Transcript Slide 1

WHAT IS THE ‘LONG TAN TREK’ TOUR?
it’s a group of people who want to visit
The area of Australian operations
During the Viet Nam war 1965-72.
It’s escorted by Dave Sabben MG –
Former commander of 12 Platoon, D/6RAR
At the Battle of Long Tan, Aug 1966.
It’s informal, personal and
Relaxed. While being very busy
It is not about pressure or rush.
it’s about enjoying the experience
with others who are there
To enjoy the experience.
It only happens once a year, in October.
2009 group
WHO GOES ON
THESE TOURS?
About 33% Vets;
About 33% ladies;
The rest: family, mates
And interested others;
Ages 18 to 80.
BINH
Ben Cat
DUONG
PHUOC
THANH
Binh My
PROVINCE BORDERS
20
River
Tan Uyen
13
LONG
KHANH
16
BIEN HOA
1
1
Xuan Loc
“BlackHorse”
1
1
Long
Binh
Bear Cat
SAIGON
BIEN
HOA
2
GIA DINH
PHUOC
TUY
15
Mangrove Swamp
N
20 Km
Vung Tau
Nui Dat
Ba Ria
23
South China Sea
WHERE do
we GO
WEEK 1?
* Saigon
* Coral / Balmoral
* Dong Nai Museum
At Bien Hoa
* Route 15
* 1ALSG
* Vung Tau
* Ba Ria
* Nui Dat
* Trek to Long Tan Cross
* Long Tan Battlefield
* Horseshoe
* Dat Do Minefield
* “Frankie” Mine Incident
* Long Hai’s
* Boat Trip to Vung Tau
* Hydrofoil back
To Saigon
* Cu Chi Tunnels.
WHERE do we go on
The Extension Tour?
* Da Nang
* Hoi An
* Marble Mountains
* Hai Van Pass
* Hue & citadel
* DMZ:- - - - Vinh Moc Tunnels
Freedom Bridge
Con Thien
Khe Sanh
Da Krong
Lang Vei
*A Shau Valley
* Hamburger Hill
* Hanoi:- - - - ‘Hanoi Hilton’
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
* Dien Bien Phu
* Ha Long Bay
WHAT Do we DO WHEN We get there?
Dave explains things
Along the way
Where others have
More or personal
Knowledge, they
Are invited to add
to the discussion
It’s a very
‘hands-on’ tour
Questions are invited
And answered
(as much as possible)
Other tour passengers
Are encouraged
To share
their experiences
Where do we stay?
We stay in 4-star
Hotels or at the best
Available at the place.
In Saigon, it’s the
Majestic Hotel on
The Saigon River…
In Vung Tau, it’s the
Grand Hotel, beachside…
At each other stop, The hotels are comparable. Even the places we stop for lunch
Are generally the best Available in the area. There have been no complaints!
What about the battlefield trek?
Starting from nui
Dat We trek about
5 km to the long
Tan Plantation…
…where we
have lunch.
We then walk the Battlefield in real Time, Seeing where
they had lunch, where the first shots were fired, the 10, 11
& 12 Platoon Positions and the final CHQ / Company
position…
…and Ending at the
cross
(the 11 Pl position).
Is it all only about battlefields?
No – we visit at least two projects sponsored by our charity – the “AVVRG”…
The kindergarten near the former Nui Dat airfield…
…and the dentist near the
village of Long Tan.
We may sometimes be
able to visit The Baria
orphanage – another
AVVRG project.
So it’s all serious and heavy, is it?
Certainly not.
On one trip, we managed to almost drown
our ex-nva officer guide…
…you meet some of the locals…
…you never know what you’re going to
step in as you walk through the bush…
…and you can still keep up with your usual
hobbies…
Okay – so battlefields & fun. Any sightseeing?
Certainly. Street markets, hoi an, caves, ha long bay, hue
citadel… …and that’s just on the extension tour.
…and a few memorials, I suppose?
One or two… Apart from the
Long Tan Cross, we’ll see
(clockwise) the NVA memorial
to their fallen at
Coral/Balmoral, the French
one at Dien Bien Phu, Ho Chi
Minh’s mausoleum in hanoi,
the Hanoi war museum (which
is a memorial) and other
cemeteries & memorials.
Highlights?
(clockwise) walk the tunnels
upright, make new friends, a
cyclo ride, bargain with the
locals, visit places you’ll
remember for the rest of your
life, Relax, fire an AR16 or an
AK-47…
…take your pick!
Join us?
We take one tour each year,
about the second half of
October.
Please contact judi at National
network travel on (03) 9654
4000 or
[email protected]
Or contact Di of
National network travel on
(03) 9787 8888 or
[email protected]
Or email dave sabben direct at
[email protected]
We will also consider taking
your own group of 25 – 35 on
your own tour.
Ask us for a price.
…thank you for watching…