Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 24 - 25 March 2024) – Enroute to Taipei

Report to Los Angeles, California (LAX) Airport 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, 26 March 2024) – Taipei to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam.  We arrive at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhut Airfield and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, and clear customs.  As we depart the airport, we will pass by the old MACV HQ and the U.S. Army's 3rd Field Hospital.  We stop at Phu Tho Racetrack and then head into the center of the city (still called Saigon by most Vietnamese) and proceed to our hotel.  This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.

Meals: L (in flight)/D

Day 4: (Wednesday, 27 March 2024) – Saigon

Today is devoted to touring sites in Ho Chi Minh City including: The War Remnants Museum, Reunification Hall (the old Presidential Palace), Notre Dame Cathedral, the old Post Office, and the former US Embassy site which now houses the new US Consulate.  After lunch we go to the Y Bridge, Newport Bridge, and the Cha Tam Church, to which during the 1963 coup, SVN President Ngo Dinh Diem hid.  He was later discovered there and arrested.  He was executed along the route back to the Palace.  Lastly, we stop at the famous address, 197 Ngo Gia Tu, in District 5, where Nguyen Ngoc Loan, the national police commander, executed a Viet Cong suspect during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 5: (Thursday, 28 March 2024) – Saigon to Tay Ninh

This morning we are up early and heading northwest on Highway 13 to Ben Cat.  Just north of Ben Cat is Lai Khe and the southern end of Thunder Road.  Continuing north on Highway 13, we make our way through the Michelin Rubber Plantation and on to Dau Tieng, Nu Ba Ra, and LZ Buttons and Nui Ba Ra.  We then arrive in Tay Ninh where we spend the evening.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 6: (Friday, 29 March 2024) – Tay Ninh to Saigon

This morning we head north from Tay Ninh to Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain).  On our return we visit the Cao Dai Holy See Temple.  Time permitting, we will visit the Tay Ninh City Airport and the site of the Tay Ninh Combat Base which is now a Vietnamese Army Base.  We go to lunch at Ms. Tuyiet's (a restaurant owned by a famous former VC Soldier).  We then visit the Cu Chi Tunnel Complex.  We will pass close to the Iron Triangle and through Hobo Woods on our way back to Saigon for the evening.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 7: (Saturday, 30 March 2024) – Saigon to Qui Nhon

After a leisurely breakfast, we fly to Phu Cat Airfield and make our way to Qui Nhon, visiting the old Qui Nhon City Airport area and the landing beach where the 1st Cav came ashore on September 11, 1965.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 8: (Sunday, 31 March 2024) – Qui Nhon to Tam Quan

Very early today we visit LZ Bird for a memorial service.  This was the site of a fierce fight on 27 December 1966 when C-1st/12th Cavalry, C-6th/16th Artillery (towed 155mm), and B-2nd/19th Artillery (towed 105mm), 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) were attacked by the 7th, 8th, and 9th battalions of the 22nd NVA Regiment.  The attackers overwhelmed the perimeter defense and the NVA swarmed over all five 155mm howitzers of the 16th Artillery and half of the 105mm howitzers of the 19th Artillery before the surviving artillerymen of the 19th Artillery fired Beehive rounds (a 105mm round filled with 8,500 fleshettes) over open-sights at the attackers.  Combined with Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA), the 19th's determined stand caused the enemy attack to fail.  The U.S. Forces suffered 58 KIA, 77 WIA, while the NVA lost 266 KIA.

Back on Highway 1 we stop at LZ Uplift, and then head east to Hoa Hoi.  Next is the Bong Son Bridge, LZ English, and the Bong Son Airfield.  Lastly, we explore the sites where the Battle of Tam Quan took place.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 9: (Monday, 1 April 2024) – Tam Quan to Hoi An

Today we continue north on Highway 1.  We stop at Chu Lai for a brief tour of LZ Hurricane and take in the panoramic view of the former airbase.  We turn onto the combat base for lunch on Crescent Beach.  We drive onto Ka Ha and then continue north.  We finally reach our destination of Hoi An, a beautiful well-preserved ancient trading port.  It 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.

Meals: B/L/D

Day 10: (Tuesday, 2 April 2024) – Hoi An

Today is 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, and the port was moved north to Da Nang.  Luckily for Hoi An, its importance waned long before the American War, and it was left essentially isolated and relatively untouched.  There are literally hundreds of amazing little shops in this town.  Lunch and dinner are on our own.  Don't miss the Night Market, just a short walk from our hotel.

Meals: B/_/_

Day 11: (Wednesday, 3 April 2024) – 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.  Nearby are the Marble Mountains which 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 (formally named "Stack Arms R&R Center").  After a quick photo stop at Red Beach II (where the Marines first landed in 1965), 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.  A little farther north and to the west, we enter Camp Eagle for a look-see.  We then arrive in 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 (which was the ARVN BOQ during the war) on the southern bank of the Perfume River.  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/D

Day 12: (Thursday, 4 April 2024) – Hue to A Shau Valley to Hue

After breakfast we travel west to the Vietnam/Laos Border into the A Shau Valley.  We stop at A Loui for a distant view of Hamburger Hill and then head south to the A Shau Special Forces Camp.  We turn east on old Route 547, passing FSB's Bastogne and Birmingham before arriving at our Hue hotel.  Tonight, dinner is on our own.  We've eaten a lot of Vietnamese food up to now 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 13: (Friday, 5 April 2024) – Hue

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.  The balance of our day is free to relax by the pool, go for a cyclo ride, explore on your own, or shop all the little boutiques around town.  Once again, dinner is on our own.

Meals: B/L/_

Day 14: (Saturday, 6 April 2024) – Hue to Da Nang

After a late breakfast, we bid Hue goodbye and head south on Highway 1, transiting under the Hai Van Pass through the 6km-long Hai Van Tunnel.  The rest of our afternoon is free, and lunch is on our own, but tonight all hands are required at our very special Farewell Dinner.

Meals: B/_/D

Day 15: (Sunday, 7 April 2024) – Da Nang to CONUS

After a leisurely 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: $4,995.00 / Per Person is based upon Double Occupancy (2 people per room)
Single Supplement is $598.00

Ground Only Price: $3,995.00 / 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.