Grand Viet Nam Veteran Tour
Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport. Welcome and transfer to hotel by our guides with signboard, check in, relax. This evening, your guide will take you out to sample some of Hanoi’s superb cuisine. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
This morning we start city tour with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on Monday, friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city, continue to the Army Museum, nearby Flag Tower Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, the Restored Sword Lake(Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show - a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Hue city tour (B, L)
Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer to hotel for breakfast and freshen up. We then set out for the exploration of Hue"s famous highlights, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. In the surrounding countryside there is the picturesque Thiem Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh.
Day 4: Hue – Aluoi valley – Khe sanh (B, L, D)
After breakfast and We check out the hotel, this morning we will head to the north of Hue. Some 140km way from Hue, exactly to Ashau valley. Along the way will stop over at some former battlefields such as camp eagles, fire–bases Birmingham, a luoi and Specially the hamburger hill. On this trip you will be able to meet and exchange talks with some local Vietnamese war veterans. Tour ends, drive for 2more hours to Khe Sanh, another former battel field for Overnight.
Day 5: Khe Sanh sightseeing the battle field – Hue (B, L)
This morning we will visit some former battlefields likes Rockpile, DMZ, Vinh Moc tunnels and the ruin of Quang tri citadel after the bombing year in 1972. End of this day returning back to hotel in Hue for overnight
Day 6: Hue – Danang – Hoian ancient town (B, L)
We will drive for about 90km to Danang. On march 8th 1965, the US 9th marine brigade landed red beach 2 in Danang, officially marked the American war. Stop over at Non Nuoc beach, and The Cham museum. Once arrival to Hoian ancient town, check in hotel then start our waking tour for sightseeing this ASIA’ major port in the 17century, including the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Passing many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town"s multi-cultural past. The town is also famous for it"s shops in particular it"s large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here! Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
Day 7: Hoian – Danang – Pleiku (B, L)
We check out the hotel in hoi an for transferring to Danang for our flight to central highlands of Pleiku. Upon arrival in pleiku, transfer to hotel for check in. next is to visit IA DRANG valley. It was here the US army had constituted one of the US war’s major combat theatres. In 1965 it was an NVA attack on pleiku that elicited the “rolling thunder” campaign. Eight months later. Hundreds of Americans died at Iadrang, but many times more the NVA troops perished. We continue our trip to visit the former AN KHUE base and DEKTU village. Overnight in Pleiku.
Day 8: Pleiku – Kontum – Pleiku (B, L)
This morning we drive for Kon Tum, about 50km from Peiku. Upon arrival, drive straight to visit the Dakto, a memorable former battlefield in 1967, next is to visit Charlie hill, Phuong hoang airfield. Have lunch in a local restaurant. We continue our visit to Dakto, was a major battle of the 1st brigade in June 1966-1967. Late afternoon will drive back to pleiku for the night.
Day 9: Pleiku – Quy nhon (B)
We will travel by road No.19 to the coastal of Qui Nhon. Stop over along the way for visiting camp Radcliff and the 4th infantry division headquater. Overnight in Qui Nhon.
Day 10: Quy nhon – Nha trang (B, L)
We drive on the national road No.1 along the coastal. Lunch at Tuy Hoa, next is to visit a former airbase and other named Tuy an, Trung luong and Dong tre. At late afternoon will be arrival to Nha Trang beach city for overnight.
Day 11: Nha trang island tour (B, L)
Start from your hotel to Cau Da port. Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island is the first place to visit, many sea species of Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa province make a small ocean world there. Mun Island is the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. Visit a fishing village and taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest.
Day 12: Nha trang – Phan Thiet (B)
There will be plenty of opportunities to photograph the scenery, rice paddies and people along the way today. Our first stop is Phan Rang to visit Poklong Cham Gia rai towers, from here. The former 1st brigade base camp and airbase can be viewed. Next stop will be at Song Mao and Tuy phong to visit the former American adviser compound. Once arrival at Phan Thiet, check in hotel then you will be free for exploration the city. Overnight hotel in Phan Thiet.
Day 13: Phan Thiet – Saigon (B, L)
After breakfast, we will check out the hotel. Visit former Phan Thiet airbase before driving for Xuan Loc. Xuan Loc was the last major battle for South Vietnam, some 40 odd miles to the northeast of Saigon. The NVA attack fell on the ARVN No.18th Division. On 17 Mar 75 the NVA Sixth and Seventh Divisions attacked Xuan Loc but were repulsed by the ARVN 18th. On 9 Apr 75 the NVA 341st Division joined the attack. After a four thousand round artillery bombardment, these three divisions massed, and Spearheaded by Soviet tanks, assaulted Xuan Loc; but again the ARVN 18th held its ground. The NVA reinforced with their 325th Division and began moving their 10th and 304th Divisions into position. Eventually, in a classic example of the military art of ’Mass and Maneuver’ the NVA massed 40,000 men and overran Xuan Loc. During this fight, the ARVN 18th had 5,000 soldiers at Xuan Loc. If the time permits, will make our further stops at Long Binh and Bien Hoa former bases before arriving Saigon. Check in hotel and you are free. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 14: Saigon – Cuchi (B, L)
After breakfast, we drive to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s, let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, going to school. The ground here is hard clay, which made this whole thing possible. But even so, the planning and construction was incredible. People dug all this with hand tools, filling reed baskets and dumping the dirt into bomb craters. They installed large vents so they could hear approaching helicopters, smaller vents for air and baffled vents to dissipate cooking smoke. There were also hidden trap doors and gruesomely effective bamboo-stake booby traps. Today, the trees and bushes have grown back. And since 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Drive back to Saigon.
Day 15: Sai Gon – Vung Tau battle field (B,L)
After breakfast, we escort you to Vung Tau by road (around 100km distance, 2 and a half hours’ drive). We will visit Long Tan Cross, Horse Shoe and Long Phuoc Tunnels en route. Arrive at your resort in Vung Tau and stay overnight. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant which we carefully choose from many.
Day 16: Vung Tau – Sai Gon (B,L)
After breakfast we will visit Ba Ria Orphanage and enjoy some free time on the beach. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Ho Chi Minh and visit Nui Dat (SAS Hill) en route. We drive back to your hotel in Sai Gon.
Day 17: Saigon departure (B)
Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Say goodbye Vietnam.
End of Services,
B: Breakfast, L: Lunch; D: Diner