War Museum

War Museum in Danang. The last picture is a Russian SAM (surface to air missile ). Our pilots called it a flying telephone pole. This is what brought down our big planes.

Last lunch in Vietnam

We had lunch with our guide and driver in a small resturant on our way to the airport. This is a resturant that never sees Westerners. The food was great and we did not get sick.

Wood working shop

We visited a local wood shop. Does anyone else think this looks like Economy Model?

Hoi An River Cruise

We took a cruise on the Thu Bon River. The first photo is of the captian starting the old diesel engine with a hand crank. The last photo is a local fishing boat. Note the lights on the side. The fish at night and attract the fish and shrimp with the lights.

Hoi An Silk

Hoi An is know for their silk products. Amy bought a couple of outfits. They are all made to order and they do it overnight. Of course we bought matching shoes ( 3 pair ).

Hoi An

We stayed at a beautiful resort in Hoi An. The diving here was much better than Nha Trang. The water was 84 degrees. We ate dinner one night at a local resturant. The bill was 112,000 dong or $7.00 including two beers and two glasses of Dalat white wine. Note that we are eating with chopsticks. I took another sunrise photo from the balcony of our room. The sun sets in Vietnam about 5:30 and rises about before 6:00. It has been in the mid to upper 90s with 80% humidity. There are allot of motor scooters here but that was the first motorcycle I saw. The first photo is an old chinese foot bridge and what would the tour have been without a temple.

Marble Mountain Airfield

The Marble Mountain Airfield was used as a Marine Corps helicopter base during the war. After the war the North Vietnamese used it as a Army Base. It is now abandoned and the new road from Danang to Hoi An is right where the runway used to be. The old concrete hangers will be torn down soon. The beach is being developed as China Beach and there are quite a few resorts already going in. The beach between Danang and Hoi An is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. You can see Marble Mountain behind the hangers. Of course there was shopping for marble. We only bought a small box but I thought Mickey and Minnie were cool. Of course Amy with Happy Buddha. I was called that on more than one occasion by the Vietnamese.

China Beach

China Beach was the location of an in country R & R or rest and relaxation site. I was here for swimming and a cookout during the war. The site we visited was the true China Beach located at Me Khe. The new China Beach is being developed next to the Marble Mountain Airfield.

Red Beach

Red Beach is a little north of Danang. The Marines landed here in 1965 expecting to meet enemy resistance . They instead were greeted by photographers, government officals and local girls with flowers. The area is now a resort for Vietnamese tourists. There are roadside stands everywhere in Vietnam selling sugarcane or nuoc mia. It made us smile as our Mia is so sweet. Of course I was still amazed by the electrical wiring. This switch and outlet was outside.

Hai Van Pass

We next traveled up to the Hai Van Pass where Highway One climbs through the mountains between Danang and Hue to the north. Of course there was shopping which resulted in a jade braclet. The second and forth photos are of the old French bunkers at the top of the pass. The second photo is looking north with Hue City in the distance. The fifth photo is looking south on Danang and the last photo is of a leper colony which is still active at the bottom of the south side.

CAP Unit in Ap Phu Son

I was assigned to CAP Unit 218 for three months of my tour. CAP stands for Combined Action Program. One squad of Marines (14 men) along with one Navy Corpman and a Platoon (about 54 men ) of ARVN (Army of Republic of Vietnam) lived in Ap Phu Son and provided security. I had e-mailed Thahn the old picture of Joe Hamilton standing under the name of the village. Joe and I had no idea where the village was, but Thanh found it. At one time Ap Phu Son was divided into 4 hamlets. Phu Son 1,2,3 & 4. They are now named Hoa Ichuong. I am standing under the entrance to the meeting hall for Phu Son 1. It felt very strange walking around the village.