On this battlefield tour, we discuss the impact that the infamous 19 year Vietnam war had on this beautiful country. Contrasting stunning scenery, from locations such as Ha Long Bay, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with visits to the battle sites such as Red Beach 2, the My Lai Massacre site and the Vinh Moc Tunnels, you'll be able to relate to the harrowing experience that the men fighting here went through.
16 days from £3679 pp
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your tour either online, or by telephone ( 01709 787 463 ), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can:
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Fly to Hanoi.
Arrive in Hanoi, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, we have the option of joining an orientation cycle ride around Hanoi Old Quarter and then walk along the Long Bien Bridge which was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War or spend the afternoon at leisure in Hanoi.
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.
Included Highlights
Upon arrival and transfer to your hotel we take an afternoon visit to the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum where photographs, war documents, weaponry and other items are displayed.
We continue to the Dien Bien Phu War Cemetery and the French soldier war memorial before exploring the local central market (time permitting).
We explore the tunnel network and bunker system used by General Vo Nguyen Giap before visiting Dien Bien City and hills where former bases of the French army are located. We visit the bunker of the French commander Colonel Christian de Castries before returning to our hotel.
We start our morning with a visit to the former French fortified hills where fierce fighting took place, such as Him Lam Hill (Beatrice), Doc Lap Hill (Gabrielle) and A1 Hill (Eliane 2), before our return flight to Hanoi and an overnight stay.
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 and Lan Ha 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. (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.
Included Highlights
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.
Included Highlights
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 at leisure before transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your overnight flight to the U.K.
Arrival in the U.K.
Travel Insurance from £83.00 (16 days) (includes insurance premium tax, prices per person). Single Room Supplement from £679.00 (16 days).
Book online OR call our friendly travel advisers on:
01709 787 463
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay at hotels detailed, or similar:
Silk Path Hotel Hanoi, Hanoi (2 nights)
Muong Thanh Holiday Dien Bien Phu Hotel, Dien Bien Phu (2 nights)
Silk Path Hotel Hanoi, Hanoi (1 night)
Junk Boat (1 night)
Sun Spa Resort & Villa, Dong Hoi (1 night)
Sai Gon Dong Ha (1 night)
Eldora Hotel, Hue (1 night)
Boutique Hoi An Resort, Hoi An (2 nights)
Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights)
Estimated flight times are given at the time of booking. The times given are for guidance only and may change.
Exact flight times will be confirmed on travel document which are sent 7-10 days before departure. For more information on flight times please contact our Reservations Department on 0844 324 9265 or email us at reservations@leger.co.uk.
Luggage allowances vary from airline to airline. The luggage allowance is normally up to 20kg (44lbs) and 5kg for hand luggage. Ryan Air's luggage allowance is normally up to 20kg (44lbs) and 10kg for hand luggage. All allowances are subject to changes made by the airline.
For more information on luggage allowances please contact our Customer Service Department on 0844 324 9265 or email us at reservations@leger.co.uk.
Flights are available from Heathrow. Your flight times will be confirmed with your travel documents.
Flight supplements may apply for some airports. If your chosen airport carries a supplement, we will contact you to discuss.
All prices and airports are subject to availability – routes can be reintroduced, cancelled or amended by the airline at any time.
This holiday is operated by Leger Air Holidays Ltd. ATOL 3880.
All of our coaches are modern and comfortable, and you can be assured of a high level of service. On selected air holidays, the executive coach may not have an onboard toilet or drinks facilities.
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk