Information

Itinerary

Updated August 7, 2009

Day 1 - 5th November
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport you will be met by members of the organising committee and transferred to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

At 1700 hours you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Ky Hoa Hotel (Free World Building) for registration followed by fellowship including live music, a buffet dinner with drinks.

Day 2 - 6th November
This morning you will be taken on a tour of Saigon to the former Canberra BEQ, War Remnants Museum, former Presidential Palace, (complete with full comms centre), the site of the former American Embassy (currently the American Consulate) and the former Australian Embassy. If time permits you will then visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the main Post Office. Lunch will be provided during the tour.

For those requiring it, buses will pick you up from your hotel from 18.00 hours and take you to the Corps Dinner at the Banquet Room (5th Floor) at the Ky Hoa Hotel. Pre dinner drinks will be served prior to the reception with seating being finalised by 19.30 hours. Dress for the dinner is: Gentlemen: Slacks, Dress shirt (short or long sleeves), Ties. No medals. Ladies: After five.

For those requiring it, taxis will be on hand to return you to your hotel after the dinner.

Day 3 - 7th November
Free morning. (Maybe shopping at the famous Ben Thanh Market).

You will be picked from your hotels and taken to lunch and then you will be taken on a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels where you see how the Vietnamese soldiers lived and survived many bombings and searches for them. It is also possible to fire pistols and rifles (for a fee).

On return to Saigon you will be taken to the Ky Hoa Hotel for a concert by Australian and International artists. A BBQ will follow the concert. Buses or taxis will return you to your hotel as required.

Day 4 - 8th November
This morning we venture down to My Tho and board boats for our trip across the Mekong River where we will visit local families and see how they go about their daily lives. There will be many chances to taste the fruits and other products made in the villages. Lunch will be had at a local restaurant on our return to My Tho.

Dinner tonight will be on the Tau Ben Nghe floating restaurant on the Saigon River. Buses will pick you up from your hotels at 18.30 and take you to the Shark Boat and return you to your hotel after dinner or you can visit many of the local bars in the surrounding streets.

Day 5 - 9th November
Today you will check out of your hotel and taken to the ferry station where you will to take a Hydrofoil trip along the Saigon River to the city of Vung Tau where you spend the remainder of the reunion. Luggage will be sent by truck to your Vung Tau hotels.

Vung Tau has changed greatly since 1975 and is now a bustling city of over two hundred thousand people. Little remains of the war except for a couple of points of interest to former soldiers.

After booking into your hotel you are free to wander around Vung Tau. Motor bikes are available for rent or you might like to take a group ride in the electric tour vehicles, maximum 10. Each of the hotels have swimming pool so you can relax around the pool will a cold drink and soak up the atmosphere.

Tonight will be left free for units to hold small reunions, if they so desire.

Day 6 - 10th November
Today is free to let you enjoy this remarkable city and maybe enjoy a game of golf, a swim in the pool or just walk around and find a quiet bar or coffee shop.

17.00 hours For those requiring it buses will pick you up and take you to the Rex Hotel for a pool party with lots of deliciously prepared food and copious amounts of amber liquid. A band will play the night away as you swim, talk or dance.

Day 7 - 11th November
Today you will be picked up from your hotels at 08.00 and you will drive through Vung Tau to the Tunnels for an inspection and then move into the former 1ATF Base at Nui Dat to see what it was like for soldiers to live there and see what remains of the former base. Nothing remains of the 104 Sig Sqn Site but lots of memories. It will be interesting watching ex members of 104 trying to work out where they were.

Afterwards we will continue the tour the Long Tan Cross for the combined Signals Memorial and Remembrance Day Service. All will be permitted to lay a poppy at the cross at the conclusion of the service.

We will travel back to Vung Tau for lunch via the Long Hai Hills and the coast.

Tonight is our farewell dinner which will commence at 19.00 hours at the Grand Hotel.

Day 8 - 12th November
Free time until you depart by bus for the airport in Saigon and your return to Australia or Day 1 of post tours.

Tour price includes:

• All transfers in Vietnam
• Hotel Accommodation with Breakfast
• 4 Lunches
• 6 Dinners
• Concert Party
• Floating Restaurant
• All Tours mentioned including entrance fees
• English speaking guides
• Hydrofoil
• Welcome Package
• Drink Package for functions

NOT Included:

• International Airfares
• Visas - download form
• Insurance
• Spending Money
• Gratuities (suggest $2.00 per day per person)