphibious landing in Vietnam in March 1965.  We then head up the breathtaking Hai Van, stopping at the Pass of the High Clouds to take in a parting view of Da Nang and her 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.  Continuing down the Hai Van to sea level, we walk across the Lang Co Bridge which separates Lang Co and Dam Lap An from the sea.  After the Bowling Alley, Phu Loc, and the Truoi River Bridge we pass by Dam Cau Hai, one of the largest lagoons in Southeast Asia, encompassing 112 square kilometers.  Our final stop of the day will be Phu Bai Airfield before entering Hue City (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam) and arriving at our hotel (which was the ARVN BOQ during the war) on the southern bank of the Perfume River.  Tonight, we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.

Meals: B (in flight) /_/D

Day 4: (Wednesday, 7 September 2022) – Hue

This morning we begin our study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battle for Hue.  The Battle of Hue was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war, and we spend our day visiting strategic sites in the fighting.  We start in the southern city.  We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5 covering, among others, the Shell Gas Station, Football Stadium, 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 Quoc Hoc High School that graduated Ho Chi Minh, General Giap, and President Diem.  After lunch, 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 and Phase Line Green.  We finish at the Imperial Palace gate blown by L/3/5, 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.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 5: (Thursday, 08 September 2022) – Hue to Dong Ha

This morning, we enjoy a relaxing Dragon Boat cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda.  It was from this pagoda that in 1963 Monk Thich Quang Duc was driven to Saigon where he immolated himself in protest to the SVN government's oppressive treatment of the Buddhist people.  After lunch, we head north on Highway 1.  Our first stop is Camp Evans.  Farther north, we come upon the My Chanh Bridge.  It was here that the ARVN held the line against invading NVA forces during the 1972 Easter Offensive and from which they launched their counterattack to drive Ho's forces back toward the DMZ.  North of here is the section of Highway 1 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 slaughtered by communist NVA troops and artillery.  The north side of the bridge is where the worst of the massacre occurred.  Massive numbers of people were trapped because the downed bridge prevented escape.  Soon thereafter we enter Quang Tri City where we visit La Vang Basilica (site of a 1798 appearance of the Blessed Virgin), passing through the LZ Sharon, LZ Nancy, and LZ Ann areas.  Returning to Highway 1 we stop at Long Hung Church, 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 counterattack.  The church has been left as it stood after the battle, with scars from grenades, rockets, and bullets.  We also visit Bo De School, 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, stopping at the Ai Tu Airfield (Quang Tri Airbase).  Our last stop today is the Lew Puller School.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 6: (Friday, 09 September 2022) – Dong Ha

After breakfast, we walk the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by Capt. John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive).  We then travel east on the north side of the Song Bo Dieu and Song Cua Viet stopping at the amphibious landing site at An Lac where the Magnificent Bastards of 2/4 came ashore in May 1968.  From here we move northwest on foot to Dai Do, Dinh To, and Thuong Do explaining how this horrific battle developed and was ultimately won over a period of 5-days and where two Medals of Honor were awarded.  We also visit Dong Huan where it all started, and Som Soi where what was left of the NVA's 320th Division finally broke and fled to their sanctuaries in North Vietnam.  We then continue east, past Mai Xa Chanh, Jones Creek, and My Loc.  Turning north again, we head up the new beach road along the Tonkin Gulf.  We then cross the Song Ben Hai (this river was the only true physical demarcation between the North and the South).  Now in North Vietnam, we 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 saved many villagers' lives and are still in very good condition.  We then head west and south, crossing the Hien Luong Bridge (better known as the Peace Bridge).  Back in South Vietnam, we proceed past FSB Gio Linh which overlooked the DMZ from the Republic side.  We then stop at Alpha-3, after which we visit the U.S. base at Alpha-4, better known as Con Thien (the Hill of Angels).  A-4 was the western anchor of the McNamara Line.  Travelling south on the Rough-Rider Road, we cross 2/4's Bastard's Bridge (aka The Washout).  After passing by Charlie-2 and Charlie-3, we stop for photos at the Cam Lo Bridge.  We then return to Dong Ha.  Today we have traversed the four quadrants of Leatherneck Square: Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien, and Cam Lo.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 7: (Saturday, 10 September 2022) – Dong Ha to Lao Bao

This morning we head west on Route 9 (the main U.S. supply route from Highway 1 to Khe Sanh).  Vietnam is a very long, thin country, and we traverse it from the coast all the way to its border with Laos.  If there is an interest, we will stop at Camp Carroll (the joint-forces artillery plateau), the Khe Gia Bridge, the Rockpile, Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud) and Ca Lu.  After crossing the Hairpin we enter Khe Sanh Village and stop for lunch.  Next, we venture north to Khe Sanh Combat Base where we spend ample time exploring the base.  Under JFK, Khe Sanh Combat Base was a U.S. jungle outpost close to the border with Laos.  The area grew into a major military base and airstrip under LBJ and was the scene of a 77-day siege in 1968, as well as many vicious hill battles in 1967-68.  Back on Route 9 and heading ever farther west, we make our last stop at Lang Vei Special Forces Camp.  Lang Vei was 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

Day 8: (Sunday, 11 September 2022) – Lao Bao to Khe Sanh

Early this morning, we return east on Route 9 for a short while, head north past Khe Sanh Combat Base to study two of the Hill Fights mountains, remembering the heroism and sacrifice of the Marines and Corpsmen who served there.  We first climb Hill 861-Alpha and Hill 861, after which we move ever farther north, past Hill 558, and then up to Hill 881-North.  From here, we dismount and hike to Hill 881-South.  After our time on the 881's, we retire to our hotel in Khe Sanh village.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 9: (Monday, 12 September 2022) – Khe Sanh to Hue

Early this morning we return east on Route 9 for a short while and then at the Da Krong Bridge, head south, deep into the Da Krong and A Shau Valleys, thoughtful of the massive battle here from 22 January to 18 March 1969, better known as Operation Dewey Canyon.  At the bottom of the Da Krong Valley, we climb to FSB Erskine.  Then as we enter the A Shau, we leave the main road and navigate around Tiger Mountain (Hill 1228) to Tam Boi (Hill 1224) and the launch point for the raid into Laos to destroy an NVA convoy on Route 922 (an extension of the Ho Chi Minh Trail).  Two Medals of Honor were awarded in this battle.  Later, at A Loui, we stop for a view of Hamburger Hill.  Turning east on Highway 547, pass FSB's Bastogne and Birmingham before finally arriving back in Hue.  Tonight, dinner is on our own.  We've eaten a lot of Vietnamese food up to this point, so you may want to grab a pizza or a burger at the DMZ Bar, just a short walk from our hotel.

Meals: B/L/_

Day 10: (Tuesday, 13 September 2022) – Hue to Tam Ky

After breakfast, we bid Hue goodbye and head south on Highway 1.  Back in Lang Co, we stop for lunch in the fishing village.  We then pass through the 6km tunnel beneath the Hai Van Pass.  A little farther south, we cross the Nam O Bridge which spans the Song Cu De flowing out of Elephant Valley.  We pass through Dog Patch as we enter Da Nang City and continue south to the center of Tam Ky and check into our hotel.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 11: (Wednesday, 14 September 2022) – Tam Ky

Very early this morning we head south to the Batangan Peninsula.  From here, it's boots-on-the-ground to where this gruesome battle took place.  Operation Starlite was the baptism-of-fire for the Marine Corps in Vietnam and was the first large-scale battle of the war (18-21 August 1965).  On the way back to Tam Ky, we stop for a seafood lunch on Crescent Beach in Chu Lai.  After lunch, we explore Chu Lai Airbase and Ky Ha before returning to our hotel.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 12: (Thursday, 15 September 2022) – Tam Ky

Early today, we head west to Hill 488 (Nui Vu), where we gear up for the hike to the hilltop.  Here, we reflect on this site where an 18-man Recon team valiantly held off a numerically superior enemy force.  On the evening of 15 June 1966, the team (16 Marines and 2 Corpsmen) came under fierce attack by a battalion of hardcore regulars of the 2nd NVA Division.  For 12 hours, the surrounded Marines fought off the enemy, sometimes in hand-to-hand combat.  Team leader, SSGT Jimmie Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor.  In addition, his team was awarded 18 Purple Hearts, 4 Navy Crosses, and 13 Silver Stars.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 13: (Friday, 16 September 2022) – Tam Ky to Hoi An

Today we venture west into the Que Son Valley.  Our first stop will be at a reservoir that served as a reference point for aircraft and troops coming into the valley.  Here we trace the progress of Operations Swift and Union throughout the combat areas.  We will have a memorial service for Father Capodanno at the place where he left this world to be with the Creator, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions.  We will remember, too, all those Marines and Corpsmen who also died in these battles.  Following the memorial service, we will visit Hill 63, Hill 48, Hill 43, and Hill 56 which were some of the hills that were so hotly contested during that time.  We then continue southwest through the Valley of Death, turning north to LZ Ross (Hill 51), then northeast to LZ Baldy.  Our last stop is a woodcarving 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 to this town.  Luckily for Hoi An, its importance waned long before the American War, and it was left essentially isolated and relatively untouched.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 14: (Saturday, 17 September 2022) – Hoi An

Today is a well-deserved free day.  You can relax by the pool, 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.  The town ceased to be an important trade harbor when its inlet shoaled in the late 18th Century, and the port was moved north to Da Nang.  There are literally hundreds of amazing little shops in this town.  Lunch and dinner are on our own.

Meals: B/_/_

Day 15: (Sunday, 18 September 2022) – Hoi An to Da Nang

This morning we head to the Marble Mountain area.  This community is famous for their stone-sculpture industries and we stop a marble-carving shop.  The Marble Mountains are five visually-striking monoliths that rise from the flat coastal plain and are home to Buddhist shrines and numerous caves.  We climb to the top of the largest mountain and explore the VC hospital area located deep within.  Continuing north, we pass through the site of the Marble Mountain Air Facility (a U.S. helicopter and small fixed-wing airbase during the war).  Our final stop today is a photo op at My Khe Beach on the South China Sea.  My Khe was better known as "China Beach," which was used as an in-country 'R&R' by U.S. troops.  Our afternoon in Da Nang is free, but tonight all hands are required at our very special Farewell Dinner at the most famous restaurant in Da Nang, the Kim Do.

Meals: B/_/D

Day 16: (Monday, 19 September 2022) – Da Nang to CONUS

After breakfast, we transfer to Da Nang Airfield for our flight to Taipei.  Departing from Taipei, we gain a day enroute by re-crossing the International Dateline, arriving in the continental United States this same day.

Meals: B/L/D (in flight)

Tour Price: $3,995.00 / Per Person is based upon Double Occupancy (2 people per room)
Single Supplement is $598.00

Ground Only Price: $3,000.00 / 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 Los Angeles, California (LAX) gateway.    Alternative Gateways
   • 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.