DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
Day 1: Hue to Dong Ha
8:00 we will pick you up from Hue city (hotel, airport, ...) heading North into Quang Tri province. First district of Quang Tri province on the way northbound is Hai Lang district where we will stop at Our Lady of La Vang - a catholic cathedral well known for its Marian apparition in 1798 and now is a pilgrimage site for the Vietnamese catholic. Second stop is Quang Tri citadel memorial site known for its 81-day fighting between North Vietnamese Army and South Vietnamese Army from June 28 to September 16 in blazing summer of 1972 before the Paris peace talk in Jan 1973. There are thousands of soldiers K.I.A still lying beneath the ground of the citadel's 4 sq km. This battle is compared to Battle of Pittsburg Landing in American Civil War. We continue on to Dong Ha city - the capital city of Quang Tri province.
Bonus stop: Le Duan memorial house - the birthplace of Le Duan, a true leader of Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh death in 1969
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
At Dong Ha, we'll visit Mine Action Visitor Center - a museum-like displays of war Explosive Remnants of War or Unexploded Ordinance (closed on Saturday, Sunday) and Dong Ha helicopter hangar - the last remaining of Dong Ha combat base. Drive to battle site of Dai Do - one of the bloodiest battle between the Marines and the NVA right on the riverbank of Song Bo Dieu/Bo Dieu river. Keep going East to Cua Viet beach - a strategic logistics base for US Marines to give supply from here to Dong Ha along the Cua Viet river (Thach Han river). You'll have lunch break here at Cua Viet beach. Some local food snack suggestions for lunch: bánh lọc, peanuts, Huda beer and seafoods like crabs, shrimps, squids while enjoying the tropical breeze from Con Co island in the East Vietnam Sea.
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
We keep going northbound across the DMZ into North Vietnam to visit Vinh Moc tunnel - an underground village housing civilians and soldiers during the hard time of American bombings. At Vinh Moc tunnel, you will have ample time to watch a documentary (if requested), 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, ... Drive across back to South Vietnam. On the way, we'll stop at Hien Luong bridge (aka DMZ bridge, Freedom bridge, Peace bridge or bridge of No Return) at historic 17th parallel. Here you will see frontline flagpole, border police memorial, 17th parallel museum and walk across the bridge to see the National Aspiration for Reunification on the southern bank of the Ben Hai river.
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
Drive back to Dong Ha city, dubbed as DMZ city for dinner. You'll have bonus stop Doc Mieu firebase/Gio Linh firebase or firebase A2. Overnight in Dong Ha city.
Recommended accommodation: Saigon Dong Ha, Muong Thanh Grand Quang Tri.
Day 2: Dong Ha to Lao Bao
Pickup from your hotel going to Mine Action Visitor Center - a museum-like displays of war Explosive Remnants of War or Unexploded Ordinance (in case it's inaccessible in day 1). We'll be then heading West along Highway 9 - a strategic highway from Vietnam to Laos during Vietnam war - to visit Highway 9 National Cemetery where more than 10.000 NVA soldiers rest in peace labeled as ‘unknown soldier’. (You can opt-out this attraction if it's not in your wishlist)
We'll turn right at Cam Lo to Con Thien Marine Firebase (Hill of Angels) - one of the 4 points of the Leatherneck Square including 3 others (Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Cam Lo). Keep going North 5 km to Truong Son military cemetery (opt-out if not in your wishlist) to pay homage to the fallen soldiers of group 559 logistics corps whose duty was to keep the weapon and food supply along Ho Chi Minh trail from North to South always as smoothly as arteries' blood stream. Drive back to Highway 9 and turn right to next stop the Rockpile - the American observation post for Communist infiltration and Camp Carroll - a US artillery base along the Highway 9 to give fire support for Khe Sanh Combat base and for US Marine operation in the area (operation Prairie, Hastings).
Next stop will be Dakrong bridge - a starting point of Ho Chi Minh trail from the DMZ crossing Highway 9 to A Shau valley to transport foods, weapons, ammos for the Vietcong . We'll have lunch at Khe Sanh town before spending your ample time to discover Khe Sanh Combat Base – US Marine base holds the longest single battle of Vietnam war (77 days). Khe Sanh is compared to another 'Dien Bien Phu' for American.
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
Last stop before driving to accommodation in Lao Bao town is Lang Vei Special Forces Camp - a westernmost firebase of the planned McNamara Line close to Lao border to train the local montagnards Bru people for self-defense. Lang Vei is well-known for its first ever tank assault in South Vietnam by the NVA.
Bonus stop: Lao Bao prison where the French jailed the communist Vietnam during the colonial time. This prison is one of five biggest prisons in Indochina back then (please inform us about your interest in this stop beforehand)
On the way from Dong Ha to Lao Bao border town, you'll have chances to stop at any local Bru ethnic people village to see a local market selling products (banana, avocado, bamboo shoot, ging sen, dragon-eye fruit, pineapple, ...)
Time for local gastronomical delights of Lao Bao town - Huong Hoa district - Quang Tri province. The food here is usually spicy, hot with local black pepper, chilli, ginger, garlic, turmeric and galangal root.
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
Day 3: Lao Bao to Hue
Breakfast (not included, you might have Pho - Vietnamese noodle soup for breakfast) Driving back along Highway 9, turn right to Highway 14 or Ho Chi Minh highway to A Shau valley. Many opportunities for photo stops along the way to A Luoi town. We'll stop for a coffee at Ta Rut town right on Highway 14. Upon arrival at A Luoi town, you'll visit A Luoi museum and a Huey chopper while waiting for fetching permission paper. Driving to Hamburger Hill, starts trekking to hill top. Make sure you're fit to trek to this 937m peak. On the way back to A Luoi after trekking for lunch, visit NVA tunnel, museum if possible.
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
After lunch, we'll be heading South to A Shau Special Forces camp which were overrun in 1966 and it's known for the risky rescue of Air Force Major Bernard Fisher, the first airman who earned the Medal of Honor. A Shau valley is also considered the most effected area of Agent Orange. Lots of bomb craters seen here. Back to car driving along Highway 49 to Hue. Tour ends.
For more customized itineraries, please email us at vinadmz@gmail.com or whatsapp Tam Le at +84.947.019.119
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
Tour price: 450 USD/group of 2 persons (+$US 70 for extra person)
INCLUDES:
English speaking private guide
Private vehicle (car, minivan, suv) with driver
All entrance fees listed
Bottled water
DMZ Veteran Tour (3D2N)
Consider to do this tour Hue - Full DMZ - Hue or Vina DMZ's classic tour as other options.
Read this article about our trip with 4 Marine veterans returning a plundered Buddha after 50 years
