Aerial view of A Shau Special Forces Camp in 1966A Shau Speical Forces Camp Vietnam tour The A Shau Special Forces Camp was located at the southern end of the A Shau Valley, about 85 km southwest of Hue city and 2 km east of the Laotian border. The A Shau valley was strategically important for the North Vietnamese Army as a major infiltration route because it served as a bridge from the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos into populated coastal areas of Hue . The camp had been established in March 1963. Defending the camp were 17 US Special Forces, 10 South Vietnamese Special Forces and 480 Civilian Irregular Defense Group personnels, supported by Air Commando units equipped with A1 Skyraiders and AC-47 Spooky gunships.
In early March 1966, the NVA attacked the camp, and after two day fighting ( 9 -10 March ) the camp was overran. The defending U.S. Special Forces and Vietnamese irregular soldiers were supported by U.S. airpower and put up a heroic two-day defense. Bad weather limited the effectiveness of air support, and eventually the U.S evacuated all personnels from the camp. 8 U.S personnels and some 280 South Vietnamese irregular denfense soldiers were killed or missed in action.
A Shau Speical Forces Camp Vietnam tourAerial view of A Shau Special Forces Camp ( Then ) The A Shau Special Forces Camp was located at the southern end of the A Shau Valley, about 85 km southwest of Hue city and 2 km east of the Laotian border. The A Shau valley was strategically important for the North Vietnamese Army as a major infiltration route because it served as a bridge from the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos into populated coastal areas of Hue . The camp had been established in March 1963. Defending the camp were 17 US Special Forces, 10 South Vietnamese Special Forces and 480 Civilian Irregular Defense Group personnels, supported by Air Commando units equipped with A1 Skyraiders and AC-47 Spooky gunships.
In early March 1966, the NVA attacked the camp, and after two day fighting ( 9 -10 March ) the camp was overran. The defending U.S. Special Forces and Vietnamese irregular soldiers were supported by U.S. airpower and put up a heroic two-day defense. Bad weather limited the effectiveness of air support, and eventually the U.S evacuated all personnels from the camp. 8 U.S personnels and some 280 South Vietnamese irregular denfense soldiers were killed or missed in action. Following the loss of the A Shau Special Forces camp, the North Vietnamese Army used the A Shau Valley as a major staging area for the 1968 Tet Offensive against Hue. It would not be until the March 1968 that U.S. forces returned to the A Shau Valley.A Shau Special Forces Camp ( Now ) The base camp site is one of the most affected by Agent Orange in the A Shau Valley. In late 2023, the area was annouced to be cleaned up from dioxin and has been turned over to resettlement. Bomb craters still can be seen all around the base camp site.
The Base camp is located about 85 km south-west of Hue and is accessible by car. We can combine with brief visits to firebase Birmingham and firebase Bastogne along the way.
Price: $150
The price quoted is for 1-2 person(s). First extra person: $50, further extra person: $30
Included features:
• Private transfer ( 7 seater SUV cars or 15 seater minivans )
• English speaking guide
• Permit fee for the A Shau camp. Excluded features:
• Lunch
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