Veterans Memorial Tour

Upon landing at Hanoi airport, you’ll find your local guide and the driver waiting for you outside the baggage claim area, holding a board reading your name. After receiving a warm greeting, you’ll be transferred to the hotel downtown.

➤ Free-time Activities Recommended upon Arrival in Hanoi
If you arrive early, tour the National Museum of History on your own to learn about Vietnam's history and culture. The four permanent sections display relics from prehistory to the August Revolution in 1945. You might be particularly interested in the third section, which shows you artifacts left from the feudal Hu Dynasty (1400-1407) to the revolutionary modern era, as well as the treasure of the museum - the “Prison Diary” of President Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of Vietnam. If it happens to be a Monday, when the museum is closed, visit the Memorial House of Ho Chi Minh, where President Ho wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1945. The first and second floors are available on weekdays, and the third floor is open to the public to offer incense to the great man on special festivals like his birthday on May 19. While out on the streets, keep an eye on the swarms of motorbikes dashing out from every intersection - this bustling side of the local life is a culture of its own. Find a restaurant named Banh Mi 25 to try its signature pork sandwich, Vietnam's specialty, and mango smoothie. It costs VND 100,000-200,000 (USD 4-8) per person on average.

Accommodation: May De Ville Lakeside Hotel-Premier City View Room (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars) or similar

In the morning, your guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby and then accompany you to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the body of the president lies in state. Uncle Ho’s remains were secretly transferred five times during the Vietnam War (1955-1975), and finally placed in the mausoleum. For your information, the mausoleum is closed on Mondays, Fridays, and from August to October for annual maintenance, so we’ll admire it from the exterior then. We’ll also stop by the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda, looking like a lotus blossom growing from the water, both of which are located nearby. After that, visit the Temple of Literature, a landmark in Hanoi built in 1070. Stroll around the temple and admire the Imperial Academy inside, which is Vietnam’s first university.

After lunch, visit the Hoa Lo Prison to see history-recorded photographs, instruments used for torturing prisoners, including a chilling guillotine, as well as prisoners' personal belongings. It was built by the French in 1896, and named "Central House" at that time to lock up Vietnamese political enemies. During the Vietnam War, it was used to intern American soldiers, including Douglas Peterson, the 1st US Representative in Vietnam, and John McCain, a US Navy pilot in the war and 2008 American presidential candidate. You’ll also learn that although patriots of Viet Cong guerrilla forces were confined in prison, their revolutionary will and patriotism had never been sapped in the least, and they had insisted on fighting for the victory of the revolution.

Then, we’ll witness some relics burnt down during the Vietnam War. In December of 1972, the US started Operation Linebacker. Over 20 thousand tons of bombs were dropped from B-52 bombers to attack Hanoi and many places were flattened. In addition to the ruins, your guide will also accompany you to see a downed B-52 and Huu Tiep Lake, which is also called B-52 Lake. At the end of the day, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: May De Ville Lakeside Hotel-Premier City View Room (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your driver will escort you to the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay through the highway, which takes about 2.5 hours. You may have appreciated karst terrains on land before, but you’ll definitely marvel at the bay’s more than 3,000 karst islets rising out of the sea. These limestone boulders vary in size and shape, such as one looks like two cocks fighting and another like an incense burner.

Upon arrival, embark on the cruise ship we’ve carefully handpicked for you to fully admire a scenic bay off the beaten track. There are two kinds of luxury cruises, heading to different and more pristine waters from Ha Long Bay, for you to choose from. The Indochine Cruise, whose room even boasts a balcony, will escort you to Lan Ha Bay. Besides karst islets and emerald waters, Lan Ha Bay is famous for its thousand-year-old karst cave with stalactites and interesting natural inhabitants like bats. Kayak to the island and disembark to explore all these. The Signature Royal Cruise will show you around Bai Tu Long Bay. Here, you’ll get insight into the daily life of water-dwelling people in a fishing village! You might see friendly locals selling fresh fruit and seafood like fish and shrimp on a boat. Hidden white sand beaches perfect for swimming and diving are another highlight here. In addition, you could also experience canoeing, diving and squid night fishing on both ships. Tonight, stay overnight onboard.
➤ Please note: The itinerary can be subject to the cruise companies.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Indochine Cruise-Junior Suite (5 stars) or Signature Royal Cruise-Junior Suite (4 stars) or similar

This morning, you could attend the Tai Chi class on the top deck or enjoy the stunning sunrise. After morning coffee or tea and some snacks, you’ll change to a small boat to admire nearby caves. After brunch, check out of the cruise ship. Your guide and driver will pick you up at the pier, escort you to Hanoi airport and assist you to board the 1.5-hour flight to Hue. Upon arrival, your Hue local guide and driver will meet you and escort you to the hotel. Then you can either recover from the transfer or explore the city by yourself.

➤ Recommended Activities in Hue
If you’re still energetic, head to the Phuoc Qua Hill to visit the modern-style Phu Cam Cathedral by yourself. You’ll see the two front towers spreading like wings of an angel. Get inside the courtyard to show respect to the statues of Vietnamese martyrs, and learn more in an old shop next door. After visiting the church, treat yourself to dinner at the DMZ Bar & Restaurant, located on Le Loi Street. The restaurant is inspired by the Vietnam War, which you can see from the DMZ (demilitarized zone) model on the ceiling, the billiard table in the center and the White Christmas music - American Radio Service’s playing this song marked the retreat of the US troops from Saigon. You may also go to the restaurant’s top to enjoy the gorgeous night view of Hue or roam along the cozy riverfront Hue Night Market Street, soaking up the lively atmosphere.

Meal: Brunch
Accommodation: Indochine Palace-Palace Deluxe Room (5 stars) or White Lotus Hotel Hue-Deluxe River View Room (4 stars) or similar

Today’s tour will start in the early morning, and please note that there will be a sheer 7-hour drive during the visit, but don’t worry, our comfortable ride won’t let you down. First, your guide will escort you to travel along Route 1 to visit the DMZ, the demilitarized zone during the Vietnam War near the 17th parallel. At first, go on a drive northward for less than 2 hours to the Hien Luong Bridge, built over the Ben Hai River, the division line of South and North Vietnam during the war from 1954 to 1972. Next, keep traveling northward to Vinh Moc Tunnels, a three-level underground system well equipped with living facilities. During the war, about 300 villagers lived inside for about two and a half years.

In the afternoon, we’ll travel along Route 9 to mountainous areas. Along it, you’ll see the American observation post - the Rockpile, which was used to observe the actions of Viet Cong guerrillas from 1966 to 1968. There’s no way up and down this 230-meter (755-foot) high Rockpile, and all supplies were dropped by helicopter then. The Dakrong you’re going to cross is not only a road bridge, but also the starting point of Route 15, a main branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a secret network of routes via which North Vietnam infiltrated information and transported supplies to guerrillas in South Vietnam. The labyrinthine network once so seriously nagged the US military that they jetted about 200,000 electronic sensors to detect suspect traces, and to jam it, North Vietnamese used cattle and sheep for cover, which resulted in the US military’s wasting lots of bombers. Then they resorted to bulk defoliant, hoping to expose their opponents who used leaves for shelter. There were up to 100,000 airstrikes during this conflict, which still failed to help the US side to eradicate the trail.

The final stop today will be the Ta Con Base, also known as Khe Sanh Combat Base, of US troops during wartime. The base was the main battlefield of the Battle of Khe Sanh, the bloodiest and deadliest one, which lasted for 77 days in 1968 during the Vietnam War. After today's visit, we’ll go back to Hue.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Indochine Palace-Palace Deluxe Room (5 stars) or White Lotus Hotel Hue-Deluxe River View Room (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we’ll take a stroll around Hue, the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Vietnam’s last dynasty before the Democratic Republic was established. First, admire the Tomb of Khai Dinh to learn about the 12th emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty - Khai Dinh (reigned in 1916-1925). Then, stroll around the UNESCO-listed Imperial City along the Perfume River. You’ll see the city is surrounded by a moat, like a miniature version of the imperial palace complex in Beijing, China.

Then, drive around 3 hours to Hoi An, a quaint town of lanterns, via Da Nang. Not destroyed by war, Hoi An is still as it looked over 400 years ago. On arrival, your guide will help you check into the hotel and then accompany you to take a stroll in Hoi An Ancient Town to appreciate the buildings absorbing Chinese, Japanese, and local architectural elements, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge. The paved lane, teeming with variegated lanterns and shops selling food, souvenirs and lanterns, radiates a vivid glamor. The town embraces its peak charm at night, when you’ll see lit colorful lanterns illuminating the peaceful flow of the Thu Bon River and buskers playing traditional instruments. Maybe find a lantern workshop and try to make a lantern on your own - use bamboo to make a nice skeleton and stick it on with a piece of fabric you like. The colors imply different meanings, such as red for good luck and yellow for joy.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa-Deluxe Balcony Room (5 stars) or Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

Today, your guide will accompany you to the place of the My Lai Massacre - Son My Village, which is about a 2-hour drive south. There, we will visit the ruined houses reminiscent of March 16, 1968, on which 504 villagers, including defenseless women and children, were slaughtered. Inside the Son My Memorial and Museum of Son My Massacre, the ample horrifying photos, historical records and reconstructed parts of the village bring back sad and sobering memories of the onslaught. Please be prepared in advance. You’ll want to pray for the dead yourself when you see the gravestones carved with their names and ages, some being only 1-year-old. If you want, you could also pay a visit to the Worship House for 504 victims and pray for them.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa-Deluxe Balcony Room (5 stars) or Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

This morning, we’ll leave it on your own to let you explore the kaleidoscopic town. Maybe visit the assembly halls and the Old House of Tan Ky, all of which tell you about historical changes. Then, you can treat yourself to a delectable lunch at Hong Phuc 2, which is next to the Old House and faces the Thu Bon River. The grilled fish in banana leaves is highly recommended. It costs VND 100,000-200,000 (USD 4-8) per person on average.

In the afternoon, your guide and driver will send you to Da Nang airport to take the 1-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). In the eyes of the tourists, the city is romantic, but in the eyes of people attending or familiar with the Vietnam War, it evokes calamitous memories. Many battles once happened in and around Saigon, causing the deaths of as many as 58,000 American soldiers and 3,100,000 Vietnamese soldiers and common folk. After "Operation Frequent Wind" (April 29-30, 1975), efforts were made to evacuate American civilians and life-threatening Vietnamese, and the Viet Cong took over the city, symbolizing the end of the Vietnam War.

On arrival, your local guide and driver will pick you up and send you to the hotel for check-in. In the evening, you can go to Ben Thanh Night Market on your own and experience the charm of local life. The market is teeming with specialties for you to explore, like well-known Vietnamese coffee beans and tropical fruits like mangosteen and rambutan. Maybe find a vintage logo T-shirt at a bargain price.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon-Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your guide will lead you to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground fortress of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were dug with bare hands by Vietnamese peasant soldiers in 1948, and were originally built to fight French colonizers and then the US forces during the Vietnam War. The depth of the tunnels, about 3-12 meters (10-40 feet), and the high stability of the soil enable Cu Chi Tunnels to withstand even artillery and tank attacks. Parts of the tunnels have been widened for tourists, and your experienced guide will show you the hidden entrance and accompany you to walk inside.

Then, go back to the downtown area to visit the War Remnants Museum. Approaching it, in the outdoor space, you will first spot a series of military aircraft and tanks used by the US Army. Once the office of CIA, it has many photos and records about the Vietnam War displayed inside. Before abundant rare and shocking photographs taken by war correspondents, you will be like witnessing the horrors of the war. Maybe take a look at the documentary about an American veteran's "redemption" trip to Vietnam on the second floor.

Then visit the shooting spot of the movie “Fall of Saigon” and the Former American Embassy, which was demolished in 1998 and rebuilt as the US Consulate. You’ll look back at the historical changes in the converted park within it. Move on to the Independence Palace, once the command center of South Vietnam. The central garden was used as the parking apron during the war.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon-Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

Today, your guide will accompany you to Ben Tre through a 2.5-hour drive to enjoy a Mekong River Cruise. The Mekong River Delta is located in southwestern Vietnam, where the landscape and local life are inseparable from water. On the canal, all kinds of ships shuttle, including cargo ships, passenger boats, motorboats and hand-rowing boats. Upon arrival, change to a small wooden boat and have a glass of coconut juice, and then admire the unique woods of Southeast Asia, visit fruit orchards, brick workshops and a coconut candy factory, and taste some local snacks. The water coconut tree is ubiquitous in the Mekong Delta and can be processed into a variety of products: its trunk is used to build houses; its palm leaves are used as roofing material; its fibrous husk is used to make ropes and brushes; and coconut meat can be made into coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut sugar. You’ll also visit a local family to see how they make sedge mats, and have some homemade tea and local fruits prepared by the locals. After a short rest, enjoy the idyllic scenery by "Xe Loi" (a motorized rickshaw) or bicycle.

For lunch, you’ll have a chance to try fried elephant ear fish, a special delicacy in the Mekong River. The way to eat it is particular: tear off a piece of the flesh and put it on a pliable rice paper; add some basil, rice noodles, fruit and vegetables; then roll it up and dip it in fish sauce. Enjoy its sour and spicy flavor. At the end of the day, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon-Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

Your escorted veteran’s Vietnam tour from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City comes to an end today. According to your flight schedule, your driver will see you off at the airport. Wish you a smooth onward journey!

➤ Independent Exploration for Late Departure
If time allows, get up early to visit the colonial-era architectural complex by yourself to admire the Saigon Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, which is modeled after its namesake cathedral in Paris, and the Central Post Office, a masterpiece by the designer of the Eiffel Tower. Maybe send some postcards to your friends at the Post Office before leaving.

Meal: Breakfast