A visit to the Long Tan battlefield is about more than the battle of 18 August 1966. Following the history of Long Tan means tracing the story from the Long Phuoc Tunnels to the former Nui Dat Base, then on to the Long Tan Cross – places that help explain how the battle unfolded…
Starting at Long Phuoc
Today, Long Phuoc is a quiet place. It is difficult to imagine that beneath the ground, a network of tunnels once played an important role in the war.
For our two Australian visitors, a young couple in their 30s, this was the first stop of the day after leaving Saigon.
At the Long Phuoc Tunnels, we began with an earlier chapter of Vietnamese history — the years of French colonial rule and the 1940s, when communist forces began developing underground tunnel systems in the area. The tunnels provided places to hide people, weapons and supplies, and allowed local forces to move and operate while avoiding French troops.
The story continued into the 1950s, when the supply network supporting communist forces in southern Vietnam developed by both land and sea. The maritime route became particularly important, with secret supply vessels carrying weapons and other materials south along the coast.
The area around Ba Ria was connected to this wider network, including the operations later associated with the secret “No Number Ships.”
For many Australian visitors, this is a part of the history they have never heard before.
It also provides an important piece of the story that eventually leads to Long Tan.
Following the Links to Long Tan
Much of the history surrounding the Battle of Long Tan is usually told from the moment Australian troops arrived at Nui Dat or from the battle itself.
But the history is longer than that.
At Long Phuoc, we looked at some of the earlier developments that shaped the area and helped explain why the region became strategically important. From there, we continued towards Nui Dat — following the geography and the locations that would become part of the story of 18 August 1966.
For the visitors, the journey was becoming more than a visit to a battlefield. Each location added another piece to the story.
Exploring the Former Nui Dat Base
At the former Nui Dat Base, we explored several locations connected with the movement of the Australian force towards Long Tan on 18 August 1966.
We began with areas formerly occupied by Australian armoured units.
One of the stops was the mechanics’ area, where APCs could be serviced. On the morning of the battle, several mechanics were picked up and accompanied the armoured vehicles as they moved towards Long Tan.
Standing at the location today, it is hard to picture the activity that once surrounded it — the vehicles, mechanics and soldiers preparing for operations outside the base.
We then continued to positions connected with the artillery support from Nui Dat, including the area from which New Zealand artillery operated.
The visitors were particularly surprised when they saw the former runway and learned more about the Australian aviation unit that operated from Nui Dat. Much of the wartime base has disappeared, but traces of its former layout and history can still be found.
We also stopped at areas where units of 6 RAR were based.
Another important stop was the Anzac Day memorial at Nui Dat, established by Australia before the Battle of Long Tan. It is another reminder that the history of the base did not begin with the battle itself.
At each location, I explained what had happened there and how the different positions were connected. Gradually, the movements of the Australian force began to make more sense.
Arriving at Long Tan
From Nui Dat, we continued to the Long Tan battlefield.
Here, the story became much more personal.
We stopped in the area associated with 10 and 11 Platoons of D Company on 18 August 1966 — the men who fought in the rubber plantation during the battle. Eighteen Australian servicemen were killed that day.
The Long Tan Cross now stands as a memorial to those who died.
The couple stood quietly for a while, taking in the place and paying their respects.
There was little need to say much.
After spending the day following the history from Long Phuoc to Nui Dat and then to Long Tan, they had a much clearer understanding of how the different locations were connected and what happened on that August afternoon in 1966.
They were also visibly moved by the experience.
A Quiet Journey Home
The journey back to Saigon was peaceful.
We talked, shared more photographs and continued discussing the places we had visited during the day. For them, Long Tan was no longer simply a name associated with an Australian battle in Vietnam.
They had walked through places connected to the wider history of the conflict — from the tunnels at Long Phuoc, through the former Australian base at Nui Dat, and finally to the ground where D Company fought at Long Tan.
Before we parted at their hotel, they told me they would return to Vietnam and recommend me to friends who wanted to visit Long Tan and better understand its history.
For me, that was the most meaningful part of the day.
Sometimes, understanding a battlefield does not begin with the battle itself. It begins by following the history that led there.
By Nam Ngo
Tour Guide
September 3, 2026
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