Guidepost Discovery Tours, 131 Belinda Street, Gerringong NSW. 2534. Australia. Phone 1300 733323

Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA ATAS Accredited. Uniglobe – Magellan Travel Group website: www.guideposttours.com.au enquiries email: bob@guidepost-travel.com

Led By An Expert

Tour leader WALTER PEARSON blends decades of research with personal knowledge of Vietnam

to give you a unique experience.

Walter Pearson is not just another war historian, but an expert in Viet Nam - its wars, its history, its

culture and its language. Walter has more than 40 years involvement in Viet Nam as a two-tour Veteran, combat soldier and interpreter. Walter was one of the last Australian soldiers out in 1972 and one of the first veterans back in 1989. He was a central figure in the search for Australia’s MIAs. He is a television reporter, documentary maker, on-screen talent and production advisor. His shows include, The Team, In Their Footsteps, Australian Story, Foreign Correspondent and Vietnam Minefield. Walter has been a resident in Viet Nam for nearly half a decade and tour guide since 2000. Clients include Australian and American Veterans and their families, Australian Command

and Staff College, Australian Embassy Ha Noi and leading travel companies like Exotissimo, ICS Travel (Indochina Services) and Remote Lands.

Vietnam History Alive

Long Tan - 1966 50th Anniversary

Dien Bien Phu 1954 French Defeat

Loc Ninh, An Loc & Saigon 1973 - 75 End of Hostilities

An authentic cultural & historical experience

15 - 27 August 2016 - 13 days

See the history of Vietnam come alive Stand in places that changed the world Bring home your own special memories

$4395 per person twin share

Guidepost Discovery Tours, 131 Belinda Street, Gerringong NSW. 2534. Australia. Phone 1300 733323

Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA ATAS Accredited. Uniglobe – Magellan Travel Group website: www.guideposttours.com.au enquiries email: bob@guidepost-travel.com

About our tour

This tour is for anyone interested in post-World War Two Vietnam. Those who have previously toured the battlefields in Vietnam will find it very suitable because we go to places no one else will. Our Ho Chi Minh City exploration is unique. We reveal what the War Remnants Museum really was, see the secret arms cache near the Free World Headquarters and visit the church that gave Ngo Dinh Diem harbour during the 1963 coup. Naturally, we visit the Australian base area and attend the gathering at the Long Tan Cross on Vietnam Veterans Day. We also see the site of FSB Coral. In Ha Noi we take time to review the air war that was so significant in the development of northern Vietnam and the Paris Peace accord. The highlight of the tour is the visit to the site of the world-changing French defeat in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu.

Itinerary

Day 1: Monday, 15 August 2016 - Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (D) Arrive in HCM City and transfer to our hotel for check-in and welcome dinner this evening. O/night HCMC Day 2: Tuesday, 16 August 2016 - City Tour (BD) Breakfast: Today consists of a comprehensive tour of the significant sites within HCM City, telling the story of the conflict in Vietnam over 30 years from 1945-1975. Afternoon is free to explore common places, the War Remnants Museum, Presidential Palace, Military Museum, etc. Dinner: O/night HCM City. Day 3: Wednesday, 17 August 2016 - HCMC - Ba Ria - Vung Tau (BLD) Breakfast: Drive to Ba Ria and look around the town, see the remnants of the local prison. Drive on to Vung Tau. Lunch. We take an afternoon tour of the city. Check-in to our hotel. Dinner by the sea. Optional Concert with Little Patti and Lucky Starr (See page 4). O/night Vung Tau Day 4: Thursday, 18 August 2016 - Binh Ba - Nui Dat - Long Tan (BL) Breakfast: Visit Binh Ba, site of the famous June 1969 battle. Visit the old Australian Base area of Nui Dat. Lunch at Long Hai. Visit to Minh Dam Historical Vestiges in the Long Hai Hills. Attend the Vietnam Veterans Day Gathering at the Long Tan Cross, Long Tan Village. The gathering is held at 3.30pm, the time the battle started in 1966. Return to Vung Tau. Optional Gala Dinner this evening (See page 4). In attendance will be 40 Vietnamese

members and several guests of honour from Australia including Lt Col Harry Smith SG MC (Ret), WO Keith Payne VC (Ret) and Daniel Keighran VC. O/night Vung Tau. Day 5: Friday, 19 August 2016 - Vung Tau (BD) Breakfast: Day at leisure in Vung Tau, or sightseeing around Vung Tau as requested. Your tour leader can facilitate. O/night Vung Tau. Day 6: Saturday, 20 August 2016 - Bien Hoa – FSB Coral - An Loc (BLD) Breakfast: Drive to Bien Hoa. Visit the Green House where the first two Americans were killed in action during the war. Lunch. Visit Dong Nai Museum, home of the original Long Tan Cross. Drive to the Coral Battle site. Continue to Binh Long - previously An Loc - site of a famous 1972 battle. Check in to your hotel. Dinner: O/night Binh Long.

Guidepost Discovery Tours, 131 Belinda Street, Gerringong NSW. 2534. Australia. Phone 1300 733323

Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA ATAS Accredited. Uniglobe – Magellan Travel Group website: www.guideposttours.com.au enquiries email: bob@guidepost-travel.com

Day 7: Sunday, 21 August 2016 - Loc Ninh - An Loc (BLD) Breakfast: Drive to Loc Ninh to visit Nha Giao Te where 1972 negotiations were held about the implementation of the Paris Peace Accords. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum. Drive to the Ta Thiet site of the HQ of the Viet Cong and the local Resistance Forces 1973-75. Return to Binh Long for Lunch. Visit the official Grave of 3000 victims of the 1972 An Loc Battle. Relax before dinner. O/night Binh Long. Day 8: Monday, 22 August 2016 - Fly to Ha Noi (BLD) Breakfast: Drive to HCM City. Lunch. Take an afternoon flight to Ha Noi. Dinner O/night Ha Noi. Day 9: Tuesday, 23 August 2016 - Ha Noi (BLD) Breakfast: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Ba Dinh Square, site of the 1945 declaration of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Visit Ha Noi Hilton Prison Museum. Lunch. This afternoon visit the Air Defence Museum to review the air war in northern Vietnam. See Bach Mai Hospital and Ha Noi Rail Station, both hit by US bombs. Visit Truc Bach Lake where US Sen. John McCain landed after being shot down. Dinner by the lake. O/night Ha Noi. Day 10: Wednesday, 24 August 2016 - Dien Bien Phu (BLD) Breakfast: Take a late morning flight to Dien Bien Phu, site of the famous 1954 Battle. Lunch on arrival. Visit to Dien Bien Phu Museum and historical remnants on Eliane Feature. Check-in to your hotel. Dinner. O/night Dien Bien Phu Day 11: Thursday, 25 August 2016 - Dien Bien Phu (BLD) Breakfast: This morning visit General Giap's HQ area travelling through scenic hills populated by Thai ethnic minority groups. Return to Dien Bien for lunch. This afternoon visit De Castries HQ bunker. Visit a private monument to French paratroopers killed at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Dinner in a Thai Village with drinking and local singing and dancing. Overnight Dien Bien Phu. Day 12: Friday, 26 August 2016 - Dien Bien Phu - Ha Noi (BLD) Breakfast: Morning visit to sites of the strong points Isabelle, Ann-Marie, Gabrielle and Dominique. Lunch. Take a mid-afternoon flight to Ha Noi. Dinner O/night Ha Noi. Day 13: Saturday, 27 August 2016 - Ha Noi – onward or return journey (B) Breakfast: Morning visit to the Military History Museum. Check out of Hotel. Lunch and tour end in Ha Noi. Travellers can choose to extend their stay in Ha Noi,or visit Sapa, Halong Bay or other regional locations.

Twin-share accommodation in 3-4 star air-conditioned hotels, ground transport by modern air-conditioned 29-seater bus, meals and

Vietnamese English-speaking guide to support the group

The Price Includes: Twin Share Accommodation in Government Certified 3 and 4 Star Hotels. Modern air conditioned bus and all internal transport including domestic flights. Three meals a day as per itinerary providing a

true Vietnamese food experience from restaurants to home cooked cuisine. All admission fees to sites.

Single room accommodation is extra.

English speaking guide and full tour support.

We can assist with pre and post-tour travel including international airfares, visas etc., however these are not included.

Hotels: There are many hotels in Vietnam. We prefer to stay in 3 and 4 star hotels, clean, very comfortable, most are air-conditioned and offer very cheap laundry services if required.

Guidepost Discovery Tours, 131 Belinda Street, Gerringong NSW. 2534. Australia. Phone 1300 733323

Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA ATAS Accredited. Uniglobe – Magellan Travel Group website: www.guideposttours.com.au enquiries email: bob@guidepost-travel.com

LONG TAN

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY 2016

50TH

ANNIVERSARY

On the 18th

August 2016 it will be 50 years since

the Battle of Long Tan and 50 years since the

Australian and New Zealand forces entered the

Phuc Tuy Provence. This resulted in seven years

of continual operations in the province until the

withdrawal in 1972. In 2015 the former soldiers

of the Liberation Army has extended the hand of

friendship to their Australian counterparts at

several ceremonies that were held in Vung Tau

and Ba Ria Vietnam.

GALA DINNER A Gala Dinner will be held on the 18

th August 2016 in Vung Tau. In attendance will be 40

Vietnamese members and several guests of honor from Australia including Lt Col Harry

Smith MM (Ret), WO Keith Payne VC (Ret) and Daniel Keighran VC, and members from all

branches of the Australian military veterans.

Australia has a strong presence in Vietnam with many Vietnamese students in Australia and a

population that has assimilated into Australia’s way of life. In 2016 a gala dinner has been

organized to bring stronger bonds between both countries. We have strong bonds and trading

with Turkey (Gallipoli) Germany (Western Front) Japan (Kokoda) South Korea and now

Vietnam.

The dinner will be held at the Pullman Hotel in Vung Tau which is a new five star resort with

seating capacity of 2000 people. Veterans, partners, children, friends and public are invited to

attend this dinner of friendship on the 18th

August.

Money raised on the night will go to several charities here in Vung Tau, including the Centre

for the protection for the Protection of Children, Vietnam Veterans and Friends and to the

war disabled. The children at the orphanage have 16 children affected by Agent Orange and

need constant care.

This is an opportunity for both sides to get together as both sides lost their youth in Vietnam

and it is now a time for healing. People interested in this event will be able to purchase tickets

in early 2016.

CHARITY CONCERT

A committee of Vietnam Veterans living in Vietnam has organised a concert in Vung Tau on

the 17th August 2016 to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan 50th Anniversary. The

concert, to be held at Maxim's, will have headliners Little Pattie, Lawrie Thompson and

Lucky Starr who all performed in Vietnam during the war.

You are invited to attend this fabulous night of nights - a once only chance to see these great

entertainers in Vietnam. The concert includes the banquet, concert and a drinks package and

is available for USD $80 per person.

Bookings for both events need to be made in advance. Contact our office for details.