VietNam In The Wars – Veterans

14 days for Veterans from Hanoi to Saigon (PEV-DMZ14)

Itinerary

Day 1 HANOI ARRIVAL

Arrive in Hanoi. Transfer to hotel. Free time in the evening for a sightseeing of Hanoi by night, a capital retains an air of the French colonial period despite wide scale rebuilding after the war. Overnight in Hanoi. (D)

Day 2 HANOI

Hanoi city tour for visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s House-on-stills, One-Pillar pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ba Dinh Square, West Lake, Tran Quoc pagoda. Afternoon, continue to visit Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Army Museum with flag tower, Revolution Museum, Hoa Lo Prison, Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple and Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Enjoy a water puppet show in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L,D)

Day 3 HANOI – HUE

Transfer to Noi Bai airport for a short flight to Hue. Arrive at Phu Bai airport. Transfer to hotel. Take a boat trip in the afternoon on Perfume River for visiting Hue’s best–known religious site: Thien Mu pagoda; then transfer to visit the Imperial Citadel and recall the battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive, when the National Vietnamese Army (NVA) held the city for 3 weeks. Evening, enjoy traditional folk songs on Perfume River. Overnight in Hue. (B,L,D)

Day 4 HUE – DONG HA

Drive up to Highway No.1, passing Camp Evan and Fire Support base Nancy, continue to the battle site of Quang Tri. Then pass the site of Ai Tu combat base and airfield of the 3rd Division Headquarters of the former South Army. Reaching Dong Ha town, enter the quadrilateral area bordered by Con Tien, Gio Linh, Dong Ha and Cam Lo which was nicknamed Leatherneck Square during Operation Buffalo. Continue up Highway No. 1 across the Hien Luong bridge over the Ben Hai river which once demarcated North and South Vietnam – the 17th Parallel. Visit to the tunnels in Vinh Moc and the Con Tien fire support base. Transfer back to Dong Ha. Overnight in Dong Ha. (B,L,D)

Day 5 DONG HA – KHE SANH – A LUOI - HUE

After breakfast, depart to the DMZ (Demilitarized zone) along Route 9 to Khe Sanh. Passing en route a series of fire support bases: the Rock Pile, Da Krong bridge and Huong Hoa district headquarters. Arrive in Khe Sanh, now is a coffee plantation, an old French fort and the Montagnard village. Continue on Route 9 to Lang Vei Special Forces Camp. Visit to the Lao Bao border town where illicit border trade remains very active. With an advanced notice, a border crossing to Laos is possible to follow Operation Lam Son 179 where South Vietnamese soldiers strongholds were built in the neighbouring country. Travel to A Luoi and visit the special forces camp there. Visit to the landing zone Cunningham, landing zone arsine and landing zone razor. Upon special advanced request, continue southwards to A Sau valley and the famous Hamburger Hill. Continue to Hue. Overnight in Hue. (B,L,D)

Day 6 HUE

After breakfast, take a Hue city tour for visiting the elaborate Mausoleums of Emperors Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, and enjoy hill views. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hue. (B,L,D)

Day 7 HUE – DA NANG

Depart for Danang, the scenic route passes the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co, with the splendid Lang Co Beach, before climbing over Hai Van pass (the pass of Ocean Clouds). Arrive in Danang, the fouth largest city in Vietnam. Danang city tour in the afternoon for visiting the city, recalling the chaos of March 1975, when the Saigon government abandoned Danang and countless refugees fled the city. Visit Cham museum, Marble Mountain with a marble carving village and also the beach where the US Mariners first came ashore, beginning American’s major involvement in Indochina. Overnight in Danang. (B,L,D)

Day 8 DA NANG - HOI AN – CHU LAI via QUI NHON

Transfer to visit Hoi An ancient town in the morning, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO, with old houses, ancient temples, pagodas and local market – during the 17^th century, traders stopped at this port when traveling en route to Malacca in Malaysia. Continue on the coastal plain to Chu Lai jarbase and see the work of sky hawks. Stop at Son My district for visiting the scene of the former infamous My Lai incident. Travel along the rugged Animate Mountains down to Highway No. 1 which was sarcastically referred to as “The Road without Joy” by French soldiers. In the late afternoon, arrive in Qui Nhon, a major port and supply depot that kept Highway No. 1 open during the war. Overnight in Qui Nhon. (B,L,D)

Day 9 QUI NHON – NHA TRANG

Leaving Qui Nhon for Nha Trang, one of the headquarters of the US’s fifth Special Forces group in the Second Corps. Enjoy the wonderful coastal scenery and landscape of Central Vietnam en route. Overnight in Nha Trang. (B,L,D)

Day 10 NHA TRANG – DALAT

After breakfast, take a boat trip in the morning for visiting Tri Nguyen fish pond, Tam island and a fishing village. Transfer back to Nha Trang. After lunch, depart for Da Lat with a stop to visit Ponagar temple, a fine example of 2^nd Century Cham architecture. Arrive in Da Lat. Overnight in Da Lat. (B,L,D)

Day 11 DALAT – SAIGON

Da Lat city tour in the morning for visiting Xuan Huong lake, Love valley, Da Lat church and orchid garden then depart for Saigon. Travel through the Central Highlands to Bao Loc with a stop to visit silk farm and mulberry plantations. Arrive in Saigon. Dinner. Overnight in Saigon. (B,L,D)

Day 12 SAIGON

Saigon tour for visiting the city: Notre Dame Cathedral, Independent Palace, the former US Embassy. Continue to visit War Museum, Revolution Museum, Giac Lam pagoda, a war vestige where a Buddhist monk immolated himself in protest of war, and the church where Ngo Dinh Diem – President of the puppet government - was assassinated. Overnight in Saigon. (B,L,D)

Day 13 SAIGON – IRON TRIANGLE – TAY NINH – CU CHI

Transfer to visit the Route 13 which passes the town of Phu Cuong, the Phu Loi base was used to relocate villagers and the Cau Dinh jungle. Pass a staging area of the 503^rd Airborne Brigade. Arrive in Ben Cat, view the site of the bases of the 173^rd Airborne and the 11^th Armored Cavalry Divisions arrive in Ben Suc, the Northern tip of the Iron Triangle. Visit Tay Ninh Temple of Caodaism followers with their mass ceremony at noon. Transfer back to Saigon, en route visit Cu Chi tunnels, the underground system with a length of over 200km. Arrive in Saigon. Overnight in Saigon. (B,L,D)

Day 14 SAIGON DEPARTURE

Departure day. At leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for next destination. (B)

Package price in USD/person and double occupancy

A = Deluxe, B =Superior, C = Standard, D = Economy

TOUR CODE	A	B	C	D
Price	2365	2157	1808	1646

Child Policy

-Child from 0-5 years: Free of charge.

-Child form 6-11 years (without bed): = 50% adult fare.

-Child from 6- 11 years (with bed): = 75% adult fare.

-Child from 12 years up: = 100% adult fare.

Supplement charge

All bookings requested during Chinese New Year will be added 05%

All these above rates included

-Hotel in twin or double sharing room basis with daily breakfast

-Meals: as indicated in above itinerary.

-Transfer and transportation by private car.

-Sightseeing and entrance fee as per the mentioned itinerary.

-English speaking guide.

All these above rates not included

-Travel insurance, Visa fee to Vietnam.

-Drink and beverage.

-International and Domestic airfare & airport taxes at all routes.

-Personal expenses.

-Late check-out charge at hotel.

Hotel name:

PLACES	CLASS A	CLASS B	CLASS C	CLASS D	OTHER
HANOI	Melia	Fortuna	Sunny	Hong Ngoc	Equivalent Hotel
HUE	Morin	Huong Giang	Festival	Ngoc Huong	Equivalent Hotel
DONG HA	Hieu Giang	Hieu Giang	Hieu Giang	Hieu Giang	Equivalent Hotel
DANANG	Furama	Green Bamboo SUITE	Elegant SUP	Modern	Equivalent Hotel
QUI NHON	Life Resort DLX	Life Resort SUP	Hoang Anh SV	Hoang Anh CV	Equivalent Hotel
NHA TRANG	Vinpearl	Yasaka SEN	Que Huong	Hai Yen	Equivalent Hotel
DALAT	Sofitel	Novotel	Golf 3	Golf 1	Equivalent Hotel
SAIGON	Legend	Duxton	Grand	Thien Tung	Equivalent Hotel

Optional Domestic Airfares

-Hanoi - Hue: 66USD/one way.

*Price is subjected to change without prior notice

Contact Information:

PACIFICWIDE TRAVEL & TOURS

3005 Silver Creek Road, Suite 214

San Jose, California 95121

Tel: 1 (408) 532-1538