Vietnam War Battlefield Tour 12 Days

A full day to explore Hanoi’s illustrious history. In the morning, we visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. We explore the Military Operation Bunker (General Command Headquarter) and the D67 bunker – also called the Central Military Commission Bunker inside the Hanoi Citadel. In the afternoon, we visit the 'Hanoi Hilton', nick name of the Hanoi prison where American pilots were kept during the war. We continue on to sites related to the December 1972 B-52 bombing of Hanoi: the Kham Thien Street and the B-52 Memorial Lake, stopping by the Downed Aircraft Memorial commemorating McCain’s shoot-down and capture. Overnight in Hanoi

We travel through green rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay where we board a cruise that takes us amongst the hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay. We enjoy lunch and drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea. Spend the night on board a boat. 

(Please note, today's itinerary is subject to change without prior notice by the cruise operator).

We spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the wharf. We transfer to Hanoi airport with a stop by Pha Lai Bridge for the flight to Dong Hoi. We arrive in Dong Hoi and transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

This morning we visit the Khe Gat Air Strip, Eight Ladies Cave and Ho Chi Minh trails. After lunch in Dong Hoi we travel to the fascinating Vinh Moc Tunnels which villagers constructed to escape from frequent bombings. Continue to the then Hien Luong Bridge which, for many years served as a symbol of the divided nation before arriving in Dong Ha for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we drive to Hue visiting some significant war sites around the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Proceed to visit the Con Tien Base and the Dakrong Bridge which was on the former Ho Chi Minh trail before visiting the former US Marine Base at Khe Sanh. Our next stop is Quang Tri Citadel, which changed hands several times, before seeing the Highway of Terror and Bo De School. We continue to Hue and to our hotel for an overnight stay.

This morning we take a boat cruise on the peaceful Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit the Imperial Citadel. In the 1968 TET offensive, Hue was considered as the bloodiest battle place. Continue to Hoi An via the Red Beach 2 (where the US marines official landed, beginning America’s military role in Vietnam, crossing the line from advice and assist to warfare) and My Khe Beach (known as China Beach for GI’s R&R). Arrive in Hoi An and our hotel. The remainder of the day is free.

Drive south towards the former Chu Lai air base with stops at the Nui Thanh battle memorial. Continue to visit the site of My Lai massacre before driving back to Hoi An where highlights include an ancient merchant house, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the vibrant riverside market. Afterwards, enjoy free time to further explore the old town.

We take the early morning flight from Danang to Saigon. Arrive in Saigon and drive to Cu Chi, where we will walk through the jungle area in Ben Duoc, known as 'the Mushroom' to US soldiers. Here we will have a chance to learn how Cu Chi guerilla fighters survived and resisted during the Indochina and Vietnam War. Try some of the tubers and tea that many tunnel-dwellers lived on After the tour, we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City, making stops en route to view rice paddies and rubber plantations to learn about some of the agricultural products of Vietnam. We return to our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City with a chance to visit Reunification Palace.

We depart for the Mekong Delta. We start our visit with the major battle site of Ap Bac then arrive in My Tho, once famous for the US Brown Water Navy. Here we enjoy a boat cruise along the river and take a short walk to a handicraft workshop where products are made from coconut trees. We visit a local house where we enjoy tea and taste homegrown fruits. After lunch, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and visit the Secret Ammunitions Bunker and War Museum, before an hour talk with a Vietnam War Veteran (subject to availability).

Morning, leave Saigon and depart for Long Tan Nui Dat Battlefield in Dat Do District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province.

Our first stop-over is Nui Dat SAS Hill, where you will be shown the helicopter parking and camping areas of soldiers and explained the important sites during the war. You will have an overview of the 4km circle of the Nui Dat base perimeter. Next, we will visit the rubber forest and pass Mong Ngua Mountain – which was used to be the shelter of Vietnamese soldiers.

Afterwards, we continue transferring to Long Tan Cross Memorial to commemorate the Australian and Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the war and then Long Phuoc Tunnels dug by the Viet Minh and Viet Cong for fighting and sheltering.
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Long Phuoc Tunnels is our last stop in a half-day tour to Long Tan – Nui Dat. We will drive back to Ba Ria for late lunch at a local restaurant. Our tour guide will recommend you some specialties of this land, it all depends on you. After a short rest, you will return to Saigon.