Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 08 - 09 September) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 9:00 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 10 September) – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After a short layover in Taipei, we depart for Vietnam. We arrive at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhut Airport and proceed through immigration, retrieve our bags, and clear customs. As we depart the airport, we will pass by the old MACV HQ, the U.S. Army's 3rd Field Hospital and head into the center of the city (still called Saigon) to our hotel. After we freshen up, we begin our tour of Saigon visiting the War Remnants Museum; Cha Cham Church; Reunification Hall (Old Presidential Palace); Norte Dame and the former US Embassy which now houses the new US Consulate. This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: Eden
Day 4: (Wednesday, 11 September) – Ho Chi Minh City
Today we drive south on Highway 1 to the Cholon District where we will visit the Cha Cham Church before leaving the city. Continuing south we pass through Tan An on our way to visit the town of My Tho in the Mekong Delta. We will take a boat trip on the Mekong River to visit Thoi Son Island, local houses, and workshops. We return to Saigon for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Eden
Day 5: (Thursday, 12 September) – Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh
This morning we are up early and heading north-west on Highway 13. Our first stop with be Phu Loi Airbase. Continuing on Highway 13 we arrive in Ben Cat. Just north of Ben Cat is Lai Khe and the southern end of Thunder Road. From Lai Khe, we return south to Ben Cat where we pick up Highway TL240 to visit FSB Lorraine I & FSB Lorraine II. We continue on to Highway TL750 and turn east. Once back on Highway 13 (Thunder Road) we head north to An Loc, Quan Loi, and Loc Ninh (the northern end of Thunder Road). Returning south on Highway 13, we make our way through the Michelin Rubber Plantation and on to Dau Tieng before arriving in Tay Ninh where we will spend the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoa Binh
Day 6: (Friday, 13 September) – Tay Ninh to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we head north from Tay Ninh to visit Prek Klok II Airfield and a battle site. Along the way we will pass the Tay Ninh City Strip and Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain). We return to Tay Ninh and visit the Cao Dai Holy See (Temple). Leaving Tay Ninh we continue on to Trang Bang and into the Operation Cedar Falls area. 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.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Eden
Day 7: (Saturday, 14 September) – Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we head north to visit Di An and Long Binh. In Long Binh we will visit the former location of the 24th Evac Hospital. From here we move on to Bien Hoa Airbase where we will visit the Lynn Hoffman Memorial site. From here we travel north to Phuoc Vinh. We return to Saigon for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Eden
Day 8: (Sunday, 15 September) – Ho Chi Minh City
Today is a free day in Saigon for shopping, personal exploration or just relaxing. Lunch and Dinner is on our own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Eden
Day 9: (Monday, 16 September) – Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat
This morning we have an early morning flight to the mountain resort town of Dalat. Once in Dalat, we will take in some sightseeing and this evening travel out to a Lat Village to enjoy some traditional music.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Best Western Dalat
Day 10: (Tuesday, 17 September) – Dalat to Nha Trang
This morning we head downhill to Cam Ranh Bay. Once in Cam Ranh, we will visit the areas of the 22nd Replacement Battalion, 14th Aerial Port, and the 6th Convalescent Hospital before continuing north to Nha Trang where we will spend the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Michellia
Day 11: (Wednesday, 18 September) – Nha Trang to Qui Nhon
After breakfast, we drive north to Qui Nhon. Along the way, we pass Tuy Hoa Airbase and visit several Cham ruins (the Cham people ruled what is today's Vietnam from the 3rd to the 15th Centuries), and other interesting sites.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Quy Nhon
Day 12: (Thursday, 19 September) – Qui Nhon to Pleiku
This morning we head west on Highway 19 towards An Khe. We drive uphill through the An Khe Pass and over the An Khe Summit before arriving in An Khe where we will have lunch. As we leave town we cross over the An Khe Bridge. Continuing west we pass through the Mang Yang Pass where the French Mobile Group 100 was ambushed and annihilated on June 24, 1954. We finally arrive in Pleiku where we will spend the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Day 13: (Friday, 20 September) – Pleiku
This morning we travel north on Highway 14 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). Once in Kontum we will visit the Kontum Wooden Church and the Vinh Son Montagnard Orphanage. We return to Pleiku for the evening.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Day 14: (Saturday, 21 September) – Pleiku to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we fly back to Saigon. Once there we will have the afternoon free. We gather tonight for our Farewell Dinner.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Asian Ruby
Day 15: (Sumday, 22 September) – Departure
After breakfast, we transfer to Tan Son Nhut Airport for the 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 2:30 p.m. this same day
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)