Long Tan & Nui Dat Battlefield Private Day Tour from Saigon

5.00

(3 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Ho Chi Minh City felt thick as we set off—just after sunrise, when the city’s noise is still waking up. Our guide, Mr. Thanh, shared stories about the ANZACs as we drove out past rubber plantations. You notice how the landscape changes—flat fields giving way to gentle hills. At Nui Dat SS Hill, there’s not much left of the old Australian base except for a few foundations and that odd silence you get at places with heavy history. Mr. Thanh pointed out where the concertina wire once ran and showed us a faded sign in Vietnamese near the old helipad site.

Standing at the Long Tan Cross Memorial, I could hear cicadas buzzing louder than usual—maybe it was just my nerves. We paused for a moment; some folks left poppies by the cross. The guide explained what happened here back in August 1966—D Company holding out against impossible odds. It’s hard not to feel something when you’re right there on that patch of red earth.

We crawled through part of the Long Phuoc Tunnel next—tight and dark, with cool air and that damp clay smell clinging to your clothes. Afterward, we headed toward Vung Tau Beach for lunch. The spot was simple but lively—a place called Quán Biển Xanh where they served fresh fish with rice paper rolls and a tangy dipping sauce (vegan options too). I remember hearing kids laughing somewhere behind the kitchen while we ate.

The afternoon sun hit hard at Minh Dam Mountain, but climbing up was worth it for the view over green hills and coastline—you can see why soldiers would have wanted this vantage point. Last stop: The Robert Museum of Worldwide Arms. It’s packed with uniforms and gear from all over; our guide knew every detail about each display and even let us handle an old helmet from the era.