Day 1 & 2: (Sunday - Monday, 04 - 05 May) – Enroute
Report to Los Angeles International Terminal by 9:30 p.m. and proceed to ticketing counter. Depart for Taipei and lose one day crossing the International Dateline.
Day 3: (Tuesday, 06 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. Mission-permitting, our first stop is JPAC (Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command) for a command briefing on their efforts to find missing Americans. We then visit the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) after which our last stop will be the John McCain Monument. Tonight we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B (in flight) /L/D Hotel: May De Ville
Day 4: (Wednesday, 07 May) – Ha Noi to Hue
This morning we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ho Chi Minh House, and the One Pillar Pagoda and the fascinating War Museum. After lunch, we continue to Noi Bai Airfield and catch our flight to Hue/Phu Bai Airfield, home of the Catkillers. After touchdown, we motor north on Highway 1 and transfer to our hotel on the southern bank of the Perfume River in Hue (the old Imperial Capital of Vietnam) 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/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 5: (Thursday, 08 May) – Hue
Today is devoted to the study of the 1968 Tet Offensive battles for Hue. We will first walk the southern battle. We follow the actions of 1/1 and 2/5, covering, among others, the 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, the Church of the Redemptress, the ARVN BOQ, and the crash site of Benchmark 15. After lunch we visit the Citadel, with its ramparts and towers, and visit sites specific to the northern battle, including Phase Line Green, the Chuck Meadows Gate and the Dong Ba Gate. 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. We also pay a visit to Dong Con Duc Me di Vieng Orphanage.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 6: (Friday, 09 May) – Hue to Dong Ha
This morning we take a relaxing Dragon Boat cruise up the beautiful Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Tombs. After lunch we head north on Highway 1, stopping at sites along the way, such as Camp Evans and the Ai Tu (Quang Tri Airfield). At Quang Tri City we visit the Long Hung Church and Bo De School, both of which depict the extreme violence suffered by both sides during the 1972 Easter Offensive. As we arrive in Dong Ha, we visit the Lew Puller School.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Dong Ha
Day 7: (Saturday, 10 May) – Dong Ha
Departing early this morning, we first stop at the Dong Ha Bridge (destroyed by John Ripley which stopped the initial NVA advance during the 1972 Easter Offensive). Next, we pass through the villages of Mai Xa Chanh and My Loc. Taking the beach road we cross into North Vietnam over the Song Ben Hai, the river that was the only true physical demarcation between the North and South. We then explore the tunnel complex in the NVA artillery village of Vinh Moc. On our return from the North, we merge onto Highway 1 and cross the Peace Bridge making a stop at Gio Linh FSB Forward (Alpha 2) located on the forward edge of the DMZ on the south. Next we visit an ambush site at Hao Son, 3km south of the DMZ. We then hike to Con Thien (the Hill of Angels). Following the route of the Rough Riders, we cross the Washout, pass C-2, C-3, and stop at the Cam Lo Bridge, pointing out the crash site of Bat-21. We return to Dong Ha for the evening. Today we traversed the four quadrants of Leatherneck Square: Gio Linh, Con Thien, Cam Lo, and Dong Ha.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Saigon Dong Ha
Day 8: (Sunday, 11 May) – Dong Ha to Lao Bao
TThis very early this morning, we head west on Route 9. Our first stop will be Camp Carroll, the joint services artillery plateau, followed by the Khe Gia Bridge. We continue on to the Rockpile and the Razorback. Along the way we will come upon other sites that were of military importance during the war, including Vandergrift Combat Base (LZ Stud), and Ca Lu. Next is a stop at the Da Krong Bridge for photos and a visit to a Bru Montagnard village. After lunch in Khe Sanh village, we visit Khe Sanh Combat Base where we will spend ample time exploring. Our final stop is the Lang Vei Special Forces Camp, 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 Spartan accommodations.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Sepon
Day 9: (Monday, 12 May) – Lao Bao to Hue
After breakfast, we return east on Route 9 for a short while and then venture south deep into the Da Krong and A Shau Valleys. We stop at the town of A Loui to view Hamburger Hill before turning east on Highway 547 in our downhill run to Hue City. Points of interest include stops at FSB Bastogne and FSB Birmingham.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 10: (Tuesday, 13 May) – Hue
Today is a free day in Hue for shopping, relaxing by the pool, or for personal exploration. Lunch and Dinner are on our own.
Meals: B/_/_ Hotel: Huong Giang
Day 11: (Wednesday, 14 May) – Hue to Hoi An
Departing early this morning we drive south on Highway 1. Our first stop is the Airbase at Phu Bai and the home of the Catkillers. Continuing south, we stop at interesting sites along the way before heading up the Hai Van with a stop at the Pass to explore old French bunkers and take in a view of Da Nang and the bay. Heading down the Hai Van, we visit Red Beach 2 (where the Marines made their famous amphibious landing in March 1965). We pass through Dog Patch as we enter Da Nang City and stop for lunch. After a quick photo stop at My Khe Beach (China Beach) on the South China Sea, we pass through the Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF) area. We then visit a marble carving shop and climb Marble Mountain to explore the VC hospital area located within. Tonight we stay in Hoi An. You can 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. Shopping is excellent here and one of the best places for tailor-made clothing.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 12: (Thursday, 15 May) – Hoi An
Early today, we travel south to visit MACV Quang Ngai, Quang Ngai Special Forces Camp, Quang Ngai Airfield, Hill 43, Chu Lai Airbase, and Ky Ha. We have lunch on Crescent Beach. Anyone not wanting to make the trip down to Quang Ngai will have a free day in Hoi An. (Lunch on your own)
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Hoi An Trails
Day 13: (Friday, 16 May) – Hoi An to Da Nang
Today we travel west and parallel to the southern edge of Go Noi Island. Our next stops are Liberty Bridge (south) and An Hoa Regimental Combat Base. We will 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. Our last stops today are climbs to Thuong Duc Special Forces Camp, Hill 65, Hill 37, and Hill 55. Tonight all hands gather for a very special Farewell Dinner at the most famous restaurant in Da Nang, the Kim Do.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Green Plaza
Day 14: (Saturday, 17 May) – Da Nang to Ha Noi
After a leisurely breakfast, we head to Da Nang Airfield for our flight to Ha Noi. Having had a late breakfast, we skip lunch and prepare for the journey home and more last-minute shopping.
Meals: B/_/D Hotel: May De Ville
Day 15: (Sumday, 18 May) – Departure
fter breakfast, those heading home transfer to Noi Bai Airfield 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 3:55 p.m. this same day.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)