Long Tan & Nui Dat: Private War History Day Trip from Saigon

Summary

Private journey to Long Tan Cross and Nui Dat base with stories from the Vietnam War

You’ll travel from Ho Chi Minh City with a local guide to explore Long Tan battlefield sites and Nui Dat base, hear firsthand stories at the memorial cross, and walk through the red clay tunnels of Long Phuoc. Expect quiet moments under rubber trees and glimpses into daily life along rural roads — all with hotel pickup included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Long Tan former military base

• Pick up from hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
• Drive to Long Tan through countryside
• Visit Long Tan Cross Memorial
• Walk battlefield area with guide
• Learn about Australian humanitarian efforts
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City

Top questions

How far is Long Tan from Ho Chi Minh City?

It’s about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City to Long Tan.

Is hotel pickup included for this private tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off within Ho Chi Minh City are included.

What sites are visited on this day trip?

You’ll visit Nui Dat base area, Long Tan Cross Memorial, a local school linked to Australian veterans, and Long Phuoc Tunnels.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts around seven hours including travel time.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

No lunch is mentioned as included; bottled water is provided.

Are guides English-speaking?

Yes, an English-speaking guide leads the tour.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but tunnels may require some bending or crouching.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, bottled water throughout the journey, an English-speaking guide who shares local insights along each stop, plus comfortable transfers by air-conditioned car or van before returning in the afternoon.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, we almost missed our pickup because my friend thought the guide said 8:30 instead of 8:00. Our driver just smiled and waved it off — “No rush, traffic is always like this in Saigon,” he joked. We settled into the van, still half-awake, as the city noise faded behind us and rice paddies started flickering past the window. I didn’t expect the drive out to Long Tan to feel so quiet — just fields, a few kids waving at us near a dusty roadside stall, and that thick morning air that smells faintly sweet but also a bit metallic after rain.

Our guide, Mr. Huy, started sharing stories about Nui Dat and Australia’s role in the Vietnam War. He had this way of pausing mid-sentence when he wanted you to really listen — like when we stood at the Long Tan Cross Memorial. There was a breeze moving through the rubber trees, making everything feel oddly still. I tried to picture what it must’ve sounded like during the battle in 1966; couldn’t really manage it. Mr. Huy pointed out where some of the old tracks would’ve been — “Here, soldiers walked,” he said quietly. I felt weirdly small standing there.

We stopped by a local school too — apparently built with help from Australian veterans. A few kids peeked out at us from behind a mural (one of them grinned when I waved). After that we visited the Long Phuoc Tunnels; they’re smaller than I imagined and there’s this earthy smell down there that sticks to your clothes for hours. My shoes got caked in red mud — not ideal for city walking later but whatever, it’s part of it.

The whole day trip from Ho Chi Minh City took about seven hours but felt longer in a good way. On the drive back, nobody talked much. Just that sleepy feeling after you’ve seen something heavy — or maybe it was just all that countryside rolling by again. I still think about those rubber trees sometimes when it rains here at home.