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Vietnam Commemoration Tour

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

DAY 1: 8 April – 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. (D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Airport transfer in Saigon – Central hotel - Dinner

DAY 2: 9 April – 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, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Binh Tay market precinct of Cho Lon. 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. (B)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Orientation walk of Saigon – Sightseeing tour

DAY 3: 10 April – 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 1965’s Operation Crimp that Australians were involved in. After visiting the Den 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.) The return trip from Cu Chi will be by boat down the Saigon River to the city and to our hotel for dinner. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels – Lunch at floating restaurant – Dinner – Boat transfer to Saigon

DAY 4: 11 April – Saigon to Vung Tau

Today after checking out of our hotel we will travel down the Saigon River by hydrofoil to the seaside resort town of Vung Tau and the former site of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG). After checking in to our hotel and freshening up we will enjoy an orientation tour of the town including the former 1 ALSG base area, and former Peter Badcoe Club site and the ‘Flags’ area. We will also visit the Front and Back beach areas and take a dip in the South China Sea (weather permitting). During this orientation tour a brief will be delivered on the area and its relevance to Australian operations and the role of 9 and 35 Squadron RAAF and the RAN clearance diver teams. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Hydrofoil journey to Vung Tau – Orientation tour – Lunch – Dinner

DAY 5: 12 April – Long Tan

A very special day! Today we will travel to the former Phuoc Tuy Province and area of operations for the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) via Baria and visit the former task force base area. The area is still a military reserve in parts and some areas may be restricted to visitors. We will be given a brief on 1 ATF operations that were conducted from the base and how it was developed and protected. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed in Nui Dat. After lunch, we will drive to the battlefield at Long Tan and conduct a Remembrance Service at the Long Tan Cross Memorial site. After the service we will return to Vung Tau via the Horseshoe fire support base site, which unfortunately is off-limits owing to commercial quarrying. Our afternoon is free after returning to Vung Tau. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring the Phuoc Tuy battlefields – Long Tan memorial service – Lunch

DAY 6: 13 April – Long Hai

This morning we will travel along the South China Sea coast to visit the former Minh Dam Secret Zone and meet a former Viet Cong officer. We will then climb to the apex of the Long Hai Hills and take in spectacular views of the area and visit the local museum in the former Viet Cong Sanctuary. Returning to Vung Tau we travel through the former area of operations and visit the site of the Battle of Ap My An near Lang Phuoc Hai that occurred during Operation Bribie in February 1967. Later in the day we arrive back at our hotel in time for dinner. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring the Long Hai battlefields – Lunch – Dinner

DAY 7: 14 April – Vung Tau to Saigon

After checking out of our hotel, we will visit the scene of the Battle of Binh Ba. After a picnic lunch 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. We will then return to Saigon where our evening is at leisure. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring the Nui Le battlefield – Lunch

DAY 8: 15 April – Saigon to Hoi An

This morning we will check out of our hotel and fly to Da Nang in central Vietnam. We then drive to the town of Hoi An where we will check into our hotel and then take a quick orientation tour of this beautiful provincial and historic town. We will enjoy a local restaurant lunch and dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Flight to Da Nang – Orientation tour of Hoi An

DAY 9: 16 April – Hoi An to Da Nang

After breakfast we travel north to Da Nang, which was the headquarters of the Australian Army Training Team. We will also visit Marble Mountain, famous for its marble factories. Next we will visit Red Beach where the US Marines first landed in 1965, and China Beach, the Rest and Convalescence Centre for US troops. Lunch we will be in a local restaurant by the beach. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring the Da Nang area – Lunch

DAY 10: 17 April – Hoi An to Hue

After checking out of our hotel we will drive north via the famous Hai Van Pass to the former Imperial Capital of Hue. We will enjoy lunch and dinner at local restaurants. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Lunch – Dinner

DAY 11: 18 April – Hue city tour

Today we will take a boat trip on the Perfume River on our way to visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda. We will then travel by bus to the nearby Citadel and undertake a battlefield tour of this historic and ancient city. We will enjoy lunch and dinner at local restaurants. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Boat trip to Thien Mu Pagoda – Lunch – Dinner

DAY 12: 19 April – Hue to Hanoi

After checking out of our hotel we will travel to nearby Phu Bai Airport to fly to the Vietnamese capital Hanoi. After checking in to our hotel we will take an afternoon cyclo ride around the Old Quarter of Hanoi. This evening we will attend the world famous Water Puppet Show. We will enjoy lunch and dinner at local restaurants. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Flight to Hanoi – Cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter – Water Puppet Show – Lunch – Dinner

DAY 13: 20 April – Hanoi city tour

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 Temple of Literature. 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, and the Dong Xuan Market. We will later return to our hotel, where our evening is free. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Hanoi highlights tour – Visit to Hanoi Hilton – Lunch

DAY 14: 21 April – Ha Long Bay

Today we will drive east to tour the magnificent Ha Long Bay. We will depart Hanoi for a three-hour journey through the scenic landscape of the rural northeast, stopping at a crafts cooperative en-route to Ha Long Bay and the Gulf of Tonkin, which was once the haunt of Vietnamese and Chinese Pirates. At Ha Long Bay the romance of old Vietnam still lingers, with bizarre karst islets randomly scattered and the odd red-sailed junk clipping across the waters. With 1969 limestone and dolomite islets sprinkled over an area of 1500 square kilometres, Ha Long Bay offers a wonderland of karst topography. After arriving at the Ha Long Port we will board our traditional wooden luxury cruiser for a majestic cruise of Ha Long Bay. We will enjoy a delicious seafood lunch on board as we take in the magnificent scenery. In the evening we will enjoy dinner, before retiring for the night to our well-equipped cabins. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Luxury overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay – Lunch – Dinner

DAY 15: 22 April – Ha Long Bay to Hanoi

This morning we will enjoy breakfast on board while watching the magnificent sunrise on Ha Long Bay. We will then continue exploring the islands, beach coves, caves and floating villages before returning to the port. On our way back to Hanoi we will visit Dong Trieu ceramic village. We will arrive in Hanoi in time to check in to our hotel before enjoying a farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Visit to Dong Trieu ceramic village – Lunch – Farewell dinner

DAY 16: 23 April – Hanoi

This morning we will transfer to the airport to connect with our international flight back to Australia, arriving early the following morning after a wonderful couple of weeks exploring Vietnam. The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime. (B)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Transfer to Hanoi airport


WHAT ARE STAR INCLUSIONS?: 'Star Inclusions' are the extra things we provide each day that make your tour really special. You don't pay extra for Star Inclusions - they are included in the tour cost, and many of them are exclusive to Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours.

Spend some more time in Saigon or Hanoi before or after your tour! Pre- and post-tour accommodation is available at discounted rates.

*Per person, twin share, land only. Single supplement: $1097. Ask about our airfare deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours.

**$250 discount applies to Vietnam veterans who travel on the 8 April 2012 departure. Discount does not apply to travel companions and is not valid with any other discount. Proof of service may be required.