Business ProfileforVietnam Battlefield Tours

As a Vietnam Veteran, in November 2022, I hired Vietnam Battlefield Tours (VBT) to take me to a battlefield site called Phou Nhoi (Mountain) where 34 Marines in my unit were killed back in June ****. My total cost would be $5,830 (travel ins, etc). When our bus of Vietnam Veterans arrived at the foot of Phou Nhoi on 03/12/2023, we were met by the Vietnamese Military. They talked to ************************************** and his interpreter, *************************. An hour later, the Vietnamese military surrounded our bus, forced us back on, and escorted us 15 miles away. I asked both what happened--they both blamed the Vietnamese military. My 55-year dream was gone. Later a Vietnamese interpreter, ********************** (who overheard both) told me that VBT was lying to me. A Vietnamese General told her that it was the fault of VBT as they never applied for the permits to visit that site. When I arrived back in the ******, I wrote a letter to the Ambassador to Vietnam, *************************** who ordered an investigation. Colonel ************************************ did a six-week investigation and sent me the results in a letter. He agreed with Ms. ******* and the Vietnamese General that it was the fault of VBT for not having the proper permit. Via multiple emails between myself and ********************** before our trip, I emphasized that the only reason I wanted to go to Vietnam was to climb Phou Nhoi Mountain and pay respect to the 34 Marines who died there. Therefore, on 03/05/2023, when our plane left *********** for Vietnam, ********************** could have told me that VBT did not have the permits to visit Phou Nohi and that we would never be visiting Phou Nhoi. If he had, I would not have gone with VBT and saved myself $5,830. I would have looked for a different tour company. ********************** has offered to refund part of the cost but "only" if I do not tell anyone the results of the US Embassy investigation and what happened on 03/12/2023. Returning to Vietnam with VBT would be h*** due to the animosity.