Thank You, Australian Friends — A Journey to Long Tan Through Your Eyes

We hosted Australian guests on our Battle of Long Tan tour this June. Here’s a look at their journey through the memorials, tunnels, and stories of Nui Dat — and why AN Tours Vietnam is the trusted choice for this experience.
Australian couple standing beside the Long Tan memorial plaque in a banana plantation, Vietnam

June was a special month at AN Tours Vietnam. We had the privilege of hosting several Australian guests on our Battle of Long Tan tour — a journey that goes beyond sightseeing. It’s a walk through history, a moment of reflection, and for many of our Aussie guests, a deeply personal experience.

This post is a thank you. To every Australian who trusted us with your Long Tan journey this June — we’re grateful you chose to spend this day with us.

The Journey to Long Tan

The day starts early. Pick-up from Ho Chi Minh City around 7:30 AM, heading southeast toward what was once the heart of the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat. About two hours later, you’re standing on the red soil of Phuoc Tuy province — the same ground Australian soldiers walked during the Vietnam War.

Australian couple at the entrance arch of Địa Đạo Long Phước tunnels
The couple at Địa Đạo Long Phước — the tunnel system that was part of the Long Tan battlefields.

For history buffs, this is it. You don’t just read about it — you’re there. The Long Phuoc Tunnels, the old airstrip at Luscombe Field, the RAR memorials. Every stop tells a story.

Through the Tunnels of Long Phuoc

One of the most eye-opening parts of the tour is exploring the Long Phuoc tunnel system. Unlike the better-known Cu Chi Tunnels, these are quieter, less crowded — you get real space to take it in.

Inside the historic Long Phuoc tunnel system during a Vietnam war history tour
The couple exploring the narrow passages of the Long Phuoc tunnels.

It gets hot, it gets cramped, and you quickly realize what it must have been like. Our Australian guests handled it like troopers — climbing through, flashlight in hand, asking all the right questions.

Lantern-lit tunnel passage at Long Phuoc historical site near Vung Tau
Lantern-lit passage inside the tunnel system — a small glimpse into wartime conditions.
Exploring underground tunnels with flashlight — Long Phuoc tunnel experience
Using a phone flashlight to navigate the dark tunnel passages of Long Phuoc.

Paying Respects at the Memorials

The Long Tan Cross is the centerpiece of any visit. It stands in the middle of a rubber plantation — simple, white, impossible to miss. But it’s the smaller memorials scattered across the area that hit just as hard.

Australian couple paying respects at the Long Tan Cross with yellow flowers
The couple placing yellow flowers at the Long Tan Cross memorial.

You see plaques with the words ‘Lest We Forget’ and the Ode of Remembrance. The numbers — 521, 525, 321, 325 — mark the fallen. Our guests walked quietly between them, flowers in hand. No rush. No tour-guide chatter. Just respect.

Australian couple standing beside the Long Tan memorial plaque in a banana plantation, Vietnam
Standing at the Long Tan memorial surrounded by the banana plantation that now covers the battlefield.
Long Tan memorial with inscription Lest We Forget, visited by Australian tourists
The Lest We Forget plaque at the memorial site — a moment of quiet reflection.

We always give our guests space here. Some want to talk. Some want to be quiet. Both are fine. It’s their moment.

White memorial monument at Long Tan battlefield, red soil fields of Nui Dat
The memorial cross overlooking the red earth fields of Nui Dat, where the Battle of Long Tan took place.

A Taste of Local Life

The tour isn’t all history and war stories. We swing through Hoa Long Market — one of the oldest markets still running in the area. Fresh produce, local chatter, the smell of Vietnamese street food cooking.

Australian tourist picking fresh rambutan fruit at a Vietnamese orchard
Picking fresh rambutan at a local orchard — a sweet break from the history lesson.

This couple even stopped at an orchard to pick rambutan straight off the tree. You can’t buy that experience at a supermarket.

Australian traveler taking a selfie with a local guide in Vietnam market
A selfie with a local — the kind of genuine connection that makes travel memorable.

Why Australian Travelers Trust Us

We’ve been running the Long Tan tour for years. It’s not a side offering for us — it’s one of our core experiences. Our guides know the history inside out. Not just the dates and names, but the stories, the terrain, the context that brings it to life.

We’ve hosted everyone from retired veterans to curious grandkids of veterans, historians, and backpackers who stumbled onto the story and wanted to see it in person. Every group is different. We tailor the pace and depth to what they want.

What sets us apart? We’re local operators — based in Ho Chi Minh City, run by people who know the area intimately. We don’t subcontract. We don’t rush. And we keep groups private, so it’s just you and whoever you’re traveling with.

Our Long Tan tour includes:

  • Private A/C transport with hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • English-speaking guide with deep knowledge of the battle history
  • All entrance tickets — Long Phuoc Tunnels, memorials, museum stops
  • Authentic Vietnamese lunch at a local spot
  • Secret Long Tan documents and photos you won’t find anywhere else
  • Bottled water throughout the day

And yes — we provide flowers at the memorials. It’s a small thing, but it matters.

Book Your Long Tan Tour

If you’re an Australian traveler planning a trip to Vietnam, this is the one tour you shouldn’t skip. It’s not about tourism — it’s about understanding a piece of your country’s history that happened on the other side of the world.

We run the Long Tan tour year-round, from Ho Chi Minh City or Vung Tau/Ho Tram. Private groups only. Just you, your guide, and the red dirt of Nui Dat.

Ready to go? Check out our Battle of Long Tan Tour page for details and pricing. Or just reach out — we’re happy to chat.

WhatsApp/Zalo: +84 70 6666 520

Email: info@antoursvietnam.com

Photo Gallery — June 2026 Long Tan Tour

Here are more moments from our guests’ journey through the Long Tan battlefields.

Thank You

To our Australian guests who joined us in June — thank you for trusting us with your day. Thank you for the conversations, the questions, the respect you showed at every stop. It means more than you know.

We’ll see you next time. AN Tours Vietnam — making history personal since 2017.