TRACING THE STORIES OF VIETNAM WAR

DAY 1-2: HANOI
Hanoi was the capital of North Vietnam during the war years and the place from which Ho Chi Minh ruled. As a result, it was a hotbed of war-related activities.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Explore Hoa Lo Prison.

2. Visit Truc Bach and Huu Tiep Lakes,Thang Long Royal Citadel and Army Museum.

DAY 3-4: HUE
The Imperial City of Hue, which predates the Vietnam War by many years, was where one of the fiercest battles took place during the war, known as the Battle of Hue. Probably the most telling part of the Imperial City, aside from the bullet holes in the walls,is just how many of the original structures American bombers destroyed. The large empty spaces are a testament to how much was lost in this war.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Explore Imperial City.

2. Follow the traces of the 1968 Tet Offensive and visit battle sites,old Shell gas station(former MACV Compound).

3. Visit Hue University,Redemptorist Church,Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Tu Duc.

 
DAY 5-6: HUE — QUANG TRI — HOI AN
Quang Tri is a province on the North Central Coast region of Vietnam,north of the former Imperial Capital of Hue.Quang Tri preserves many remains from the anti- American resistance war such as the ancient citadel of Quang Tri,Khe Sanh Combat Base,Truong Son National Cemetery,Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Explore Former demilitarized zone (DMZ),Khe Sanh Combat Base,The Rockpile (Elliot Combat Base),Camp Carroll,Dakrong Bridge,Lang Vei Special Forces Camp,Vinh Moc Tunnels,Quang Tri Provincial Mine Action Centre,Hien Luong Bridge and 17th Parallel and Ben Hai River.

1. Visit Old Citadel of Quang Tri,Hoi An Ancient Town and Hoi An Market.

 
DAY 7-8: SAIGON — CU CHI — TAY NINH
What is now dubbed Ho Chi Minh City was once Saigon,the capital of South Vietnam.It is now the largest city in Vietnam.Its Vietnam War-related attractions are numerous and haunting.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Enjoy pho in Pho Binh restaurant.

2. Visit a shrine to US Embassy guards killed in the 1968 Tet Offensive,outside today’s US Consulate,Former CIA building (outside visit only),where helicopters evacuated the last remaining US citizens in April 1975 and Reunification Palace.

3. Enjoy Vietnamese coffee at Rex Hotel Rooftop Cafe.

4. Get on a speedboat to explore Cu Chi Tunnels.

5. Visit Phuoc Vinh and An Loc battlefields in Tay Ninh.

 
DAY 9-10: MEKONG DELTA — HO CHI MINH CITY
Scattered across the region were also many smaller firebases,Special Forces bases and other installations.River operations meant a lot of patrolling to search out enemy transports and hidden caches of food and weapons but also deploying Navy Seals and other forces going out on missions.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Explore Ap Bac Hamlet in Tien Giang.

2. Return to Saigon and visit the residence of the US Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s.

3. Take part in a 1.5-hour workshop with local Vietnamese veterans.