Our 1-Day Long Tan – Nui Dat History Tour takes you from Saigon into the historic landscape of Long Tan, Nui Dat and Long Phuoc. Rather than focusing only on the Battle of Long Tan, this journey explores the wider Vietnam War history of the area, including the Long Phuoc Tunnels, former Nui Dat Base, Long Tan battlefield and the Long Tan Cross Memorial…
Tour Overview
Start / Finish: Saigon
Duration: 1 day
Daily Riding: Approximately 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 200 km round trip
Group Size: Small groups of 1 to 4 participants
Tour Type: Historical and outdoor adventure
Travel Options: Self-Ride, Easy Rider or Private Car
Road Conditions: Main roads and scenic countryside routes
Best Travel Season: January to October
Main Destinations: Long Phuoc, Nui Dat, Long Tan and surrounding countryside
Tour Highlights
- Explore the wider history of Long Tan and Nui Dat, beyond the famous 1966 battle.
- Visit the Long Phuoc Tunnels, an important part of the wartime history of the area.
- Explore the former Nui Dat Base, once the main Australian military base in the region.
- Visit the former Long Tan battlefield.
- Pay your respects at the Long Tan Cross Memorial.
- Travel through the countryside between Saigon and Long Tan with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide.
Tour Itinerary
Saigon – Long Phuoc – Nui Dat – Long Tan – Saigon
The journey begins in Saigon, travelling towards the historic areas of Long Phuoc, Nui Dat and Long Tan. As the city gives way to quieter roads, villages, plantations and countryside, the landscape provides an important introduction to the history of the area.
Our first major historical stop is the Long Phuoc Tunnels, an often-overlooked part of the wider story behind Long Tan. Most visitors come here simply to see the tunnels, but there is a much larger wartime story connected to this area. Your guide will introduce the historical links between Long Phuoc, the wider wartime supply network and the events that later unfolded around Nui Dat and Long Tan.
This is where our Long Tan story begins – long before the famous battle of 18 August 1966.
The journey continues to the former Nui Dat Base, which became the main Australian military base and headquarters of the 1st Australian Task Force in South Vietnam. From here, the history is told through the ground itself, following the positions, routes and military movements connected with the Battle of Long Tan.
Rather than simply viewing what remains of the former base, your guide will help reconstruct the military landscape of Nui Dat on 18 August 1966. The route follows the former APC positions and the direction taken by the armoured relief force as it moved from Nui Dat towards D Company at Long Tan. Along the way, you will see locations associated with the mechanical and engineering support area, where the column stopped, before continuing towards the position of 6 RAR, where additional soldiers from A Company joined the movement towards the battle.
The tour also brings other parts of the former military base into the story, including the New Zealand artillery position, the former field airstrip and the area where the military band was performing that day. These locations can appear unremarkable today, but on 18 August 1966 they formed part of a busy military base while the battle was unfolding beyond its perimeter.
By following these positions and the route towards Long Tan, visitors can see how the different elements of the Australian task force were connected and how the relief movement developed as the battle progressed. It transforms the visit to Nui Dat from simply seeing the remains of a former military base into a physical reconstruction of the events surrounding the Battle of Long Tan.
From Nui Dat, the tour continues towards the former Long Tan battlefield, where the Battle of Long Tan took place on 18 August 1966.
At the battlefield, your guide will take you to the ground where the different elements of D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, moved after leaving Nui Dat and where the company was engaged in the battle that afternoon. Rather than viewing the battlefield from the roadside, you will leave the vehicle and walk through the rubber plantation, following the terrain on foot and gaining a closer sense of the conditions in which the soldiers fought.
As you move through the plantation, your guide will point out the locations and key positions associated with the battle, explaining what happened in the area and how the fighting developed. The walk provides a physical connection with the battlefield, allowing visitors to experience the terrain, vegetation, distance and restricted visibility that shaped the engagement on 18 August 1966.
The tour then continues to the Long Tan Cross Memorial, one of the most significant sites associated with Australian military history in Vietnam.
At the cross, visitors have time to reflect on the Australian soldiers who lost their lives at Long Tan and on the Vietnamese communities whose lives were also affected by the conflict. For Australian veterans, military families and travellers with a personal connection to the events of 18 August 1966, the memorial can be a particularly meaningful part of the journey.
For other visitors, the Long Tan Cross provides an opportunity to understand the battle within its wider historical context and to see how the events of that day remain remembered in both Australia and Vietnam.
After visiting Long Tan, we continue to a local restaurant for a Vietnamese lunch. This is an opportunity to relax, enjoy local food and discuss the historical sites visited during the tour.
After lunch, we begin the journey back to Saigon, travelling through the countryside before returning to the city.
The tour ends back in Saigon, leaving you with a deeper understanding of Long Tan, Nui Dat and the many lesser-known stories behind this important chapter of Vietnam War history.
Testimonials
“Just finished a 21 day tour of Vietnam, Saigon – Hanoi, 3500km trip, taking in most of Vietnam, and many places the tourist doesn’t go, the real Vietnam, with Mr Nam as my guide. A highly recommended trip, on a Honda XR 250… great country, great people, great trip, many great memories… and a great guide.”
Andy – Liverpool, United Kingdom
1-Day Long Tan – Nui Dat History Tour – VIETNAMRIDER
Tour Pricing
1. Self-Ride
Available with 125cc or 150cc motorcycles. Contact us for a current quote based on your motorcycle choice and group size.
2. Ride with Our Easy Riders
No riding experience? No problem.
Travel as a passenger with one of our professional local Easy Riders. Your rider handles the motorcycle and navigation while you enjoy the countryside and Cu Chi experience.
Contact us for Easy Rider pricing.
3. For Families or Non-Riders
Prefer to travel by car?
The same journey can be arranged by private car and driver, making this option suitable for couples, families and guests who prefer not to ride.
4. Large Group Bookings
Private tours can also be arranged for corporate teams, student groups and larger parties. Custom itineraries and group quotations are available on request.
What’s Included
- Professional English-speaking tour guide
- Well-maintained Japanese motorbikes for Self-Ride tours
- Professional Easy Rider when selected
- Private car and driver when selected
- Helmets and raincoats for motorbike tours
- Entrance tickets to listed attractions
What’s Not Included
- Personal food and drinks
- Personal surcharges and tips
- Motorcycle fuel for Self-Ride tours
- Personal and motorcycle insurance
- Damage to the motorcycle or additional equipment
- Optional shooting range and ammunition
- Optional services such as mechanics or luggage vans
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