Battle of Long Tan - Anniversary Tour 2024

Your fare excludes:

Day 1 > Thursday 15 August 2024 | Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Welcome to this moving tour to the Australian battlefields of Vietnam. On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City we will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. After checking in we will enjoy a group welcome dinner in a local restaurant, an opportunity to get to know our fellow travellers and Historian better.

• I​ncluded Meals: Dinner

Day 2 > Friday 16 August 2024 | Saigon City Tour

Today after breakfast we will meet our Historian and a local guide for a short orientation walk of the area around our mid-city hotel. We then visit the former Presidential Palace where we will receive a briefing on the Australian headquarters system and liaison with Vietnamese and American headquarters during the war, and then visit the War Remnants Museum, the Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. We will also visit Father Tam’s Catholic Church where President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother hid themselves in 1963 before being taken away and executed. We will finish our day at the renowned Ben Thanh Markets, one of Saigon’s most famous landmarks. The Welcome3w dinner tonight is in the former residence of the US Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Hotel: Liberty Central

Day 3 > Saturday 17 August 2024 | Cu Chi Tunnels

Today we will travel to Cu Chi to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, where Australians first operated in the Iron Triangle in 1965. A battlefield brief will be given on the bus enroute to Cu Chi and cover 1966’s Operation Crimp that Australians were involved in. After visiting the Ben Duoc Temple at Cu Chi we will enjoy lunch at a nearby floating restaurant (if you wish to enter the temple, please wear long shirts and long trousers).

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Hotel: Liberty Central

Day 4 > Sunday 18 August 2024 | Saigon to Vung Tau

Today after checking out of our hotel we will travel to the seaside resort town of Vung Tau and the former site of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG). We will travel via Baria to the former 1ATF base at Nui Dat where our historian will give a brief on the role of the 1st Australian Task Force, how operations were conducted and how the base was developed and protected. The area is still a military reserve in parts and some areas may be restricted to visitors. After lunch at a local restaurant we will then proceed to the iconic Long Tan battle site for a battle brief and a short memorial service that will coincide with the exact time of this major engagement.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Hotel: Palace Hotel

Day 5 > Monday 19 August 2024 | Vung Tau – Minh Dam

This morning we will explore the sights of Vung Tau, including Back Beach – the former site of an Australian logistics group and the Peter Badcoe Club. The area is now a public beach and houses a massive war memorial to honour its past. Walk up to the top of the VC Memorial and overlook the Badcoe area. We will also visit Front Beach areas, Bao Dai Summer House and the airport area. Many will remember it as the home of ‘Wallaby Airlines’ and our ‘hueys.’ We will also visit Long Hai hill (also called ‘Minh Dam secret zone’), the main base of Viet Minh and VC during the French and American wars. The many caves served as a natural shelter, medical care and head quarter for the troops. We will also visit the VC memorial to commemorate where more than 2,000 soldiers died during the war. After lunch near Long Hai, we will stop at Ap My An and learn about the battle of Bribie. The evening is free to explore Vung Tau.

• Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 6 > Tuesday 20 August 2024 | Vung Tau to Saigon

After checking out of our hotel, we will visit the scene of the Battle of Binh Ba. We will travel north to the area of the Courtenay Rubber Plantation and the scene of the Battle of Nui Le, Australia’s last major action of the war. Gary McKay will give a battle site briefing at Nui Le, the action where he was wounded and was awarded the Military Cross. After stopping for lunch we will travel through the Hat Dich area to Saigon, where we will check in before freshening up for a free night.

• Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7 > Wednesday 21 August 2024 | Saigon to Phu Bai

After an early breakfast we check out and drive to the airport for our flight to Phu Bai. After checking into our hotel we will take a boat trip on the Perfume River on our way to visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda. After lunch at the Banana Mango cafe we will then travel by bus to the nearby Citadel and undertake a battlefield tour of this historic and ancient city. Dinner tonight is at AncIent Hue restaurant.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 > Thursday 22 August 2024 | Hue to DMZ

After an early breakfast we drive north to the Hien Luong Bridge, the museum and visit the Vinh Moc tunnels. We drive south to the village of Dong Ha and have lunch in a local café with fascinating memorabilia before driving west to visit the former American bases at Camp Carroll and the Rockpile. We return after a long day on the road to Hue for a free evening.

• Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 9 > Friday 23 August 2024 | Hue to Hoi An

Today we check out of our hotel and drive to Danang via Hai Van Pass and have a look at Red Beach where the USMC landed in 1965. Lunch will be in Lang Co on the lagoon restaurant. We check in to the Historic Hoi An Hotel and have a quick orientation of this historic trading town. Dinner tonight will be in the Old Boat restaurant.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 > Saturday 24 August 2024 | Hoi An

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many sights including: the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk.  The afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore.

• Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 > Sunday 25 August 2024 | Danang to Hanoi

We check out of our hotel and drive north to Danang International airport. Our flight north to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi will take about an hour. We will check in to the Silk Path hotel. A walking tour of the old French Quarter will allow you to see what shopping delights await you the next day. We will enjoy lunch and dinner at local restaurants.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 > Monday 26 August 2024 | Hanoi

After breakfast we will enjoy a highlights tour of Hanoi, which includes the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s home and the Army Museum. We will enjoy lunch at Brothers Café before continuing our tour visiting the Lake of the Restored Sword. We will also visit the notorious ‘Hanoi Hilton’ prison, Hoa Lo. We will later return to our hotel, where we will enjoy a farewell dinner.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 > Tuesday 27 August 2024 | Depart Hanoi

This morning we will transfer to the airport to connect with your international flight back to Australia, arriving early the following morning after a wonderful tour exploring Vietnam. The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime.

• Included Meals: Breakfast

*Please note the above itinerary is subject to change without notice.

Only one departure travel date is 15 August 2024

• Twin Share from $4,999 per person
• Solo Use from $5,949 per person

Please call our friendly travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your place today. Our friendly Australian team can happily help arrange your flights, accommodation and travel insurance.

Please note that prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.

12 nights staying in 3-4 star accommodation

Is Travel Insurance compulsory?

Yes it is a condition of travel on this tour that each passenger is adequately covered by an appropriate travel insurance policy. We strongly advise taking out Travel Insurance at the time of making your booking to provide full cover. If you would like a competitive quote, please call our travel team on 1300 414 198.