Published on Jan, 2025
What an awesome tour.
We had hesitated to join as we had been taking many group tours lately and we were a bit tired of it... But from the first minute, we knew we had made the right decision.
Hoa is an excellent guide. With a smile and humor, with clarity and emotion, she brought us directly in immersion into the Vietnam war. We thought we knew after other tours and museums - but we did not, and we learned a lot.
This tour brings you to the Khe San base, which had a strategic importance for the Americans during the war.
Then, we went to eat at a nice restaurant (with passion fruits).
Next stop, the Vinh Moc tunnels, an impressive defensive construction, which we explored extensively. It's an absolute immersion into the Vietnamese' life under war.
The demilitarized zone was also a highlight. It was easy to imagine the two sides in a standoff, the tension rising, the millions of people changing region before the gates close.
The final stop was the Tram Qui citadel where we could pay regards to the fallen soldiers - it was a solemn and beautiful moment.
This is a long tour - it took from 7:30 am to 7 pm - because of the long distances between the sights. But Hoa's brilliant storytelling and her awesome playlist made it pass too fast!
Caution : the tunnels may be a bit tough if you are claustrophobic - but you can try and back out if you do not feel comfortable, and there are also exits along the way. Overall, it is just a small part of the experience, and the tour is still great without it.