BUDD & SHIRLEYS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

First, let me set the stage for this story. In early spring of 2001 I saw a ad in IVY LEAVES for a 4th Div. Veterans tour hosted by
Mil Spec Tours; I sent for the info pack and we decided to go. Great tour! We visited Pleiku, the site of Tittie mountain base
camp; really sad, just exactly like it was in july of 66. Just a huge cleared field at the base of Dragon Mountain. We also went to
Kontum, Dak To, An Khe, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang and Toy Hoa. The only thing wrong with the tour is also what makes it so great;
You do a lot of traveling and you don't have much free time in any one place.

Now, the passion is in both of us to return. We managed to get our own round trip tickets for 12 days in country ($2,200.00)
We contacted several in country tour/travel companies, and decided on Haivenu Tours. We briefly laid out what we wanted to do,
and the young lady assigned to our package made suggestions, made a lot of last minute changes and finally had a package we felt
suited us perfectly. When we landed in Saigon ( they want us to call it Ho Chi Minh City ) we were met with a english speaking
guide and he took us to our hotel. We spent the night in the Grand Hotel. The Grand was built in the 1930's and is truely a sight to
behold; marble bathrooms and hardwood floors. In the morning we flew to Da Lat; a beautiful mountain city, very remote and
void of the big city atmosphere in Saigon. We were met at the airport and escorted to our hotel by a very nice english speaking
guide. We spent the rest of that day on our own and the next day he took us to see the local sights. Hey guys, I'm a man, you
know, with a life of construction work behind me; I'm not interested in embroidery, but the wife is, so I pretend to be. Well, this
is the highlight of this tour! You must go to the embroidery factory/school. Absolutely amazing! The next day is ours to spend as
we wish and the next morning we are driven to Nha Trang. Our driver spoke english and we had a very pleasant 5 hr. trip. We
spent a couple days in Nha Trang on our own. This place has the most beautiful beaches, and is really a pretty modern city. If
you like to shop; this place has a great merchants market. The next day we were picked up and taken to the airport, and flew to
Da Nang, then driven to Hoi An. We stayed at Ancient House Hotel. Just beautiful, and the staff were so friendly. We really hated
to leave this place. Hoi An is a oriental trading post going back a few centuries. Believe me, you can find anything you want here.
I had a couple suits made, some shirts and a couple pairs of shoes custom made. My wife had clothes and shoes made too. We
also bought gifts for friends and family. As a side note; we have re-ordered some clothes from one of the tailors. She has our
measurements and will make anything we want and send to us. If you go near Da Nang, you really should go to Marble Mountain.
This place is in creditable. Huge caves in a marble mountain. We also went to China Beach ( just a couple miles from Hoi An) This
is the real china beach the TV series tried to re-create. We flew back to Saigon and the next morning were taken to Tan Son Nhat
(they spell it different now) Airport and left for home. I have tried to breifly touch on the things we did, and I know I left a lot
out; but maybe I've kindled a interest in you to experience your own return trip. We plan to return, someday. The people are so
friendly, and most of the ones employed in public service/bussiness speak english. We had one strange moment; when our guide
found out I was a veteran, he said we forgive you. I did'nt respond then, but the next day I asked him what he meant by the
statement. He said Vietnamese people are living for the future and forgive Americans for the war. Well, I couldn’t just let that
pass, so I said; I don't know if you know this or not, but I was sent here at the request of your government. I did not want to
come over here for a year and put my life on hold, but our country and your country had a agreement. The SEATO (south East
Asia treaty organization) and we upheld our part, as did the Koreans, Australians, and Canadians. (I'm sure there were others, but
I can't remember) Well, he didn’t know anything about that. I'm sure he was sincere; he only knows what the party allows the
masses to know. The older people know, as I have talked to one of our guides (about my age) He said the north really gave them
hell, but it was better now. Oh yes, all of the in-country flights (3) and 11 nights lodging, breakfast every day and lunch most
days plus all pick-ups and car travel cost us 1, 600.00 You can't beat the prices. If you think you might be interested in returning,
start planning now. get your passport and Visa and I would suggest a in-country tour company, as they can plan your basic needs
cheaper than you can. We took 500.00 ea. and spent every bit of it. It's the safest place on earth. Crime almost doesn’t exist in
Vietnam. If you have any questions, just ask and I will try to answer. Here's a secret; silk garments, watches and jewelry are
super cheap.

Best Regards to the best Troopers on earth, Take care,

Sincerely, Budd & Shirley Williamson