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The Vietnam ExperienceThe Vietnam Experience A Cultural and Historic Overview

15—27 July 2016 Tour Leader: Shayne Jarosz, Fairfax HS-FCPS

Shayne Jarosz, History Departmnet FHS E-mail: sjarosz@miltours.com

13198 Centerpointe Way Ste 202, Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285 703-590-1295 * 800-722-9501

mhtours@miltours.com * www.miltours.com

MHT’s

Teachers Summer Trip to

Vietnam!

Small group size, educational itinerary and memories for a

lifetime!

Educational Historical Tours (EHT) is proud to offer another in our series of historical education adventures to the battlefields of the world. This very special trip, begins in Washington and travels from former capital cities of the divided Vietnam discov-ering this country that has been fought over for centuries. There are great places to visit in Vietnam….Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Cu Chi, My Tho, Hue City, Da Nang, An Hoa, China Beach, the Hai Van Pass. The highly experienced guides of Educational Historical Tours have walked them all. We have an outstanding working relationship with the Vietnam-ese government that allows us access to areas previously re-stricted to other travelers. Our guides have been back to Vi-etnam dozens of times and are intimately familiar with the ter-rain, the cities, and the people. The Vietnam Experience is cus-

tom-tailored from our time-proven itineraries. The Vietnamese people are gracious and sincerely happy and anxious to show us their beautiful country. The scenery is great, the food is delicious and plentiful, the shopping is amazing, and the hotels in which we stay are modern and very comfortable. Join us and explore this interesting and historic country and meet the people of Vietnam. This tour will provide the educator and student with an in-depth under-standing of the French Colonial Indo-China period, the American involvement in the protracted anti-communist con-flict through Vietnam today.

A key focus will be the Vietnam War, that was fought between 1964 and 1975 on the ground in South Vietnam and bordering areas of Cambodia and Laos, and in bombing runs over North Vietnam. We will explore why in many ways the Vietnam War was a direct successor to the French Indochina War, which is sometimes referred to as the First Indochina War, when the French fought to maintain control of their colony in In-dochina against an independence movement led by Communist Party leader Ho Chi Minh. Citing progress in peace negotiations, On January 15, 1973 President Nixon ordered a suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam which was later followed by the unilateral withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam. The Paris Peace Accords were later signed on January 27, 1973 which officially ended US involvement in the Vietnam conflict. The peace agreements signed at the Paris Peace Accords did not last for very long. In early 1975, the North invaded the South and quickly consolidated the country under its control. Saigon fell on April 30, 1975. Hundreds of supporters of the South Vietnamese government were executed, thousands more were imprisoned. Saigon was immediately re-named to "Ho Chi Minh City", in honor of the former president of North Vietnam. Communist rule continues in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the present day. North Vietnamese soldiers and cadres began to realize that they had been indoctrinated into thinking that the South Vietnamese people were very poor and exploited by the imperialists and foreign capitalists. Contradictory to what

they were taught, they saw an abun-dance of food and consumer goods, fashionable clothes, plenty of books and music; things that were scarce in the North. From the mid-1980s, Vi-etnam has enjoyed substantial eco-nomic growth and reduction in political repression.

Join us this Summer in Vietnam where both the weather and people are warm and sunny. We retrace the far reaching and important campaigns throughout Vietnam while experiencing their cul-ture and history. EHT’s experienced staff of Battlefield Educators & Histori-ans combine to make your tour the most enjoyable, relaxing, entertaining, and educational experience possible. We welcome your phone calls, letters or e-mails. Call us toll free at 703-590-1295 (EST M-F 10AM-6PM or e-mail us at mhtours@miltours.com.

Double Occupancy: $ 2,495

Single Room Price: $ 3,195

Tour Price Includes:

*

Vietnam Visa Processing and fees

*

Deluxe Hotel Accommodations

*

Air-conditioned motor-coach

*

Meals as indicated in itinerary

*

All in-country air provided

*

Emergency Medical Evacuation

& Hospitalization Insurance

*

Admission to all sites listed

*

Experienced Tour Leaders &

English- speaking local guides

Note: Air fare Not Included

MHT will quote your round-trip

economy class airfare from

your hometown upon registration

Summer Break Tour Itinerary

15 July (Day 1) We meet early this morning at Dulles International for our departure to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly know as Saigon.

16 July (Day 2) After our flight arrives in Saigon/HCMC in the evening and check into our centrally lo-cated hotel, The Caravelle, one of the most famous 5 star hotels in Saigon. Hotel: Caravelle

17 July (Day 3) After a western style breakfast we will have an early departure for a full day of seeing the local sites including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the old Post Office, the Presidential Palace, the Army Museum and the former location of the US Embassy. We will have lunch in a local restaurant and as a fi-nal stop before returning to the hotel we will tour a lacquer factory to watch craftsmen at work. If time permits we will visit one of Saigon’s markets to shop for souvenirs. Hotel: Caravelle (Breakfast (B)/Lunch (L)/Dinner (D)

18 July (Day 4) Morning departure for the Mekong Delta to board a boat in the quaint provincial town of My Tho and then wind our way through the labyrinth of small canals bordered by tiny villages. After viewing the endless fields of rice paddies tended by peasants in their traditional conical-shaped hats we transfer to a sampan for a tour of scenic Thoison Island. We will have lunch on the island and view the unique pot-tery produced on the is-land. Hotel: Caravelle (B/L/D)

19 July (Day 5) We start with a morning tour of the Cu Chi tunnels, these in-genious underground tun-

nel complexes were used by the Viet Cong during the war. In the after-noon, we return to Saigon for a great shopping oppor-tunity at the Ben

Thanh Mar-ket. After dinner we will have an opportunity to experience the night-spots that have re-turned to

downtown Saigon. Hotel: Caravelle (B/L/D)

20 July (Day 6) We start the day with our flight to Da Nang landing near Red Beach where the U.S. Marines landed in the country in 1965. We will explore Marble Mountain and for the adventurous, you will climb to the top and see where the VC maintained a secret hos-pital throughout the war. We will also visit a marble carving shop before checking into our hotel in the an-cient city of Hoi An and a chance to swim at China Beach of the TV show fame. Hotel: Hoi An (B/L/D)

21 July (Day 7) We start the day with a visit to Hoi An to visit the artisans guild, the historic Japanese covered bridge, and the trader’s house. This is the ultimate shopping extravaganza as bargains of traditional hand-made wares as well as many modern products and clothing are available at exceptional prices. Hotel: Hoi An (B/L/D)

22 July (Day 8) This morning we depart by motor-coach for Hue, passing through the scenic Hai Van Pass. We check into our hotel and begin our tour of capital city of ancient Chan Empire that has been re-stored to its colonial glory and is one of the most beau-tiful cities in Asia. Enjoy the fun nightlife of the city. Hotel: Huong Giang (B/L/Dinner on your own)

China Beach in 1969 and above and below as it is today!

The pool at the Hotel Huong Gaing!

Best Shopping in Asia!

23 July (Day 9) We visit sites around Hue to in-clude the Citadel, the ancient forbidden city of Vietnam’s historic Chan dynasty where you will see some of the remnants of the bloody struggle that ensued during the recapture of this fortress by the U.S. Marines in early 1968. The after-noon will include a boat tour on the Perfume Riv-

er followed by stops at the towering Thien Mu Pagoda and the majestic gardens of King Tu Duc’s tomb. Hotel: Hu-ong Giang (B/L/Dinner on your own)

24 July (Day 10) Morning departure as we travel north to the DMZ that separated the country and was the scene of intense fighting. We pass such key battle sites as Camp Carroll, The Rockpile, The Razorback, LZ Stud on Route 9 to-wards our objective Khe Sanh, site of the long siege. (B/L/D) Hotel: Huong Giang (B/L/D)

25 July (Day 11) We depart Hue for Hanoi on an ear-ly flight. We conclude our Vietnam Experience with a tour of Hanoi that after the hustle and nightlife of Sai-gon will remind you of a smaller, quieter, French hamlet. Sites to be visited include the “Hanoi Hilton” - the infamous wartime prison, the Senator John McCain Monument, the One Pillar Pagoda built in 1409 and a stop at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We check into our hotel before gathering for a Farewell Dinner. Hotel: Silk Path (B/L/D)

26 July (Day 12) Last minute touring to include the Ethnology museum and shopping. Then depart for the airport for our return to the US, arriving on Day 13.

27 July (Day 13) Arrive back in the USA.

EHT Shines An Educational Light On Vietnam

Join Us Summer 2016

Have some

Summer Fun

in Vietnam!

13198 Centerpointe Way Ste 202, Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285