Battle of Long Tan 50th
Anniversary Tour
Planned Itinerary (Subject to change)
Day 1: 06 Aug All of our guests should now have arrived at
our hotel in the heart of Saigon/HO CHI MINH CITY and we will have our meet and
greet (at a time to be advised) enabling everyone to get to know your tour
guides and fellow travellers. After
dinner you will have FREE time to explore the main night market in the centre
area which is close tour hotel. (D)
Day 2: 07 Aug
After an early breakfast we board our bus to the Tan Son Nhat domestic airport
and join our flight north to Da Nang City where we will be met by our driver
and air conditioned coach. We will first
do a tour of the city and then after lunch travel south to the ancient heritage
city of Hoi An. Along the way we will stop at Marble Mountain (entrance fees
included) and the famous China Beach (the U.S. rest and recreation during the
Vietnam war).
After checking into
our Hotel in Hoi An our driver will take us into the main city area to explore
this ancient heritage listed city. You
will be able to explore the old Japanese built bridge and the many tailor and
shoe shops (last count was over 300), our ladies will be in paradise being able
to have made to measure clothing completed within 24 hours.
There
is a large variety of restaurants and cooking schools in the area so dinner
will be at your choice to experience the many different local foods. We overnight in Hoi An (B) (L)
Day 3: 08 Aug After an early breakfast we will visit
the morning market and then travel by coach approx. 40kms south west to the “My
Son” ruins (entrance fee included) which was the Old Imperial City during the
Chan Dynasty between 4th and 12th century. During our return we will visit a Silk Factory
to see how the silk worms are bred and their transformation into beautiful silk
cloth. Hoi An is famous for their
collapsible silk lanterns.
After
lunch there will be free time for clothing, shoe fittings. You may like to hire a bicycle or cyclo to
explore on your own, or just relax by the pool or beach. We overnight again in
Hoi An (B) (L) (D)
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Day 4: 09 Aug After
breakfast and check out our coach return us back to Da Nang for the flight
south to the beach city of Nah Trang where another air conditioned coach will
meet us and take us to our hotel.
After
lunch we will tour the city area, visit the Cham Temple, then free time for the
market, swim or walk along the famous beach or just relax by the pool. For those interested our bus will be
available to take you to the hot springs to experience a relaxing mud bath. We overnight in Nha Trang (entrance fees included) (B) (L) (D)
Day 5: 10th Aug After
breakfast we will head down to the water to join our boat for our full day
island trip which includes many surprises.
We overnight in Nha Trang (B) (L) (D)
Day 6: 11th Aug Early
morning departure south by coach past Cam Rang Bay, then west up into the
mountains to overnight in the cooler City of Da Lat. We plan to visit the local Da Lat market and
the flower park. We overnight in Da
Lat (B) (L) (D)
Day 7: 12th Aug
Today we will visit the old Da Lat railway station, A silk weaving factory, the statue of the
‘Golden Budda’ and an option to ride on the 20 minute scenic ‘Cable Car’ which
has incredible views and finishes at a beautiful and peaceful monastery. We overnight again in Da Lat. (B)
(L) (D)
Day 8: 13th Aug Today
we travel south down the mountain range to overnight in Saigon/HCMC. On the way we will visit the large waterfall
areas and sample local variety of teas. Tonight (depending upon arrival time)
we plan to cruise on the Saigon River for dinner on a large boat. (B) (L) (D)
Day 9: 14th Aug Morning departure south approx 120km (3-4
hours drive) to Can Tho in the middle of the Mekong Delta rice bowl
region. See the large statue of Uncle Ho
Chi Minh on the river side and tour the town before check in at our hotel and
free time to explore the town. We overnight in Can Tho. (B) (L) (D)
Day 10: 15th Aug This morning is a very early start (approx.
5.30am) to catch out boat and travel upriver to the famous Mekong floating
market area. (For those who have visited
the floating markets in Thailand, this is a completely different experience) Later we will have an exciting full day visiting
fish and prawn breeding areas, fruit gardens, a honey farm and see how coconut
candy and rice cakes are made. Take a
small local boat trip through small cannels and experience the local delicacy
of ‘elephant fish ear’ for lunch.
Tonight we will stay in My Tho in the Ben Tre fruit bowl area still in
the Mekong Delta. (All entrance fees
included) (B) (L)(D)
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Day 11: 16th Aug After breakfast we head back to Saigon/HCMC
stopping on the way to visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda which was built in 1849 by a
Buddhist Monk. Back in the southern
capital we will stop in the Chinese district of Cholon to visit the wholesale
markets, visit the Thien Hau temple, Presidential Palace, the central post
office and Notre Dame Cathedral. For
those interested we will take you to the war museum on the way to our hotel. For those taking the option to visit the
famous ‘Water Puppets” - Tonight is the
night. The remainder of our group will have
FREE time to have dinner and explore the many food options. We Overnight in
Saigon. (All entrance fees are included
again today) (B)(L)
One of the
highlights of our tour is the opportunity to visit the cities wholesale
areas. The fruit and vegetables, sea
food and pork markets all located in one area the size of three football
fields. We would also visit the wholesale flower market but the only thing is
that it will be a 1 - 2 am start for 4 - 5 hour tour.
Day 12: 17th Aug After breakfast we will travel east along
the new highway to Baria and Vung Tau and the Long Hai mountains (This is the
old Phuc Thuy province now called the Baria/Vung Tau province and also the area
that the Australian army was responsible for) We will do a city tour around Vung Tau
covering the old ‘Flags, street of bars, ‘Front and Back’ beach areas including
where the Australian army logistic area was located (1ALSG) There is also a
Hugh statue of Jesus (similar to the one in Rio) that those strong enough can
climb. We will visit the ‘Long Phuc’
tunnels (close to Nui Dat), Dat Do, the
horse shoe fire support base and then check into our hotel. Tonight will be a surprise hotel with dinner
in a local restaurant on the beach. All entrance
fees included. (B)(L)
Day 13: 18th Aug The
Big Day: After breakfast and checkout
we drive to the previous Australian army Task Force area (1ATF) at Nui
Dat. We will tour the areas of the old
‘Luscom’ airstrip, ‘kanga pad,’ a local cashew nut factory and for those fit
enough to climb ‘SAS Hill’ to view the surrounding area before lunch. Our lunch will be at our friends house
located at the base of SAS Hill with some local farmers, ex Viet Cong and North
Vietnamese army soldiers who now live in the area.
After our special
party, we proceed to the ‘Long Tan Cross’ for the 50th Anniversary
service which is expected to start at 3.30pm.
Poppies can be placed on the cross and joss sticks burned.
After the service we
drive to Vung Tau to our hotel and stay
overnight. Tonight will be FREE time and
for those interested the anniversary dinner organized by the Australian Chamber
of Commerce. This dinner will be at own expense and booking details will be
available shortly) (B)(L)
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Day 14: 19th Aug
Today we drive back to Saigon/HCMC for our final night at our hotel in
the city centre with last shopping and pack up prior tour ‘Farewell’
dinner. (B)(L)(D)
Day 15: 20th Aug
After breakfast we say good bye tour fellow travellers and new friends
with free time until heading for the airport and
home with some great memories.
Your hotel room will
be available until 1pm possibly later – still to be confirmed.
If enough
travellers are heading to the airport with simular flight times we will include
a coach transport - Individual transport to the airport by taxi
is approx. $8 - $10. (B)
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This is the third
itinerary draft ( 30 Oct 2015 ) and is subject to change to allow for
improvements and corrections. Any
changes will be forwarded to keep everyone informed.
Prior to departure
a final itinerary listing all contact names and contacts for our hotels and
tour guides in case of any emergency.
Any questions, please contact us.