Vietnam War Battlefields Tour is one of Paradissa's Vietnam adventure tours and a historical trip to visit the sites of major encounters between the US Army and The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) for 14 days, 13 nights.
Tour of Vietnam War Battlefields Overview
The trip is designed for veteran travelers, history researchers, military strategists, or scholars who are interested in learning more about the controversial war, the military strategies implemented by both sides.
There may be opportunities on the tour to know new facts and figures which may be different from those that you already know. The tour is not so much focusing on moral issues of the war, but more on the lessons of military strategies and tactics. On the trip, you can learn about the various aspect of many battles: where it took place, the terrain of the site, why was it, how it was fought, the aftermaths and how one battle was related to another...
Our adventure journey travels through some poorest regions of Vietnam, which are off the tourist track and where luxury accommodations are not available; we have no choice but very basic hotels in these places. In these places, the food may not meet your expectation either. Paradissa do all we could to get you the best service available under the circumstances, though.
It is also worth noting that many sites of the former battles are under the control of the military now and tourists are not allowed to visit them. There may still be landmines and unexploded ordnance in certain sites that we must follow strict instructions by our tour guide.
Day-to-day itinerary
Day1 ( Saturday ) Arrive in Hanoi/Free time (D)
Day2 ( Sunday ) Hanoi Tour (B/L/D)
Day3 ( Monday ) Hanoi – Halong Bay (in Tonkin Gulf) (B/L/D)
Day4 ( Tuesday ) Halong Bay – Hanoi/Night Train for Dong Ha (SE1: 1900 – 0637) (B/L/D)
Day5 ( Wednesday ) Dong Ha – Quang Tri Citadel – Cam Lo - Con Tien – Doc Mieu – Gio Linh – Ben Hai River – Vinh Moc Tunnel (B/L/D)
Day6 ( Thursday ) Dong Ha – Rockpile – Khe Sanh – Lang Vay – Khe Sanh (100km) (B/L/D)
Day7 ( Friday ) Khe Sanh – Dakrong Bridge – Aluoi (95km)/Visit of Aluoi (B/L/D)
Day8 ( Saturday ) Aluoi – Prao - Thanh My – Kham Duc (220km) (B/L/D)
Day9 ( Sunday ) Kham Duc – Plei Can – Tan Canh – Kontum (180km) (B/L/D)
Day10 ( Monday ) Kontum – Pleiku – An Khe – Pleiku (230km) (B/L/D)
Day11 ( Tuesday ) Pleiku – Ia Drang Valley – Buon Ma Thuot (200km) (B/L/D)
Day12 ( Wednesday ) Buon Ma Thuot – Saigon (B/L/D)
Day13 ( Thursday ) Saigon – Cu Chi – Saigon/City Tour (B/L/D)
Day14 ( Friday ) Depart Saigon (B)
{Inclusions
English-speaking guide as per itinerary: no guide for free-at-leisure days;
Twin/Double-shared accommodation as indicated in the program;
Private car for all airport transfers and tours as indicated in the program;
Ticket for 4-shared cabin with A/C soft sleepers on the local trains for Ha Noi – Dong Ha as per itinerary;
Airfare for the flights within Vietnam as per itinerary;
Meals as indicated in the program ( B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner);
All admission fees during guided times in the program;
}
{Exclusions
Insurance of any types;
Early check-ins and late check-outs: check-in time: 14:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 A.M unless otherwise indicated by each hotel;
International airfares and airport taxes other than those mentioned as included above;
Drinks, laundry, bar or other personal expenses;
Others not clearly specified clearly in the inclusions;
}
Detailed itinerary
Day1 ( Saturday ) Arrive in Hanoi/Free time (D)
Arriving at Noi Bai airport, welcomed at the airport and escorted to the hotel.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day2 ( Sunday ) Hanoi Tour (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
0830 A.M Morning tour of the Army Museum. Then, proceed to the Anti-B52 Museum and the site of the B52 Aircraft which was shot down in 1972.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day3 ( Monday ) Hanoi – Halong Bay (in Tonkin Gulf) (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
0800 A.M Travel by road for 3-4 hours to Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Gulf of Tonkin was the area of intense conflicts between North Vietnam and the US, and lots of military operations were conducted in the area by both sides during the war. Basing on the so-called “Tonkin Gulf Incident”, the US started bringing more US troops into South Vietnam and saturation bombings of North Vietnam from 1964-1972.
Arriving on Halong Bay at mid day, embark on our traditional junk for a luxury cruise through the most beautiful area of Halong Bay. Visit a cave and a beach in late afternoon and anchor for the night in the tranquility of Halong Bay.
Lunch and dinner served on board.
Overnight on board the bay.
Day4 ( Tuesday ) Halong Bay – Hanoi/Night Train for Dong Ha (SE1: 1900 – 0637) (B/L/D)
Breakfast on board.
More cruise on Halong Bay.
Disembarkation in late morning or at mid day after brunch.
Return journey back to Hanoi. Have some time visiting the hustling bustling Old Quarters.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Board the overnight train journey for the former DMZ.
Overnight on board the train.
Day5 ( Wednesday ) DMZ Tour: Dong Ha – Quang Tri Citadel – Cam Lo - Con Tien – Doc Mieu – Gio Linh – Ben Hai River – Vinh Moc Tunnel (B/L/D)
Arriving at Dong Ha, have breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the Ancient Citadel of Quang Tri with the brutal battles during the war.
Continue onto visit Con Tien, Doc Mieu, Cam Lo which were the beginning of McNamara Line during the war and which were home to a number of US combat bases and fire bases with fierce battles during the war. We will also visit the Ben Hai River, the demarcation line between North and South Vietnam during the war, and Vinh Moc Tunnels, just northern side of the river.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at Dong Ha.
Day6 ( Thursday ) Dong Ha – Rockpile – Khe Sanh – Lang Vay – Khe Sanh (100km) (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Travel on the historical Route 9 towards Laos. Visit Rockpile (from the mountain base), Khe Sanh Combat Base, Lang Vay.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at Khe Sanh.
Day7 ( Friday ) Khe Sanh – Dakrong Bridge – Aluoi (95km)/Visit of Aluoi (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Travel to Dakrong Bridge which was an important point on the former Ho Chi Minh Trail and travel further to Ashau Valley where we visit Hamburger Hill to recall the famous battle in 1969. Other sites to visit today include the former A So Airfield, Ripcord Support Fire Base (from mountain base).
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at A Luoi.
Day8 ( Saturday ) Aluoi – Prao - Thanh My – Kham Duc (220km) (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
An easy day following Ho Chi Minh Trail and recall the various military operations in the area in the war.
Arriving at Kham Duc in the afternoon, have free time.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at Kham Duc.
Day9 ( Sunday ) Kham Duc – Plei Can – Dak To - Tan Canh – Kontum (180km) (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for Kontum in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, a region with major battles in the war. Stop at Dakto to visit the Phoenix Airstrip - the former Airbase of the 4th Division. Then visit the Skull Hill (Hill 601) to learn about its strategic position in controlling Kontum. We will also visit Dakto Tan Canh, Ben Het. There may be a chance to view at Hill 875 from distance.
In the afternoon, visit the Wooden Catholic Church, Vinh Son Orphanage. Free time.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at Kontum.
Day10 ( Monday ) Kon Tum – Pleiku – An Khe – Pleiku (230km) (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Mang Yang to visit the Dektu village of Bahnar Minority. Stop off at Dakpo to visit the Groupment Mobile 100, where French suffered a loss in which about a 1000 men were killed in 1954. Also at An Khe, visit Radcliff - the former base of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at Pleiku.
Day11 ( Tuesday ) Pleiku – Ia Drang Valley (Chu Prong) – Buon Ma Thuot (200km) (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning visit to Pleime Hill where we could have a good view down the Ia Drang Valley or the Valley of Death to recall the fierce battle in 1965, the first direct encounter between US Forces and the PAVN.
In the afternoon, travel southward on Highway 14 to Buon Ma Thuot. Stop at Ham Rong Mountain (Dragon Mouth) to visit Camp Enari - the former Headquarters of the 4th U.S Infantry Division and stop over at Catecka plantation - the former operational areas of the 4th Division. On the way, visit plantations of rubber, coffee, pepper...
Buon Ma Thuot (also call Ban Me Thuat) was the site of a decisive assault by the PAVN kick-starting the 1975 Spring General Offensive which caused the fall of Saigon on 30th April, 1975.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight at Buon Ma Thuot.
Day12 ( Wednesday ) Free morning/Buon Ma Thuot – Saigon (B/L/D) 
Breakfast at the hotel.
Have the morning at your own pace.
Take the afternoon flight for Saigon. Welcomed at Saigon Airport and transferred to the hotel.
Free time.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight in Saigon.
Day13 ( Thursday ) Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – Saigon/City Tour (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning visit to the legendary system of tunnels at Cu Chi, in the heart of the Iron Triangle during the war.
Afternoon visit to the War Remnants Museum and the Re-Unification Palace.
Lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Overnight in Saigon.
Day14 ( Friday ) Depart Saigon (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Have free time until our team transfers you back to the airport for your departure flight. We trust you had a wonderful trip back in time touring former battlefields of the Vietnam War with Paradissa.
