The best tour of Vietnam war history (7D6N - one week digging into Vietnam war history)
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 1: Da Nang- Kon Tum/Pleiku
In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel going to Kham Duc where the Special Forces Camp of the same name was attacked in May 1968 in an effort to influence the Paris Peace Talks taking place at the same time. Kham Duc was the last special forces camp be overrun, marking all of the border survellance camps had been taken out of action. We will go along the then-Ho Chi Minh trail crossing Lo Xo pass before entering Central Highlands to the border intersection between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia. Having some photo opportunites before heading to Dak To, site of one of the border battles taking place in November 1967 in order to distract American and South Vietnamese forces away from the cities towards the borders in preparation for the Tet Offensive. Continue onto Kon Tum/Pleiku. Overnight at Kon Tum city or Pleiku city.
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 2: Kon Tum/Pleiku - Quy Nhon
Pickup from hotel in Kon Tum/Pleiku going to LZ Xray and Ia Drang valley - site of the battle of Ia Drang near Cambodia border known for its first ever engagement between the regular army of North Vietnamese (NVA) and US Army and made famous in the Mel Gibson movie "We were soldiers". This battle is also notable for its first large scale helicopter air assault and also the first use of Boeing B52 Stratofortress strategic bombers in a tactical support role. You will have ample time strolling around the LZ Xray to immerse in the terrain and to have a feel of the surrounding nature. Upon request, we can go to nearby LZ Albany where 2/7 Cavalry were ambushed on the day after the events at LZ X-ray. Next stop, if time permits, we'll go to Plei Me special forces camp which plays as a prelude to the battle of Ia Drang valley. Drive all the way to Quy Nhon. En route visit site of the last battle of Indochina war or battle of Mang Yang pass which causes the death of French forces named G.M. 100 right after the battle of Dien Bien Phu. On the way to Quy Nhon, you'll pass by Tay Son, hometown of Vietnamese hero king Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue who defeated the Chinese Qing dynasty invaders in 1789. Overnight at Quy Nhon city.
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 3: Quy Nhon - Hoi An
On this day, you'll have a drive along Highway 1 northbound back to Hoi An ancient town. Fist stop of the day is Son My memorial (site of My Lai massacre) infamous for massacre on 16 March 1968 killing 504 unarmed civilians. Keep going north towards Nui Thanh district of Quang Nam province and turn right onto Chu Lai airport to take a look at the remnants of airbase hangars and runway left from 50+ years ago. Chu Lai is a jumping off point for the massacre at My Lai. Last stop of the day is the Statue complex of Vietnamese mother hero Nguyen Thi Thu who has 11 sons and grand children died in the French war and American war to understand the great sacrifice and grief of the Vietnamese women during the war time. Here you can also see another version of Vietnam war memorial wall inscribed with the names of the Liberation Army (North Vietnamese Army) and Liberation Front (Vietcong). One more bonus stop for you upon request is Ky Anh tunnel - the complex right inside South Vietnam used by the local National Liberation Front (Vietcong) during the Americanization period of the war (1965-1967). Drive to your hotel in Hoi An.
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 4: Hoi An ancient town - Hue
In the morning, you'll have around one hour walking around the old town of Hoi A dubbed as town of lanterns, watch a traditional music, dance, opera and local 'bai choi' bingo game show. Have some clothes measure to make here before your transfer to Hue via Hai Van pass. Some sightseeings on the way are 1965 Beach Landing of the US Marines- first ground troops ever made it to Vietnam, Lap An lagoon where you can have a great time for a salted coffee and photos opportunity. Before arriving in Hue city, you'll have a visit to tomb of emperor Khai Dinh and Thien Mu pagoda if we have time. Take a boat ride from Thien Mu pagoda along Perfume river to appreciate the romantic beauty of Hue city. Arriving at Toa Kham boat pier, our car will take you to your hotel in Hue city center.
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 5: Hue - Tet Offensive 1968 - Vinh Moc tunnel - Dong Ha
n 1968, the Tet offensive took place simultaneously all over South Vietnam in more than 100 towns and cities. The Tet Offensive was a major escalation and one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. One of the major battles of the Tet offensive is the Battle of Hue whose intense fighting lasted for a month, resulting in the destruction of the city. According to Mark Bowden, author of the 2017 book "Hue 1968", "With nearly half a century of hindsight, Hue deserves to be widely remembered as the single bloodiest battle of the war, one of its defining events, and one of the most intense urban battles in American history,"
In the morning, you'll have a morning walking tour around the New city or modern city in the southern bank of Perfume river to learn about the Battle for Southern Hue (operation of Hue City) characterized by Lt Col Ernie Cheatham tactics as 'room by room, house to house, block by block urban fighting (1/1 Marines, 2/5 Marines). We'll have a stroll to visit block by block as it was during the battle in 1968. First the Old MACV compound, the University, the M48 Zippo flamethrower gate, the Causeway, then the Jeanne d'Arc Church, the Treasury and Post Office complex, the Hospital, the Prison where 2000 VC cadres were released during the battle, and the Provincial building (Thua Thien Provincial Admin Complex)
We'll take a dragon boat from LCU ramp (right next to Doc Lao park/Doc Lap park) to admire the Nguyen Hoang bridge (Truong Tien bridge) (destroyed on 7 Feb by NVA sappers) crossing Perfume river from under. The boat ride will take you to the North bank of the river for touring battle sites of the Battle for the Citadel like Thuong Tu gate(where Chuck Meadows and his 160 mean company tried to break through on the 1st day of the battle 31st Jan 1968), Dong Ba gate, Tay Loc airfield, ARVN 1st Divison Headquarter, West Gate, and the Southwest gate before going back to your hotel. During the battle for the Citadel, Walter Cronkite - a CBS reporter said: "It is increasingly clear to this report that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy and did the best they could."
Finish your Hue 1968 urban warfare tour, drive all the way to Quang Tri province to have a brief stop at Long Hung church, Highway of Horror - named during the Easter Offensive 1972. You can also visit Our Lady of La Vang - a catholic church well-known for its Marian Apparition in 1798 and pilgrimage site for the Vietnamese catholic community. Keep going to Quang Tri citadel famous for the 81-day fierce battle between North and South Vietnam in blazing summer of 1972. There are thousands of soldiers K.I.A still lying beneath the ground of the citadel's 4 sq km. Continue to Mine Action Visitor Center, a Remnants of War Museum for those who want to understand the effect of UXO on local people's daily life. Next stop before having a lunch break is Highway 9 national cemetery - a resting place for more than 10.000 soldiers labelled as unknown soldiers.
Keep going North to Hien Luong bridge (aka DMZ Freedom bridge, Peace bridge) crossing Ben Hai river at 17th parallel. Here you will see the National Aspiration for Reunification and walk across the bridge to see frontline flagpole, border police memorial, 17th parallel museum. Bonus stop at Doc Mieu firebase (Gio Linh firebase) upon request. Continue onto Vinh Moc tunnel - an underground refuge for civilians and NVA soldiers during the US bombing raids of Operation Rolling Thunder and Navy's operation Market Time. At Vinh Moc tunnel, you will have ample time to watch a documentary (upon request), take a look at the museum and then go underground to experience the village underneath with family rooms, maternity room, meeting room, air vent, exits to the sea, ...
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 6: Dong Ha - Khe Sanh
The first stop on this day will be the Rockpile - a US observation post and artillery base whose 175 mm cannon can give fire support for infantry's operation around the DMZ area. Next stop of the day would be Dakrong bridge - a starting point of Ho Chi Minh trail from the DMZ crossing Highway 9 to the South to transport foods, weapons, ammos for the Vietcong . Last stop in the morning is Khe Sanh Combat Base – US Marine base that holds the longest single battle of Vietnam war (77 days) which has many similarities when compared to ' battle of Dien Bien Phu' 14 years earlier in 1954.
Camp Carroll (a Marine artillery base) is a bonus stop upon your request. For a stop at Lang Vei special force camp, please inform us beforehand in your email or call prior to the tour date.
Private tour Vietnam war history (iconic photos, important events, essential locations, crucial battles, unforgettable memories)
Day 7: Khe Sanh - Hamburger Hill - A Shay valley - Da Nang
On this last day, we will travel along the so called Ho Chi Minh from Khe Sanh to A Luoi town of Thua Thien province. You'll have chance to admire the beautiful landscapes with many hill tribe villages dotted along the roads.
