National Network Travel & Cruise
45 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000
Telephone: (03) 9654 4000 Fax: (03) 9654 7333
Email: ABN 76 004 937 099 Lic 30280
www.nntravel.com.au
ITINERARY
(As at 19 May 2010)
FUNDRAISING AVVRG LONG TAN TREK TOUR
DEPARTING 16 OCT 2010
LED BY BATTLE of LONG TAN VETERAN - DAVE SABBEN MG
DAY 1.
SAT 16 OCT Depart Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne on Singapore Airlines.
Please check in at least 2 hours prior to departure.
Melbourne passengers
Depart 1110 Arrive Singapore 1610
Brisbane passengers
Depart 0930 Arrive Singapore 1535
Price on application from other cities.
On arrival in Singapore join group from Sydney and travel on to
Ho Chi Minh City.
CONFIRMED FLIGHT SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 220
16 Oct 10 Sat Check in at Sydney Terminal 1
16 Oct 10 Sat Depart Sydney 0905 Economy/Coach
16 Oct 10 Sat Arrive Singapore 1430 Non-stop
Flight Meals Meal
Total Journey Time 9hrs 15mins
CONFIRMED FLIGHT SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 186
16 Oct 10 Sat Check in at Singapore Terminal 2
16 Oct 10 Sat Depart Singapore 1735 Economy/Coach
16 Oct 10 Sat Arrive Ho Chi Minh City 1840 Non-stop
Aircraft Type Boeing 777-200
Flight Meals Meal
Total Journey Time 2hrs 05mins
WELCOME TO VIETNAM
On arrival at Ho Chi Minh City Airport (Tan Son Nhat Airport) we will be met and transferred to our hotel for the next two nights. ACCOMMODATION: THE MAJESTIC HOTEL
1 Dong Khoi St,
District 1 Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: 84 8 829 5517
In: 16 Oct Out: 18 Oct
Breakfast Included. Dinner own arrangements 16 Oct.
DAY 2 HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
SUN 17 OCT Early Morning Call (EMC) 0630;
Breakfast (BFAST) 0730;
Be on the bus (BUS) 0830
Meet in the Majestic lobby at 0815 for an 0830 departure and commence a sightseeing tour by coach of Ho Chi Minh City to include Dong Khoi Street, Opera House, Central Post Office with an explanation of the architecture, into the Notre Dame Cathedral, tour of the Presidential Palace. Travel on to the War Remnants Museum for a short visit. We conclude the tour at the Binh Tan markets with the afternoon free. If you wish you can stay on the bus and return to the hotel.
Remainder of day - own arrangements
Welcome dinner tonight set menu at a local restaurant within walking distance of the Majestic Hotel.
Breakfast and Set Menu Dinner included. Lunch own arrangements.
DAY 3 HCMC – CORAL – DONG NAI MUSEUM - VUNG TAU
MON 18 OCT EMC 0600; BFAST 0700; BUS 0800
Travel by bus North along Highway 1 to visit the site of a B52 strike. View the many craters approx 1000 till 1030.Travel 10klms South to site of FSB Coral arrive approx 1100, and inspect VC Memorial and Shrine. Depart approx 1145. Travel to area near Dong Nai Museum for a set menu lunch. At 1330 visit the 2nd Floor of the Dong Nai Museum to view the original Long Tan Cross and the see the outdoors weapons display. At 1430pm approx drive Route 15 through Bien Hoa and Baria to the Back Beach, home of 1ALSG. A quick inspection – nothing left to see. At 1630 approx passengers and limited hand luggage cyclo, one per person, for a one hour tour of Vung Tau. Luggage will go to hotel.
Dinner own arrangements.
Meet Dave in conference room 2000 for Long Tan formal briefing 1 hour, followed by Q & A/discussion until 2200. Bar service available
ACCOMMODATION:
THE GRAND HOTEL
2 Nguyen Du St
Vung Tau
Tel: (84-64) 856 888
In: 18 Oct Out: 21 Oct
Breakfast and Set Menu Lunch included, Dinner own arrangement on the 18th
DAY 4. NUI DAT - TREK - LONG TAN BATTLEFIELD
TUE 19 OCT EMC 0600: BFAST 0700: BUS 0800
Today will be a long day. Please be in the Grand Hotel Lobby at 0745 for an 0800 departure. We travel along the New Highway to Nui Dat “SAS HILL” arriving 0845 approx.
0845 - 0945 Dave explains the lay-out of the Nui Dat base and enemy intentions in August 1966. We then move by bus to the KINDY at Nui Dat (the AVVRG project that this Tour is supporting) for an opening ceremony.
1030 - Move to the Eastern end of the air strip for a pre-trek briefing.
1100 – 1230 Allow 1.5 hours for the LONG TAN TREK. We will walk as near as possible the same route that Delta Company walked from the base to Long Tan on 18 August 1966.
1230 – 1300 Individual packed picnic lunches on ground sheets at Western Edge of the rubber plantation. Toilet facility will be provided.
1300 – 1700 Walk the Battle-field. This 4-hour walk will trace the movements of each of the three Platoons and Company HQ during the course of the battle. As the original battle lasted 3.5 hours, today’s walk will be a “real time” recreation of the start, development and conclusion of the battle.
1700 – 1730 Time at the LONG TAN CROSS for Ceremonies.
1730 – Depart Long Tan Cross back to Vung Tau via the New Highway arriving Grand Hotel approx 1830pm for a set dinner at 1930.
Breakfast and Cut Lunch and Set Menu Dinner included.
DAY 5. HORSESHOE – MINEFIELD – MINH DAM AND MORE
WED 20 OCT EMC 0600; BFAST 0700; BUS 0800
Please be in the hotel lobby at 0745 for an 0800 departure.
0845 - 0915 Bus to the Long Tan Village, where we visit the dental clinic approx 30 minutes. (This is another AVVRG project set up by ex Vietnam Veteran & dental surgeon Colin Twelftree from Adelaide. It provides dental facilities to the Long Tan region of the BaRia - Vung Tau Province. It is periodically visited by Australian dentists able to assist with ongoing dental care.) It is here we will leave with him your gifts of toothbrushes, combs etc to distribute.
From the Dental Clinic we bus to the Horseshoe for a few minutes. As this is a working quarry, we can not gain access. However, we will stop on the roadside, view the feature have its importance explained.
Then we’ll travel through Dat Do for a stop on a site where part of the Minefield was. Approx 20 minutes. This will also reveal another view of the Horseshoe.
We will then travel to the Minh Dam Temple – a VC sanctuary in the Long Hai Hills. Brave souls may venture into some VC caves.
We’ll then drive to Canteen No. 4 Soldier Retreat Guest House for lunch approx 1315 – 1430.
Depart Canteen No 4 via Long Dien to Baria to board a fishing boat.
1500 – 1630 Fishing boat cruise from Baria to Cat Lo. 90 minutes. This will give you a view as seen by those who patrolled the mangrove islands from small boats. It is also the route that the tanks had to be brought from the port to Nui Dat, because the bridges couldn’t take the weight of the vehicles.
Bus Cat Lo to Vung Tau returning to hotel approx 1715.
An Evening Farewell buffet dinner tonight at 1900 at the Grand Hotel with presentation of plaques - to include VN Dignitaries and the Australian Ambassador. Vietnamese music and a concert will be provided by the Old VC performers at the dinner.
Breakfast, Set Menu Lunch and Set Menu Dinner included on the 20th.
DAY 6 VUNG TAU – HCMC – HOME OR EXTENSION TOUR
THU 21 OCT EMC 0600; BFAST 0700; BUS 0800
Please meet in the lobby with all your luggage at approx 0745 for a
coach from the Grand Hotel to the Hydrofoil (400 yards) for an 0830 departure from Vung Tau to HCMC. On arrival we will be transferred by coach from the wharf to the Ho Chi Minh City Airport for your homeward or onward flight, or to join the extension tour.
Those homebound will be transferred to Singapore Airlines SQ 173 departing HCMC at 1330 hours.
Those on the extension tour will check in for a flight to Hue departing 1445 - please see further details below.
Breakfast included on the 21st.
For those returning to Australia, lunch and dinner on flights;
For those still on the Tour, lunch own arrangements at HCMC airport.
CONFIRMED FLIGHT SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 173
21 Oct 10 Thu Check in at Ho Chi Minh City Terminal 2
21 Oct 10 Thu Depart Ho Chi Minh City 1330 Economy/Coach
21 Oct 10 Thu Arrive Singapore 1625 Non-stop
Aircraft Type Boeing 777-200
Flight Meals Meal
Total Journey Time 1hr 55mins
CONFIRMED FLIGHT SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 221
21 Oct 10 Thu Check in at Singapore Terminal 3
21 Oct 10 Thu Depart Singapore 2035 Economy/Coach
22 Oct 10 Fri Arrive Sydney 0705 Non-stop
Aircraft Type Airbus Industrie A380-800
Flight Meals Meal
Total Journey Time 6hrs 20mins
Melbourne passengers:
Singapore Depart 2100
Melbourne Arrive 0720 (22 Oct)
Brisbane passengers:
Singapore Depart 2110
Brisbane Arrive 0640 (22 Oct)
End of AVVRG Long Tan Tour Arrangements
* * * * * * *
TOUR COST:
$2699.00 AUD per person based on twin share accommodation.
Includes costs of air taxes & fuel levies at $373.00 per person based on current rates on
date of itinerary preparation (17DEC09) These are subject to change at time of ticket issue.
Single supplement $348.00
A deposit of $500.00AUD per person (non-refundable) is required within seven days of confirmation. Balance (final payment) will be due 70 days prior to departure (02 August).
Tour costs subject to achieving 25 passengers.
FITNESS: – Those intending to do the Trek must be able to walk about 5Km in under 2.5 hours over relatively flat but unpaved ground. An option will exist to bus to the Trek destination.
TOUR INCLUSIONS:
- Airfare from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne
to Ho Chi Minh City return Economy Class.
- Includes air taxes and fuel levies.
- Accommodation including current local taxes
as specified in the itinerary or similar.
HCMC: Majestic Hotel 4 star hotel pool view rooms
Vung Tau: Grand Hotel 3 star hotel superior rooms
- Breakfast daily,
- Set Menu lunch Day 3
- 1 picnic lunch at Long Tan Day 4,
- 1 beach restaurant lunch Day 5
- Welcome dinner HCMC Day 2.
- Set menu dinner Day 4,.
- AVVRG Farewell dinner Day 5 Vung Tau
- Transportation and transfers in exclusive
air-conditioned vehicles as specified in itinerary.
- One way Hydrofoil Vung Tau to HCMC.
- Sightseeing tours excursions as per the itinerary.
- Entrance fees to sightseeing venues.
- Services of local English speaking guides.
- Fishing Boat Cruise from Baria to Cat Lo Wharf
- Permission fee to Long Tan - Nui Dat area only
- 3 bottles mineral water & cold tissues per passenger per day
- AVVRG Charity Component and Long Tan Trek Component
- Personalised Tour Certification Plaque with a photo of the cross.
- Prepaid gratuities.
- A tour dossier will be provided with the documentation
EXCLUSIONS:
- Domestic flights used to join Singapore Airlines in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.
- Travel Insurance is mandatory – National Network Travel will be happy to assist.
- Passport Visa Fees. Vietnam visa is required on Australian passports. NNT can assist.
- Meals not specified.
- Beverages (including at meals)
- Optional touring not listed in itinerary.
- Any services not specifically mentioned.
- Items of a personal nature.
Times mentioned in the land and boat arrangements are a guide only
and are subject to conditions at the time.
EMC = early morning call - BFAST = breakfast - BUS = bus will depart at this time
Should the kindergarten not be ready for opening we will replace it with a visit to the Long Phuoc Tunnels on that day.
All set menus will include at least 1 rice, 1 vegetable, 1 beef and 1 chicken dish plus other dishes which could include pork, duck and seafood. Each group/table of four will receive one of every dish.
Drinks at meals will be your own expense, very affordable in Vietnam.
Singapore Airlines will weigh your carry on bag, total permitted 7 kilos and they are usually very strict. This is in addition to your handbag.
BOOKINGS:
Please read the attached Tour Conditions and complete booking form and return to Judi at National Network Travel.
National Network Travel & Cruise
45 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000
Telephone: (03) 9654 4000 Fax: (03) 9654 7333
Email: ABN 76 004 937 099 Lic 30280
EXTENSION TOUR ITINERARY
THE DECISIVE BATTLES OF THE VIETNAM WARS
BATTLEFIELD EXTENSION TOUR 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS
LED BY BATTLE of LONG TAN VETERAN
DAVE SABBEN MG
DAY 1. HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) – HUE
THU 21 OCT Extension Tour commences at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Saigon) at 1200 hrs where the passengers from the AVVRG Tour will have just ended that tour.
Depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue at 1445 hrs Vietnam Airlines
VN 252 Arriving at 1605.
On arrival at Hue we will be met and transferred to our hotel for the next two nights. Dinner tonight a set menu.
Meet Dave in conference room 2000 for a 1 hr briefing on Tet ‘68, followed by Q & A/discussion until 2200. Bar service available
ACCOMMODATION: THE HOTEL SAIGON MORIN
30 Le Loi Street
Hue City
Tel (84-54)3823526
In 21 Oct out 23 Oct
Breakfast and set menu dinner included on 21st.