Tour Dossier Return to Long Tan Special Interest Tour 9 Days Comfortable Pace This document has been designed to provide a straightforward description of the physical activities involved in sightseeing or travelling during the tour. All passengers should read this dossier to assess the physical requirements of the programme and their ability to complete the tour. Return to Long Tan is a comfortable paced tour. This is defined in our brochure as the following: Tours require an average level of fitness and average mobility. Touring may involve sightseeing on foot, some climbing of stairs and getting on and off boats. Anyone with an average level of fitness should be able to complete this itinerary. Of course, our National Escort/Local Guides always endeavor to provide the highest level of service and assistance, but they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary. Please refer to your Travel Guide for more information. Tour Highlights On our Return to Long Tan itinerary, you will visit: Explore the exciting cities of Hanoi and Saigon Confront the reality of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels Visit the infamous battleground of Hoa Long village Attend 50th Anniversary Commemoration at the iconic Long Tan battle site Cruise the waterways of the Mekong Delta Destination Profile Vietnam - Vietnam is a country of breath-taking natural beauty with an incredible modern day history. It has experienced war and a revolution in the past 100 years, but the revolution now underway is peaceful and prosperous. The speed of the modern day changes are making Vietnam the absorbing place that it is today.
Everywhere you turn in Vietnam you will encounter memorable experiences. View the stunning limestone islands from the deck of a junk boat in Halong Bay and crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels outside Saigon. Take 10 minutes to cross the street in Hanoi and watch a moped overloaded with chickens wobble along the country roads. Taste the changing flavours of Vietnamese cooking. Vietnam has something to offer everyone, so whether you are a culture or thrill seeker or just looking to relax and take in the beaches, Vietnam won t disappoint. The Battle of Long Tan has made its mark in history as one of the most well-known Australian deployments. 2016 marks 50 years since the battle on Vietnamese soil. In commemoration of these events, we invite you to return to Long Tan to honour those who fought and remember those who lost their lives. Development in Vietnam - Although Vietnam is developing quickly, it still lacks the international standards of civil infrastructure and tourist facilities. Concepts of personal responsibility are also different to those in Australia. Consequently, tourist and public facilities may not uphold the same safety standards as in Australia; for example, you may see a hole in the road without a warning sign or safety barricade. All of our suppliers meet local safety standards as a minimum. We want you to have an enjoyable holiday so we ask that you take extra care, use your common sense, refer to notices and follow advice from you National Escort or Local Guides. Cuisine in Vietnam Selected meals (excluding drinks) during the Return to Long Tan special group departure are included, meals that are included are indicated in the below itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner. Please be aware that dishes selected for your meals reflect the cooking styles and signature dishes of the local area you are in. Joining Your Tour - The tour is 9 days in duration including international flights. Travellers booked on Land Only arrangements should make their own way to the starting point. Join the tour on Day 1 in Saigon and end the tour on Day 8 in Saigon. Please refer to your final itinerary for more specific meeting instructions pertaining to your departure. Flight Delays or Changes to Arrival Times- Due to unforeseen circumstances, flights can be delayed, and therefore connecting flights may be missed. If you find yourself in this situation, please contact our Vietnam office on +84 989 559 488 to urgently advise your arrival details have changed. Please ensure you have your trip number, tour name (both included in your final documentation) and new arrival details (flight number and arrival time) handy to pass on to our local office in Vietnam. This will ensure your National Escort/Local Guide can be informed of your most up to date information and ensure someone is at the airport to meet you on arrival. If we are not advised of late changes and missed connections, Wendy Wu Tours cannot guarantee someone will be able to meet you upon arrival in Vietnam as our local office will have no way of knowing which flight you will be arriving on. Wendy Wu Tours will not be responsible for providing reimbursement of transportation costs from the airport to your hotel in the event that our local office was not advised of changes to arrival times.
Itinerary Return to Long Tan Day 1: Australia to Saigon Fly to Saigon for a three night stay. Darwin passengers may depart one day earlier. You will be met at Saigon airport in the arrivals hall by your Local Guide and/or National Escort. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer 45 minutes to your hotel and check into your room or store any luggage if your room is not ready yet. There is no sightseeing today. At some point, when the whole group has arrived, a tour introduction will be held in the hotel. Food and drinks will not be served at this meeting; it is simply an opportunity for your group to meet and learn more about travelling in Vietnam. Saigon is the epitome of modern day Vietnam. It is the largest and most vibrant of Vietnam s cities and is a heady mix of local culture and colonial influences. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Saigon was the Pearl of the Orient, which flourished under the American occupation. In more recent times, it was the seat of the South Vietnamese government until the events that led to the country's reunification. Today, the old mixes seamlessly with the new and you can wander through timeless alleys to incense-infused temples before catching up with the present in designer malls beneath sleek skyscrapers. Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City) is a city of contrasts: from the finest of hotels to budget guesthouses, from the classiest restaurants to the flavours of the street stalls, and from classy boutiques to the bartering in the street markets, it has it all. Day 2: Saigon B,L,D Enjoy a full day of touring including driving to the city s Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral walking along the Saigon River and Dong Khoi Street, which figured prominently in Graham Greene s famous Vietnam novel, The Quiet American and to the Saigon Opera House. Stop at the Reunification Palace and visit the Secret Printing Cellar of the Chineselanguage Propaganda and Training Committee at 341/10 Gia Phú in District 6 before heading back to your hotel to relax. In the morning, visit the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Take a leisurely 20 minute (2km) walk along the Saigon River and Don Khoi Street. Drive a short distance to the Reunification Palace and visit the Secret Printing Cellar. There are 20 steps going in and out of the Secret Printing Cellar. Central Post Office A post office in the downtown Ho Chi Minh City, near Saigon Notre Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral. The building was constructed in the late 19th century. It has with Gothic, Renaissance and French influences and was designed by Auguste Henri Vildieu and Alfred Foulhoux, but is often erroneously credited as being the work of Gustave Eiffel. Don Khoi Street Famously known from Graham Greene s famous Vietnam novel The Quiet American. It was named after the French Warship Catinat that participated in the mid-19th century attacks by France when that country was intent on seizing control of Vietnam. The ship itself honoured Nicolas Catinat, a 17th and 18th century Marshal of France. Reunification Palace Built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. Secret Printing Cellar - A printing press in the cellar of a house on Gia Phu in District 6 was dug and operated under the cover of clanking machines producing locks for school bags and remained undetected until 1970. The family that ran it was able to provide crucial news about the war to the city s inhabitants. It was a very risky, but valuable endeavour during that time as many of the people in southern Vietnam did not have access to news or information. Day 3: Saigon - Cu Chi B,L,D Enjoy a full day of touring to the Cu Chi Tunnels and a cricket farm. Depart from Saigon pier and begin your speedboat journey on the Saigon River. As the city fades into the background, observe life along the river and the many new weekend homes being built by the Saigonese. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they didn t escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The tunnels also have mantraps - large camouflaged holes dug deep into the ground that ensnared enemy soldiers by bamboo spikes. You ll also discover the remains of an American tank that was destroyed by a landmine. The Cu Chi experience can be emotionally draining for some visitors, but it offers a fascinating window into the hardship and traumas of war. Next, it s a short drive through the countryside to visit a cricket farm. Some Vietnamese consider crickets a delicacy, and local lore says that hungry soldiers ate them to beef up their nutrient-poor diets. At the farm, you ll see crickets in various stages of growth. You ll also have a chance to sample crickets wrapped up in tasty spring rolls. Make sure you snap a photograph so that your friends will believe your unusual tale! Stop for a traditional Vietnamese lunch - it won t include cricket - en route back to Saigon, arriving mid-afternoon.
Remember to take insect repellent today as mosquitoes are more common in the Cu Chi district. Transfer two hours (70 km) to Cu Chi. In the morning you will be transferred to pier for 15 minutes (4km) where a speedboat awaits to take you to Chu Chi Tunnel district. There maybe uneven surfaces boarding the vessel and you will need to be able to climb 10 steps upon embarkation. Sightseeing at Chu Chi involves two hours on foot on uneven mud paths through the bush and, if you choose, crawling through some of the tunnels. Next stop is a visit to a cricket farm which involves a two minute walk from the gate to house inside the farm. Cu Chi - The tunnels of Cu Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Cu Chi district of Saigon and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Cu Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped to counter the growing American military effort. Day 4: Saigon to Vung Tau B,L,D Transfer southeast of Saigon to Hoa Long village. Hoa Long, is infamous as the battleground between the Royal Australian Regiment and the Viet Cong. Learn about the complex history of the region on a tour through the village s various battle monuments and landmarks, and pay a visit 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. 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 before transferring to Vung Tau. Sightseeing today involves four hours of driving and one hour of walking. Don t forget to bring insect repellent today. Hoa Long Royal Australian Regiment, troops of the 2nd Battalion, moved into the village of Hoa Long at first light to start the search which followed recent reports of Viet Cong activity in the village. Day 5: Long Tan 50 th Anniversary Commemoration B,L,D Visit the former site of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG), including the former 1 ALSG base area, former Peter Badcoe Club site and the Flags area. After lunch, continue your journey visiting the iconic Long Tan battle site for a battle brief and a memorial service that will coincide with the exact time of this major engagement 50 years ago. Transfer two hours (150km) to the Long Tan battle site where we commemorate the 50 s anniversary. Battle of Long Tan Took place on 18 August 1966 in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in Phuoc Tuy Province. The action was fought between Australian forces and Viet Cong and North Vietnamese units after 108 men from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) clashed with a force of 1,500 to 2,500 from the Viet Cong 275th Regiment, possibly reinforced by at least one North Vietnamese battalion, and D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion. The 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) had arrived between April and June 1966, constructing a base at Nui Dat. After two months it moved beyond the initial requirements of establishing itself and securing its immediate approaches, beginning operations to open the province. Meanwhile, in response to the threat posed by 1 ATF the 275th Regiment was ordered to move against Nui Dat. For several weeks Australian signals intelligence had tracked a radio transmitter moving westwards to a position just north of Long Tan; however, extensive patrolling failed to find the unit. At 02:43 on the night of 16/17 August, Viet Cong mortars, recoilless rifles (RCLs) and artillery heavily bombarded Nui Dat from a position 2,000 metre to the east, before being engaged by counter-battery fire. The following morning B Company, 6 RAR departed Nui Dat to locate the firing points and the direction of the Viet Cong withdrawal. A number of weapon pits were subsequently found, as were the positions of the mortars and RCLs. Day 6: Vung Tau to Mekong Delta B,D Today enjoy a small boat ride around the waterways of the Mekong Delta. Known also as the rice bowl of Vietnam because of its large rice production, the area has also diversified into activities related to aquaculture, rearing of animals, cash crops and fruit trees. Visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. Make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries: coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn) that provide a living for the river people. Later take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your vehicle awaits to drive you to Can Tho Province. Rise early to drive two hours (80km) to the city of Ben Tre. You will travel by motorised, wooden boats between the islands and then change to smaller, paddle boats in the canals. Sightseeing involves hopping on and off these boats, often on unsteady and slippery surfaces, sometimes without handrails or assistance. Approximately four hours later, you will return to Saigon. Destination Description The Mekong Delta - located in southern Vietnam is a vast maze of rivers, swamps and islands, home to floating markets, pagodas and villages surrounded by rice paddies. Boats are the main means of transportation.
Day 7: Can Tho to Saigon B,L,D It s an early start to the day as you go by boat to the daily floating market of Can Tho. Experience vendors trading their wares as boats teeming with fruit, vegetables and household goods ply the waters. Later transfer back (4hours/ 2km) to Saigon for free time before a farewell dinner. You will travel by motorised, wooden boats between the islands and then change to smaller, paddle boats in the canals. Sightseeing involves hopping on and off these boats, often on unsteady and slippery surfaces, sometimes without handrails or assistance. Can Tho - The biggest city of the Mekong Delta, with an estimated population of 1.5 million. The name translates as cầm thi giang - river of poems. It is also referred to as Tay Do meaning Western capital. The city is famous for its floating markets, Buddhist pagodas, delicious food and fresh fruits and the beauty of the Mekong Delta. Day 8: Depart Saigon - B Any time before your flight free is at your leisure. You will be transferred from the hotel to the airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Today is free to enjoy at leisure. Check-out at your hotel is at 10:00hrs. After check-out you will be transfer to the airport for your international flight. Day 9: Arrive Australia Arrive home today. Tour Profile Visa Requirements - Entry visas are required by all visitors to Vietnam and Wendy Wu Tours Visa Department can assist you with the process of obtaining a visa. We will supply you with all paperwork and submit the visa application on your behalf. Visas for Vietnam are issued with specific start and expiry dates which are based on the dates stated on the visa application form. Travel must be completed within those dates. Please be advised that your passport must have at least 6 months validity left on it when you arrive back into Australia. Visa application forms and all relevant documentation are due in our office 60 days prior to departure; if received after this, urgent visa processing fees will apply. Also please note we do not accept passports and visa applications within 30 days prior to departure. Passports will be returned with your Final Documentation 2-3 weeks prior to your group tour s scheduled departure. If you require your passport to be returned earlier, a $15 courier fee will apply. Insurance - We strongly encourage all travellers to take a copy of their travel insurance documents (especially relevant international contact numbers) with them while on tour. We advise that you check the inclusions and procedures for lodging claims prior to your departure. These documents should be stored separately from the originals. Accommodation - All accommodation is selected for convenience of location, comfort or character, and can range from a business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. In remote areas accommodation may be of a lower standard and may not have all western amenities. Hotels are generally rated as local 3-3½star standard, but do please note that there is no international classification system for hotels and differences in facilities and quality do exist between Australia and Vietnam. Exchanging Cash - It is highly recommended that extra care and attention is paid when exchanging money when travelling outside major cities in Vietnam. US Dollars are easily exchanged throughout Vietnam, however other currencies such as Australian Dollars can generally be exchanged in hotels and airports provided notes are new and undamaged. US Dollars should be from the new series from the year 2003 onwards. Old series notes can be difficult to exchange, apart from in some national banks in Vietnam, such as Vietcombank. We suggest for your convenience that you ensure your US Dollars are from the new series to avoid any difficulties exchanging money during your trip. We suggest exchanging your money before travelling to remote areas and smaller towns, as exchange facilities can be limited. Your National Escort will remind you to do this before departure. Personal Expenses - You will need to take some extra money to cover drinks, laundry and souvenirs, plus any additional sightseeing that may be offered to you. Based on the advice of previous customers an approximate amount of AUD$250 should be sufficient; however for those that can t resist a bargain, consider allocating a higher amount. Transport: Roads Coaches with air conditioning are used on our group tours for city sightseeing, short excursions to the countryside and longer transfers where necessary.
Climbing Steps Some sightseeing involves climbing quite a number of steps. This means you sometimes need to walk from the bus park to the entrance, and/or need to climb some steps inside. People with knee or hip injuries, who have poor balance or are otherwise unable to complete these activities independently should consider the suitability of this itinerary carefully. Consider Cultural Differences Vietnam has many religions, cultures and histories. Please be considerate of this, the local beliefs and customs and dress with consideration. Group Size - In most cases, the group will operate with a minimum of 10 participants accompanied by a National Escort. However, if the group is operating with less than 10 passengers, you will be accompanied by expert Local Guides in each of the main cities. Climate - You will find a complete packing list and a helpful climate chart in the Suggested Packing List, which is included in the pre-departure information link sent within your deposit documentation. Seasonal weather patterns can be quite unpredictable. Up to the minute information on worldwide weather can be found on www.weather.com. Vaccinations and Your Health - We recommend that you contact either your GP or Travelvax (1300 360 164) for advice on vaccinations and travel health. Travelvax has a comprehensive website that you may also find useful www.travelvax.com.au. Before You Leave - We strongly recommend registering your travel plans with http://smartraveller.gov.au as in the event of an emergency, Australian Consular assistance will be more readily available. You can also access the Australian Government s travel advisory service for up to date information about your destination on the same website. After your booking Once you have booked with Wendy Wu Tours, you will receive a confirmation invoice followed by deposit documentation, which includes a visa application form (if applicable), and a help sheet. Your final documentation pack will be sent to you approximately 2 weeks prior to departure, and will include a travel wallet, lanyard, a travel guide (which includes a suggested packing list) and phrase book, along with your final itinerary and international e-tickets. Luggage - All clients are limited to two items of luggage each; a suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 5kg. It is essential that your luggage is lockable. Please note that authorities will only allow bottles onto the aircraft if they have been checked in as main baggage. Bottles in hand luggage may be confiscated. Tipping - Tipping is a firm and expected element in the tourism industry. A nominated tipping amount is included in all group tour pricing, however is not collected in your final payment received by Wendy Wu Tours. This is so that it can be paid directly to your National Escort who will then distribute the tips among your main service providers guides and drivers on your behalf. Any other tipping, such as tips for bathroom attendants, hotel porters taking luggage to your room or river guides is at your discretion based on satisfaction of services received, as are gratuities for additional requested special services. Updated: 12 April 2016