SOAR 50 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

PATHS ONCE TAKEN

A Vietnam Journey of Remembrance, Connection & Discovery

March 16–27, 2027

For many Vietnam veterans, returning to Vietnam is not simply a vacation. It is a return to places, memories, and experiences that helped shape a lifetime.

The Special Operations Association Foundation invites Vietnam Special Operations and Special Forces veterans, their families, and supporters to join Paths Once Taken, a special journey through Vietnam designed around remembrance, history, camaraderie, and discovery.

Vietnam today is very different from the country our veterans knew more than fifty years ago. This journey offers an opportunity to revisit historic locations with dignity, remember those who did not come home, reconnect with fellow veterans, and experience the beauty, culture, and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

Following Paths Once Taken

The journey will include locations closely connected to the American experience in Vietnam, along with opportunities to experience the country as it is today.

Among the planned highlights are:

Saigon — VIP fast-track arrival
War Remnants Museum and Burning Monk Memorial
Cu Chi Tunnels, including a river approach
Son Tra (Monkey Mountain) — including FOB 4 and the former radar base
Hanoi Hilton
Temple of Literature
Hoi An cultural experience
Overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay
Guided visits to former military locations, historic operational areas, and remembrance sites
Opportunities for veterans and families to reflect and share the experience together

The Foundation program combines wartime history with cultural experiences in Saigon, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hanoi, and other locations throughout Vietnam.

What Is Included

The current package includes:

Round-trip international airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) to Vietnam
In-country flights
4-star hotel accommodations
Ground transportation and boat tours
Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 4 dinners
English-speaking guides
Entrance fees and scheduled tour activities
Group support, including representatives of the SOA Foundation

The Foundation announcement notes that guides and activities have been selected with veteran history and remembrance in mind.

Cost

$4,460 per person, all inclusive

The advertised price is available through December 7, 2026.

More Than a Tour

For those who served in Vietnam, some of these places carry names and memories that never disappeared.

Paths Once Taken provides an opportunity to return — this time with friends, family members, and fellow Special Operations veterans who understand what those places mean.

As Doc Padgett, formerly of SOG/CCC, put it:

“This journey honors your service, your stories, and your legacy. Vietnam today is a place of peace, beauty, and welcome — and we invite you to experience it with fellow SOG and SF veterans who understand the path you’ve walked.”