Vietnam Veteran Tour 21 days

Destination: Ho Chi Minh City – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi – Vinh Long – Can Tho – Nha Trang – Quy Nhon – Pleiku – Kontum –  Hoi An – Danang – Hue – DMZ – Hanoi – Ha Long

This tour is designed for US soldiers living in Vietnam during the American War. You are not only take a chance to return the former battle sites but also fancy your visit at famous cities and beaches at your own leisure. Our guides will show you some war vestiges – a bit difficult to recognize the old things as they have been partly changed after 30 years and more. Moreover, let’s enjoy the alluring charms of Vietnam from North to South such as visiting the distinctive places of culture and heritage, relaxing in pristine white sand beaches, communicating with the ethnic minorities and boating to get a glimpse of local life along the Mekong River.

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide  

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (D, G)

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport, our guide will be awaiting to greet and take you to your hotel. Rest of the day, you’ll be free to stroll around the city as you wish. You’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at one of a famous restaurant. Your overnight stay will be in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B, L, G) 

A full day tour of the city begins with a visit to Museum of War Remnants will provide you a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the American War. Our guide will then take you to visit the site where a Buddhist monk immolated himself in protest of the war and the church where Diem was assassinated.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit Reunification Conference Hall (formerly the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace), US Embassy grounds and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy your time shopping at the lively Ben Thanh market, which is so closely tied to the city’s life that the clock tower at its main gate has long been considered a symbol of the city. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G) 

In the early morning, our guide will meet and pick you up at your hotel. You will depart for Nui Ba Den (Black Lady Mountain) which was used as a staging area by both the Viet Minh and the VC as well as the scene of fierce fighting during the French and American Wars.You’ll ride a cable car to the top to witness this majestic vista of the former III Corps area. Afterwards, you will continue your drive to visit Cao Dai Holy See, the fulcrum of Cao Daism religion, which took root in southern Việt Nam during the 1920s. You are also welcome to attend the midday ceremony here. Lunch at a good local restaurant.

In the afternoon, our car will take you to visit Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible cobweb-like tunnel complex with underground dug-outs of over 200-kilometer length, which was  a shelter for the Viet Cong guerillas and their sympathizers during the American war. From this underground village, the revolutionary forces staged the 1968 general offensive and the Ho Chi Minh campaign in April 1975 to liberate South Vietnam. You’ll then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City for overnight stay.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will be transfered to Vinh Long, a peaceful province on Co Chien river, which branches out from the Mekong. On the way, you will have a brief visit at Dong Tam snake farm, the former base of the US 9th Division and Riverine units, then visit Ap Bac village – site of a ground battle between the independence guerillas and ARVN (Army of Republic of Vietnam). Upon arrival at Cai Be floating market, you’ll take a boat trip to enjoy “a beautiful river painting” and get a close-up to a local life along the waterway. Proceed to visit some fruit orchards and local cottage industries. Lunch will await you at a local house. You will also have a chance to listen to the traditional folk music “Don Ca Tai Tu” which is is operated by the local people. You’ll then stroll on the village paths to visit the local markets and enjoy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit and so on. Return to Vinh Long by boat and then continue driving to Can Tho. Overnight stay in Can Tho.

Day 5: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will board an early morning cruise to visit the colourful Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). Take in the picturesque scenery and enjoy the fascinating Mekong rural lifestyle. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and have a break at My Tho for lunch. You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City/Nha Trang (B, G)

Your time will be your own until you’ll escorted to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to Nha Trang, one of the headquarters of the US’s fifth Special Forces group in the Second Corps. On arrival, you’ll driven to your hotel to check in at the hotel overlooking the bay. The rest day will be free on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Nha Trang.

Day 7: Nha Trang boat tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, your vehicle will pick you up and transfer you to the harbour where you will have a “fun” sharing boat trip to experience the charm of Nha Trang’s Coast. Your first stop will be Mun Island where you you’ll anchor off  for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters. From here, we’ll head out to Mot Island for lunch aboard. You’ll then have an entertainment such as dancing and singing together with other passengers on the boat. A floating mini bar will served some of Vietnamese wine with fruit. You’ll continue cruising to Tam Island for relaxing on the beach and playing water sports. You’ll have a fruit party on the boat on the way to Mieu Island. You’ll be rowed in a circular bamboo-basket boat to visit a fishing village on Mieu Island. You’ll return to Nha Trang to spend the night.

Day 8: Nha Trang/Quy Nhon (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will be driven to Quy Nhon, a major port and supply depot that kept Route 1 open during the war.You will have lots of chances to enjoy the natural beauty and Vietnamese people’s life along the coast. Up on arrival, you will check in your hotel which conveniently overlooks the beach. You will spend the night in Quy Nhon.

Day 9: Quy Nhon/Phu Cat/Bong Son (B, L, G)  

After breakfast, you will travel northwest of Quy Nhon City to Phu Cat District where you will visit the former Phu Cat airbase which is now managed by Vietnamese Army therefore no picture is allowed. You’ll traverse the Tra Bon River valley and visit Bong Son Town in Hoai Nhon District, the second major battle for the 1st cavalry devision (airmobile). Later on, you’ll return to your hotel. The rest of time will be free. You will spend the night in Quy Nhon.

Day 10: Quy Nhon/Pleiku (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart for Pleiku. You will stop over to visit several magnificent Cham Towers under restoration on a hilltop overlooking the coastal plain en route and then continue your drive towards Pleiku. Your overnight stay will be in Pleiku.

Day 11: Pleiku (B, L, G)

Visit Camp Enari – the former headquarter of 4th US Infantry Division, Hanzel Airstrip at Dragon Mountain. Then drive to visit Camp Pleime – the former US Special Forces. On the way, stop off at Catecka Tea Plantation that used to be the US Operational Area. You will spend the night in Pleiku.

Day 12: Pleiku/Kon Tum (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will travel to PleiPhun village for sightseeing and the exploration of the Jarai’s culture especially the wooden statues of the graveyard, watering spring place where people get water or freshen up.

In the afternoon, you will leave for Kon Tum, stopping off at T’nung Lake which is on the mouth of a volcano of million years of ages. Our guide and driver will take you to visit Pleiku Airbase on the way. Upon arrival, you will check in your hotel and relax. You’ll spend the night in Kon Tum.

Day 13: Kon Tum (B, L, G)

In the morning, you will be transfered to DakTo and BenHet (69 km) by car to visit the tri-border area VietNam-Lao-Cambodia. You’ll visit Ho Chi Minh trail (East Truong Son meets West Truong Son). Back to DakTo, crossing hanging bridge to visit the village (SeDang people); visit  Phuong Hoang Airfield (Phoenix Airfield), from where you’ll have a view of Charlie Hill then visit Hill 42. Lunch at DakTo.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit Victory monument. Back to KonTum for visiting Wooden church, Seminary and KonKlor suspension bridge. You will spend the night in Kon Tum.

Day 14: Kon Tum/Hoi An (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will be picked up to visit a cluster of the Bahnar villages: KonTumKoNam, KonTumKoPong and KonRoWang. You will then drive to Hoi An. Upon arrival, you will check in your hotel and have free evening to discover this ancient town. Your overnight stay will be in Hoi An.

Day 15: Hoi An (B, G)

In the morning, you will take a tour of the ancient town where the mix of Japanese and Chinese architecture reflects Hoi An’s significance in the past as an important trading port. Free time for swimming at Cua Dai beach or leisurely cycling to enjoy the idyllic atmosphere. Your overnight stay will be in Hoi An.

Day 16: Hoi An/Danang/Hue (B, L, G)

In the morning, our car will arrive and transfer you to Hue. On the way, you will stop at Danang to visit the grounds of former US Consulate, and Cham Museum, which holds the finest collection of Champa sculptures in different art styles from the 7th to the 15th centuries. Heading to Hue and have a visit at the Imperial Citadel, site of a bloody street battle between the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and the US Marine Corps during the Tet Offensive of 1968. You will spend the nigt in Hue.

Day 17: Hue/DMZ/Dong Ha (B, L, D, G)

In the morning, you will depart for the former D. M. Z (Demilitarized Zone, places of military significance in Quang Tri province. On the way, you’ll stop to visit the Old Citadel of Quang Tri, site of a violent battle during the NVA Easter offensive of 1972, and La Vang church. You will have lunch at Dong Ha town.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Doc Mieu Base, Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai river battle sites. You’ll also visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels which lies north of the Ben Hai River. You’ll spend the night in Dong Ha town.

Day 18: Dong Ha/DMZ/Hue (B, L, G)

After breakfast, our car will take you to what was once the Con Tien firebase, and to Truong Son national cemetery, Camp Carroll, the Rock pile, Dakrong Bridge, the Ho Chi Minh trail, and the ethnic minority village of Bru Van Kieu.

After lunch at Khe Sanh town, you’ll visit the Khe Sanh combat base, Lang Vay Special Forces Camp and the Laos/Vietnam border before returning to Hue. Overnight in Hue.

Day 19: Hue/Hanoi (D, G)

Your time will be on your own until our car and driver arrives to transfer you to the airport where you will board the morning flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, our guide will accompany you to your hotel.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, an excellent instruction to the cultural heritages of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups. You will then visit the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake – a striking blue gem in the city centre. The tour ends with 1 –hour walking tour around the Old Quarters to enjoy its warmth and coziness, looking up to contemplate centuries-old and weather-beaten houses, both familiar and exotic, etc. Last but not least, you’ll enjoy your time watching water puppet performance, a traditional art form closely connected with the long-standing spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 20: Hanoi/Ha Long/Hanoi (B, L, G)

After breakfast, our guide will meet and take you to Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a 3 hour drive with a stopover at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop for refreshment and see different kinds of handicrafts skillfully made by disable people.

Upon arrival, you will board a private junk for a 5-hour cruise on Ha Long Bay. Declared as a World Natural Heritage Area by UNESCO, Halong Bay is not only famous for its exceptional scenic beauty but also outstanding geological and geomorphic values. After lunch with fresh seafood, you will visit the Amazing cave and a beach. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, and climb hills for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. Back to the habour for a return drive to Hanoi. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 21: Hanoi departure (B, G)

You’ll be free to shop at some of the local market before being driven to the airport for your international departure flight.