DAY 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where you will meet your driver who will take you to your central city hotel. Check-in and the rest of the day is free.

Hotel transfers included
Hotel included: Aristo Hotel (3 Star) (or similar); Alagon D’Antique Hotel (4 Star) (or similar)

Day 2: Ho Chi Ming City - City & Street Food Tours

Full Day: City Tour (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 9:00am
Finish: 5:30pm approx.

Visit the Ben Thanh Markets before the sobering War Remnants Museum, a mixed display (sometimes confronting) that shows the Vietnam (American) War from the Vietnamese perspective. A short distance away is the Independence Palace. In 1975, when South Vietnam fell to the North, this was the Presidential Palace. It has been restored as it was in 1975 and provides an interesting snapshot of that time.

After lunch, visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda (‘Pink’ Pagoda), a Chinese Buddhist pagoda which is an oasis amid the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City and of course, painted pink. Then, before returning to your hotel, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Post Office, located in the heart of the city, both built in the nineteenth century and noted for their architecture.

End your City Tour with a visit to the Rex Hotel Rooftop Bar, a cool and relaxing location. During the Vietnam War, the Rex Hotel was a meeting place for American military officials, foreign correspondents and spies. From here, your guide will point out the apartment building that became famous as the last CIA evacuation point in the final days of the Vietnam War.

Evening: Street Food Tour (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 5:30pm
Finish: 8:00pm approx.

Tonight, you are in for a treat. Your guide will take you on a Street Food Tour. Walk between different food outlets noted for their own specialty, sampling a range of delicious Vietnamese food cooked in front of you.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel included: Aristo Hotel (3 Star) (or similar); Alagon D’Antique Hotel (4 Star) (or similar)

Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels Tour & Saigon River Dinner Cruise

Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels by Speedboat Tour (‘Join-in’ tour):
Depart hotel: 7:00am
Finish: 1:30pm approx.

This will be an enjoyable, exciting and interesting morning.

You will be picked up from your hotel and will board a 10-12 passenger speedboat for an exciting trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Along the way, your guide will point out life along the banks of the Saigon River with plenty of photo opportunities.

At the Cu Chi Tunnels, take an informative tour of this ‘underground’ village complex built by resourceful Vietnamese guerrilla fighters, during the Vietnam War. Different aspects of life in the tunnels such as meeting areas, workshops to make weapons and clothing, as well as kitchens and sleeping areas, have been recreated on the surface.

You will have the opportunity to go through a short section of tunnel and envisage what it was like back then.

Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Your afternoon is free.

Evening: Saigon River Dinner Cruise (‘Join-in’ tour):
Depart hotel: 6:30pm
Finish: 9:30pm approx.

Tonight, you are in for another treat. Your driver will meet you and take you to the wharf area on the Saigon River to board your ship for a dinner cruise. Enjoy a buffet dinner of hot and cold Vietnamese and western dishes and then experience the night lights of Ho Chi Minh City as your sail along the Saigon River.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel included: Aristo Hotel (3 Star) (or similar); Alagon D’Antique Hotel (4 Star) (or similar)

DAY 4: Day 1 of a 2 Day Nui Dat, Long Tan and Vung Tau Tour

 Full day (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 8:30am
Arrive: 5:00pm approx. 

Travel out of Ho Chi Minh City to the east and what was Phuoc Tuy Province. Visit the site of the Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat where the Australians were located during the Vietnam War. Your first stop will be the site of the Australian, NZ and US artillery positions which played a vital role in the Battle of Long Tan.  Remnants of the command bunker can be seen and nearby, is the remains of the Base HQ which was destroyed many years after the war.

A short distance away is Kanga Pad (the helicopter pad) and SAS Hill, now a quarry. Also see Luscombe Airfield, now a roadway and drive down Canberra Avenue to the site of the 6RAR’s camp and the Nui Dat Memorial. Pause at the memorial for some time of personal reflection.

Visit the Long Tan Memorial which marks the site of the Battle of Long Tan in which Australian soldiers, heavily outnumbered, engaged the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). Sadly, 18 Australians and about 245 NVA soldiers died. Again, take a moment of quiet reflection to remember all those who died, both military and civilian, during the Vietnam War.

Have lunch in the Ba Ria area before visiting the Long Phuoc Tunnels. A tunnel complex used by the Viet Cong to move around within the Australian controlled area. Enjoy a walk through a small section of the tunnels.

Arrive at Vung Tau and drive by the site of the Peter Badcoe Club (R&C Centre)), now the Imperial Hotel. Visit the Monument for War Heroes built to commemorate the Vietnamese who died during the Vietnam War but also overlooks the site of the 1st Australian Logistics Support Group.

Finish the day with a drive-by the Front and Back Beaches before checking into your overnight accommodation.

Your evening will be free.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel included: Muong Thanh Holiday Hotel (3 Star) (or similar); The Cap Hotel (4 Star) (or similar)

DAY 5: Day 2 of a 2 Day Nui Dat, Long Tan and Vung Tau Tour

Full day (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 8:30am
Arrive: 5:00pm approx.

Start the day with a visit to the Worldwide Arms Museum featuring a significant display of Australian military memorabilia.

Travel the short distance to the east and the Long Hai Hills, the area known as the Minh Dam Secret Zone. Throughout the war, a large concentration of NVA soldiers occupied the area and where many Australian operations were conducted. You will visit bunker and cave complexes used to hide and store war materials and men.

After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City and your hotel.

Your evening is free.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel included: Aristo Hotel (3 Star) (or similar); Alagon D’Antique Hotel (4 Star) (or similar)

DAY6: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Your day is free as you wish until your driver arrives to take you to the airport in time for your outbound flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

Airport transfers included
Meals included: Breakfast

• Hotel & airport transfers

• Hotel pick-up/Drop-off for tours

• Hotel (5 nights)

• Meals as indicated (Please note: Drinks not included)

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with driver

• All touring as per program

• Entrance fees

• Travel expenses before & after the tour

• Passport & Visa expenses

• Drinks at the Rex Hotel Rooftop Bar

• Meals and services not mentioned

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.)

• Tips to Guides and Drivers

If you find that you are unable to join a tour that has been booked, confirmed and paid in part or in full, the paid amount of that tour less any unrecoverable costs, may be converted to a voucher. The value of that voucher may be used towards the same tour with a later departure date or any other HWT tour.

If a refund is requested, the following cancellation fees may be deducted from the paid amount:

• Greater than 60 days prior to tour start date - Any unrecoverable costs only

• 60 days or less but greater than 44 days prior to tour start date – 30% of total tour amount + any recoverable costs

• 44 days or less but greater than 14 days prior to tour start date – 50% of total tour amount + any recoverable costs

• 14 days or less (including 'no show') prior to tour start date - No refund

Validity: Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to leave their country. This is a common safeguard to ensure you can legally travel without issues if your passport is close to expiring.

Before traveling: It’s essential to verify the entry requirements for every country you plan to visit. This includes visas, vaccination requirements, and other entry regulations.

Use official sources: For Australians, the Smartraveller website provides up-to-date travel advice, including passport and visa requirements, safety alerts, and other critical information.

Fitness level is very subjective and can vary for everyone. As a guide:

Low: Mainly sitting, small amount of walking required

Low-Moderate: Easy walking, some steps

Moderate: Walking moderate distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steps

Moderate-High: Walking moderate-long distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steep inclines, steps

High: Walking moderate-long distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steep inclines, steps, bush tracks

This tour:

Day 2:

• City Tour:

— War Remnants Museum – Low-Moderate

— independence Palace - Low-Moderate

— Pink Pagoda – Moderate

— Notre Dame Cathedral - Low

— Saigon Post Office - Low

• Evening Street Food Tour – Moderate

Day 3:

• Cu Chi Tunnels by Speedboat - Moderate

• Evening Saigon River Dinner Cruise – Low-Moderate

Day 4:

• Nui Dat and locations - Moderate

• Long Tan Memorial – Low

• Long Phuoc Tunnels – Moderate

• Monument to War Heros – Low

Day 5:

• Worldwide Arms Museum - Low-Mopderate

• Long Hai Hills - Moderate