VT1: The DMZ and Battle fields 9 days 8 nights

Highlights:

After the big victory in Dien Bien Phu battlefield, defeated the French. In 1954 Vietnam was divided at the seventeenth parallel, only 100km north of Hue, where the Ben Hai river and the demilitarized zone (DMZ) marked the border between north and south Vietnam until liberation of Saigon in 1975. It was here the most heavily bombed and saw the highest casualties, Civilian and Military, American and Vietnamese. During The American War. The famous names  of battlefields were the CAMP CARROLL, THE ROCKPILE, HAMBERGER HILL, CON TIEN, DOC MIEU and Specially the battle of KHE SANH in late 1967. Possibly as many as 40,000 NVA’s troops, facing 6000 the US marines together with a few hundred south Vietnamese troops. In nine weeks nearly 100,000tonnes of bombs pounded the area.  

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
Day 3: Hanoi – Hue (B, L)
Day 4: Hue - Aluoi (B, L)
Day 5: Hue – Danang – Hoian (B, L)
Day 6: Hoian – My lai (B, L)
Day 7: Hoian – Danang – Saigon (B, D)
Day 8: Saigon – Cuchi (B, L)
Day 9: Saigon departure (B)

Itinerary in Details:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, Welcome and transfer to hotel by Asia View Travel guides with signboard, check in, relax. This evening, your guide will take you out to sample some of Hanoi’s superb cuisine. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
This morning we start city tour with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on Monday, friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city, continue to the Army Museum, nearby Flag Tower Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour  around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show - a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hue city tour (B, L)
Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer to hotel for breakfast and freshen up. We then set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. In the surrounding countryside there is the picturesque Thiem Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh. Transfer back to Hue center, do the walking and shopping in Dong Ba Marke to enjoy the speciality of Hue city.

Day 4: Hue – Aluoi (B, L)
This morning we start our guided tour and driving for the township A luoi. Exactly to A shah valley on the Laos border south of A luoi. In May 1969 around 700 lives were lost in 9days on the slopes of Apia hill (70 American and about 633 NVA troops died) - better known to cinema audiences as HAMBURGER HILL. Next will be visited Hong BAC tunnels and the village of Ta Oil people in A shau before returning back to Hue for one more night.

Day 5: Hue – Danang – Hoian ancient town (B, L)
We will drive for about 90km to Danang. On march 8th 1965, the US 9th marine brigade landed red beach 2 in Danang, officially marked the American war. Stop over at Non Nuoc beach, Danang beach, and The Cham museum. Once arrival to Hoian ancient town, check in hotel then start our waking tour for sightseeing this  ASIA’ major port in the 17century, including the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Passing many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could  have a whole new wardrobe made for you here! Overnight at hotel in Hoian.

Day 6: Hoian – Mylai – Hoian (B, L)
Today we will have a full-day of visiting to former Chu lai base or Cam doi base in Quang Ngai province. Next to visit the MYLAI where was happened the massacre of civilians on March 16th 1968. End of this day returning back hoi an. Overnight in Hoi an.

Day 7: Hoian – Danang – Saigon city (B, D)
Morning after breakfast transfert to airport for the flight to Saigon. Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport, tranfer to city center, check in, relax. Afternoon we discover dynamic city with the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Day 8: Saigon – Cuchi  (B, L)
After breakfast, we drive to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon  all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s,  let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, going to school. The ground here is hard clay, which made this whole thing possible. But even so, the planning and construction was incredible. People dug all this with hand tools, filling reed baskets and dumping the dirt into bomb craters. They installed large vents so they could hear approaching helicopters, smaller vents for air and baffled vents to dissipate cooking smoke. There were also hidden  trap doors and gruesomely effective bamboo-stake booby traps. Today, the trees and bushes have grown back. And since 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Drive back to Hochiminh City.

Day 9: Saigon departure (B)
 Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Say goodbye Vietnam.

Thank you for travelling with Asia View Travel.

Accommodation Options

Tour includes:
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
•  All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private English or French  speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary at local restaurant with local foods (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Domestic arifare & airport taxes: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho chi minh
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges

Tour excludes:
• International flights to and from Vietnam
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• All other services which are not mentioned above
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities