Day 4 (Wednesday, February ): Dong Ha – Ha Tinh
This morning, travel briefly west on Route #9 before turning north on Route #15 to the Con Thien Firebase. During the war, it was one of the northern-most US Marine firebases. Con Thien was where Marines in the field called in for help from the powerful 155's, but more often than not, it was the Marines at Con Thien who called for help. This isolated firebase was a thorn in the side to the North Vietnamese and they tried many times to overrun the base. There is not much left of Con Thien today. Visit the old command bunker standing gray and naked, stripped of its sandbag covering; the big guns are long gone and peanut fields have taken over from the "fields of fire". From here, continue north to visit the Truong Son National Cemetery and the famed tunnels at Vinh Moc. 

Truong Son National Cemetery is the Vietnamese equivalent of Arlington, and is also known as the "Cemetery of the Martyrs of the Ho Chi Minh Trail". It is just south of the Ben Hai River and is quite impressive in its grandeur. The endless rows of white tombstones are a memorial to the tens of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers and other military personnel killed in and around the Truong Son Mountains. 

The Vinh Moc tunnels on the northern bank of the Ben Hai river are a tribute to Vietnamese ingenuity. Faced with incessant bombing by US and ARVN forces, in what was termed a “free fire zone”, the villagers at Vinh Moc were faced with three options. One was to leave their homes and livelihood, two was to stay in their homes and probably be killed, or three was to start digging. They took the third option and embarked on an excavation project, taking 18 months to complete, that would eventually relocate the entire village underground. Unlike the tunnels at Cu Chi outside Saigon that were designed for fighting, these tunnels were built to be lived in. The tunnels you will visit today have been partially restored and reinforced and there is an excellent museum with an emotional display of memorabilia. 

From here, continue north to Dong Hoi where we take lunch. In April, 1972 Richard Nixon ordered the US Navy to obliterate this area in what became known as the Battle of Dong Hoi, because antiquated Vietnamese shore batteries and two MIG fighters attacked four destroyers, three aircraft carriers, and two helicopter attack ships just offshore. After lunch continue along the coast and over Ngang Pass to Ha Tinh. 

The Ngang Pass is a spectacular coastal mountain in the easternmost section of the Hoanh Son Mountains (Transversal Range), which stretches from the Lao border to the sea along the 18th parallel. Until the 11th century, the range formed Vietnam's frontier with the Kingdom of Champa. Later, the French used it as the border between their protectorates of Annam and Tonkin with the “Annam Gate” (Porte d'Annam) still visible at the top of the pass. Late today, arrive in Ha Tinh and check in at the Binh Minh Hotel for the night. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.  Accom: Binh Minh Hotel

Day 5 (Thursday, February ): Ha Tinh – Mu Gia Pass (Lao border) – Ho Chi Minh Trail – Lang Kang Village
Today, we head out for Laos via Route 12 and the Mu Gia Pass, known among the solders of the north as the "Door of Death", which took them into the complex road system known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Today we must get an early start, as Route 12 is a hilly and difficult road to follow, mostly a dirt track. We should reach the Lao border by noon. After formalities, we cross into Laos. Transfer luggage to our Lao 4WD vehicles waiting at the border. These mountains shape the weather systems on either side, it is quite different in Laos. Even during the hottest time of year, the pass is cool. This pass was also one of the primary entry points into the Laos Trail. American pilots spent a lot of time above the Mu Gia, and the “truck count” of bombed and disabled transport trucks – was for several years – one of the American’s reference points as to progress stopping supplies moving on The Trail.

Then continue down the road from the pass to the lower slopes, which the American pilots called “the Dog House.” Continue to Lang Kang Village, where we will stay for the night.

Try to imagine what life might have been like for the villagers. The headman will tell how the entire village had to live for years in the nearby limestone caves, and other hardships the local people endured. He will be able to tell of air crashes in the area, and time permitting, we can visit one today. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Accom: Homes of Village Headmen and Elders

Day 9 (Monday, February ): Na Gnom Village – Xepon (T’chepone) Town
After an early breakfast, pack up and continue the drive south. On the bumpy drive to Xepon we'll see lots of war detritus. The roads on this stretch are better than elsewhere, as an Australian mining concern has invested in the area, and is therefore helping the Lao government to upgrade infrastructure. Nearby Xepon (T’chepone) – a few km to the northwest – was the largest concentration of Vietnamese troops in Laos. Old tanks and artillery from Operation LAMSON 719 of the ARVN still bear mute testimony to battles in the area. Local Pathet Lao officers will discuss their roles in the actions of 30 years ago. Here, those who wish may talk with locals through translators, and visit battle sites with guide and local villagers as local guides. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Accom: Guest House

Day 10 (Tuesday, February ): Laos – Hue
Xepon is only 26km from the Lao border. After crossing back into Vietnam, take Route #9 east to Dakrong Bridge where we turn south on Highway #13 towards Aluoi and the Ashau Valley. In the Aluoi area we visit both the waterfalls and some of the tribal villages of the Ba Hy, Ca Tu and Taoi. Today we visit the former military camps in Aluoi and Ashau along with landing zones - Cunningham, Erskine and Razor before continuing south to the Ashau Valley and Mount Apbia (Hamburger Hill). Here we explore the area by vehicle and on foot before continuing east over the Truong Son Mountains on to Hue. On arrival, check in at the Huong Giang Hotel, a former US Officers Club, for a 2-night stay. As we will arrive in the evening, probably around 09:00, dinner is on your own. Meals: Dinner. Accom: Huong Giang Hotel

Note: Today is a long day of about 12 to 14 hours, from the Lao border to Hue, so a late arrival in Hue is unavoidable.

Day 11 (Wednesday, February ): Wartime Hue
During the Tet Offensive of 1968, Hue was the scene of some of the most intense fighting in all of Vietnam.  Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, Imperial City and The Citadel, levelled during the combat but now beginning to be restored. This evening, we have arranged for a reception and dinner with local English-speaking veterans of the Tet Offensive at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner. Accom: Huong Giang Hotel.

Day 12 (Thursday, February ): Hue – Saigon
This morning, enjoy a bit of free time before flying south to Saigon. Please refer to the Suggested Air Schedule for details of these flights. On arrival, transfer to the Caravelle Hotel for a 2-night stay. After check-in, transfer to the former Presidential Palace for a private tour followed by a cocktail reception on the grounds with local attendees. The reception will be followed by a private dinner on the rooftop restaurant of the famous Rex Hotel, also a former US military facility. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner. Accom: Caravelle Hotel (http://www.caravellehotel.com/)