Long Tan Former Australian Military Base Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh

This private tour departs from Ho Chi Minh City to Long Tan, a village in the south of Vietnam. An air-conditioned minivan will pick you up from your hotel and take you to this place. Before arriving, a stop is scheduled at the Long Phuoc Tunnel, used during the conflict by the Asian army. Once in Long Tan, you will visit the memorial and the cemeteries of both sides. The tour lasts about 7 hours and includes a local guide and bottled water.

A battle between the Australian Army (including New Zealand gunners) and a combined force of regulars from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the National Liberation Front (NLF) took place in this village on 18 August 1966. The NVA established their base of operations on high ground surrounded by plantations and, despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Asians, managed to hold their position.

The Australian division's victory was not bloodless, as one-third of its members were killed during the offensive. Today, a memorial and several cemeteries commemorate this dark page in the country's history.

As mentioned above, the tour includes a stop at the Long Phuoc Tunnel, an underground passageway system that was used by the locals first against the French and later against the US army. It was located in a crucial area of Vietnam, contested by both sides.