Vietnam Veterans Trip – 11 days

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City: (-/-/-)

You will be met and greeted upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon). Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted and transferred to your hotel.

This afternoon, we will tour the former Presidential Palace which, before North and South Vietnam reunited, witnessed the rise and fall of four presidents. We will also visit the War Remnant Museum which offers some very vivid insights on the Vietnam War, which is referred to in Vietnam as the American War.

In the evening, a table will be arranged for you on the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, which was a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam-American War.

Your overnight stay will be in Ho Chi Minh City.

Your Plan

After leaving Ho Chi Minh City’s urban sprawl, you will travel south on National Highway 1 to My Tho. Here you will visit the Dong Tam snake farm, and also have the opportunity to visit the Dong Tam Airfield and Base Camp. Dong Tam was the second and final base headquarters for the 9th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam. After departing My Tho and Dong Tam Airfield and Base Camp, you will continue your travels along Highway 1 to Cai Lay town (also located in Tien Giang Province). During the afternoon, you will travel to Vinh Long and on to Can Tho. Your overnight stay will be in Can Tho.

Ho Chi Minh City - Danang - Airbase - My Lai: (B/L/-)

This morning, you will travel by plane to the city of Da Nang. Upon your arrival, you will be met by your guide and then driven to visit the Chu Lai Airbase. You will later continue your journey and visit the My Lai Macssacre. Your overnight stay will be in Quang Ngai.

Please note: The Chu Lai Airbase is presently being used as a military area by the Vietnamese government. Access is prohibited. Visitors can only view the former airbase from outside, and photography is strictly forbidden anywhere in this area. These same restrictions apply to any other Vietnamese military buildings or installations that you see and come across during your journey – including such locations as the naval base and artillery unit on the Son Tra Peninsula.

Hoi An - Danang - Hue: (B/-/D)

Today you will depart Hoi An for the city of Hue, and travel via the Hai Van pass. You will be stopping to visit the Marble Mountains and a local handicraft village before you arrive in Hue. In Hue, you will tour many famous sites including the Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and the Dong Ba market.

In the evening you will dine at a local restaurant in Hue while enjoying the fine cuisine being provided. Your overnight stay will be in Hue.

Hue - DMZ - Dong Ha: (B/L/-)

This morning, your driver and guide will take you traveling northbound to Quang Tri province and to the DMZ. On the journey today, you will visit the Old Citadel of Quang Tri, La Vang church and then Dong Ha town in time for your lunch. This afternoon, you be visiting the Doc Mieu Base, Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai river battle sites. You will also be visiting the Vinh Moc Tunnels. (The Vinh Moc Tunnels are more authentic and much easier to enter and traverse than those of Cu Chi. They have been preserved mostly in their original form). Your overnight stay will be in Dong Ha.

A Luoi - A Shau Valley: (B/L/-)

This morning, you will be driven by car to visit A Shau Valley. Upon your arrival in the valley, you will have the opportunity to climb to Hamburger Hill (Hill 937). Your journey today will also include the major battle sites of the Landing Zones and Fire Support Bases. Your overnight stay will be in Hue.

Some of the sites in this area are open for visitors and some are restricted. Permission to enter certain sites may or may not be available during your time of visit.