Long Tan & Nui Dat War Sites Tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Walk the sites where the Long Tan Battle unfolded, then end the day at the beach

A full-day private tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the Long Tan Cross, Nui Dat and Vung Tau explores the Australian Army's presence during the Vietnam War with a local English-speaking guide. The tour includes hotel pickup, lunch with a sea view, and visits to the Phuoc Long Tunnels, Luscombe Airfield, Horseshoe Hill and the Vung Tau lighthouse. You can start from Ho Chi Minh City or Vung Tau, and the schedule is flexible beyond the recommended 8am departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Long Tan and Vung Tau Highlights

• Hotel pickup at 8:00am
• Drive 1.5 hours to Ba Ria Central Market
• Meet local guide and introduction to Ba Ria history
• Visit Phuoc Long Tunnels and learn Viet Cong life
• Learn about cashew nut cultivation
• Visit Nui Dat (SAS Hill) and view historical photos
• Drive to Luscombe Airfield and hear related stories
• Visit kindergarten built by Australian Veterans
• Visit Long Tan Cross and perform ritual ceremony
• View Horseshoe Hill from main street
• Drive to Vung Tau beach city
• Enjoy lunch with sea view
• Climb Vung Tau lighthouse for city and sea views
• Visit White Palace of King Bao Dai
• Take photo at Statue of Jesus hilltop
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City by 5:00pm
• Drop off at hotel or chosen location
• Get recommendations from guide

The experience

The tour leaves your Ho Chi Minh City hotel at 8am and drives 90 minutes to Ba Ria, where you meet your local guide and get an introduction to the region's wartime history. The first stop is the Phuoc Long Tunnels, a 1.4-kilometer tunnel system where the Viet Cong sheltered during the war: your guide walks you through the passages and explains how they lived underground, then points out the cashew nut plants that now grow in the area (Vietnam is the world's largest cashew exporter). The tunnels are the only place on the tour where you descend into the actual landscape of the conflict.

From there, you head to Nui Dat, the former Australian Army base also called SAS Hill. Your guide shows photographs and explains the layout of the base so you can picture how it functioned during the war. The next stop is Luscombe Airfield, preserved in a small village, where you'll also visit a kindergarten built by Australian veterans. Then comes the Long Tan Cross, the emotional centerpiece of the day. You perform a ritual ceremony with flowers and incense to honor those who died in the 1966 battle. Horseshoe Hill, where much of the fighting took place, is viewed from the main street because the ground itself remains unsafe due to unexploded ordnance still buried there.

In the afternoon, you drive to Vung Tau, the seaside city where lunch is served with a view of the water. After eating, you climb to the top of the lighthouse for views across the city and the East Sea, then visit the White Palace, the former residence of the last Vietnamese king. Before returning to Ho Chi Minh City (around 5pm), you stop for a photo at the Statue of Jesus on the hilltop. The tour is private, so your guide can adjust the pace or timing if you want to linger at any stop. The vehicle is fully air-conditioned, and two bottles of water are provided throughout the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ho Chi Minh City (or pickup from Vung Tau if you choose that option).
• fully air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking local guide.
• lunch with a sea view in Vung Tau.
• two bottles of water per person.
• all taxes and fees.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from Ho Chi Minh CityGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 08:30Money-back guarantee and high-quality services. Duration: 9 hours. Includes a Vietnamese set menu, hot lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and drop-off. Pickup is included.

Pickup from Vung Tau CityGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 08:30Money-back guarantee and high-quality services. Duration: 9 hours. Includes a Vietnamese set menu, hot lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and drop-off. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by MAIKA TOURS

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time and want to understand the Australian Army's role in the Vietnam War through the actual sites where it unfolded: the tunnels, the base, the battlefield and the memorial. The private format and flexible timing mean you can spend as long as you need at each stop, and the guide adjusts the day to your pace rather than keeping to a fixed group schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly happened at the Long Tan Cross?

The Long Tan Cross marks the site of the 1966 Long Tan Battle, where Australian and South Vietnamese forces fought the Viet Cong. Your guide explains the battle's significance and the lives lost there, and the tour includes a respectful ritual ceremony at the cross itself.

Can I start this tour from Vung Tau instead of Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes, you can choose to be picked up from Vung Tau City instead of Ho Chi Minh City. The itinerary remains the same, though the timing and drive distances will differ depending on which endpoint you select at checkout.

Is the Phuoc Long Tunnels walk difficult or claustrophobic?

The Phuoc Long Tunnels are a 1.4-kilometer system that you walk through with your guide, who explains the Viet Cong's wartime life there. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and you can move at your own pace. If you have concerns about confined spaces, mention them when you book so your guide can advise you.

What's included in the lunch, and can you accommodate dietary needs?

Lunch is a meal served with a sea view in Vung Tau and is included in the tour price. The operator can cater for any dietary requirements. Just let them know before you book.

How long is the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City at the end of the day?

The return drive from Vung Tau to Ho Chi Minh City takes roughly 90 minutes, and you're dropped at your hotel or anywhere else you'd like to go within the city. The tour is scheduled to finish around 5pm.

Is there an option to do this tour on Anzac Day?

Yes, an Anzac Day Ceremony & Tour option is available, which adds a commemorative element to the standard itinerary. Select this option at checkout if you want to join the ceremony.