Ia Drang valley LZ Xray battle sites battlefield tour Vietnam war history travel tour
This tour can be organized for a pickup at Quy Nhon city (Binh Dinh province) via Highway 19 from Quy Nhon to Pleiku running through Central Highlands where many hill tribes, montagnards, ethnic group people live. This route would pass by Mang Yang pass and battle sites of An Khe battle - the last official battle of the First Indochina War. Battle of An Khe was one of the bloodiest defeats of the French Union together with the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and the Battle of Cao Bằng in 1950. This battle resulted in the Death of G.M. 100 - a regimental task force unit of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps. (Please request in advance about your preference of this option).
In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel in Pleiku city (Gia Lai Province) heading Southwest towards Cambodia - Vietnam border.
The ride will take about 2 hours to battle siteS of the very first engagements between US Army and the regulars of NVA - North Vietnamese Army
Ia Drang valley LZ Xray battle sites battlefield tour Vietnam war history travel tour
Visit LZ X-ray where 1/7 Cavalry (1st Cavalry Division) fought for its life in 3-day battle from 14th to 16th of November 1965 at the eastern foot of Chu Pong Massif in Central Highlands, South Vietnam. This battle was a test of the heliborne airmobility tactics that were to become a hallmark of the Vietnam war. The battle of the Ia Drang valley revealed that the war's true center of gravity was not the Vietcong guerrillas but the regular forces of North Vietnam. It is notable for being the first large scale helicopter air assault and also the first use of Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers in a tactical support role. The battle at LZ X-Ray was documented in the critically acclaimed book We Were Soldiers Once... And Young by Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway. Film director Randall Wallace depicted the battle at LZ X-Ray in the 2002 movie We Were Soldiers starring Mel Gibson and Barry Pepper as Moore and Galloway, respectively. Combat cameraman and civilian reporter Joe Galloway later described Ia Drang as "the battle that convinced Ho Chi Minh he could win".
Ia Drang valley LZ Xray battle sites battlefield tour Vietnam war history travel tour
Visit LZ Albany where 2/7 Air Cav was ambushed in close quarters on 17th November 1965 - the single and deadliest day of the Vietnam war when 155 killed, 124 wounded. The 2/7 Air Cav were unable to use air and artillery support due to the close engagement of the North Vietnamese, and the Americans suffered an over-50% casualty rate before being extricated from the battle.
Have lunch at Chu Prong township or you can bring snack, personal food for your own lunch. On the way back, we will visit Pleime Special Forces Camp. In mid-October, the NVA 32nd Regiment had surrounded and laid siege to the American Special Forces camp at Plei Me. Although they could have easily crushed the defenders—a 12-man American A-Team and 100 Montagnard mercenary tribesmen—the NVA dangled them as bait, hoping to lure a relief force of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) out of Pleiku and into an ambush laid by their brothers of the 33rd Regiment.
Drive all the way back to Pleiku city
Ia Drang valley LZ Xray battle sites battlefield tour Vietnam war history travel tour
Tour price: please contact (vinadmz@gmail.com or cellphone number +84947019119 (Whatsapp, Zalo, Viber, Skype, Telegram, Line)
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