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Exploring Australia’s Role in the Vietnam War – A 50-Year Retrospective 

From 1962 to 1972, over 50,000 Australian personnel were deployed to Vietnam. During this conflict, 523 Australians lost their lives, with many more suffering enduring physical and mental injuries. The Vietnam War sparked significant debate in Australia, a topic that has been extensively analysed, theorised, and taught in schools across the nation for many years. 

Key issues surrounding Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War include: 

• Reasons for Australia’s involvement. 
• The decision to combat communism in Vietnam. 
• The domino theory’s impact on Australian policy. 
• The ethics of conscription. 
• The divisive anti-war movement and protests across Australia. 

What remnants you can see in Vietnam today? 

In Vietnam today, Vung Tau/Baria Province, formerly Phuoc Tuy, offers educational value for school groups exploring Australia’s military history. Key sites include Long Tan, Binh Ba, and the Long Phuoc Tunnels, among others, showcasing the operational and combat zones of Australian troops. 

Customised Tours for Student Groups 

Edventure Travel customises student tours to Vung Tau/Baria, providing insights into the war’s history and battles with the help of experienced guides, historical maps, and veteran photographs. Visits include the Long Tan Cross Memorial, Task Force site at Nui Dat, and the Long Hai Hills Minh Dam Secret Zone, offering a comprehensive exploration of significant sites over one to three days.  

Here are some of the significant sites to explore during a one to three-day school excursion: 

• The former logistical base in Vung Tau – inclusive of the RnR centre, and 1st Field Hospital. 
• Long Tan Cross Memorial – situated at the site of the Battle of Long Tan. 
• Task Force site (Nui Dat) – includes SAS Hill, Luscombe Airfield, and a command post bunker. 
• The Horseshoe Fire Support Base – located within the rim of an extinct volcano. 
• Long Hai Hills and the Minh Dam Secret Zone – renowned for its rocky terrain with hideaways, bunkers, and storage areas used by the Viets Cong. 
• Long Phuoc Tunnels and Museum – where visitors can climb into the tunnels to experience the conditions. 
• Major battlefield sites – scattered around the province and beyond, can be arranged upon request. 
• Interviews with Vietnam veterans – meet former Viet Cong soldiers who fought against the Australians. 

Our tours also delve into global politics, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War’s lasting effects on Australia and globally. 

In January 2024, a group of our Vietnam and Cambodia staff members dedicated four days to revisiting former Australian military sites and battlefields as part of our annual team training. This experience served to enrich our collective knowledge for upcoming tours to the province. Throughout the excursion, we captured numerous photographs of these historic locations, which we would like to share with you below. 

Dharavi Slum in Mumbai, India, ranks as the world’s second-largest slum, with its vastness and significance remarkable.  

Covering 2.5 square kilometres, Dharavi holds between 500,000 to 1,000,000 people, living in conditions ranging from cramped shacks to slightly larger homes. Despite the dense living spaces, life in Dharavi buzzes with activity: children go to school, adults work in over 15,000 small-scale industries, and the community thrives amidst the challenges. The area’s narrow alleys and bustling environment, amplified by the Mumbai heat, paint a picture of resilience and industriousness. 

During a day-long visit in January 2024, led by a fifth-generation Dharavi resident, three members of our Edventure Team gained insights into Mumbai’s urban landscape. This visit was part of a broader study into Mumbai’s urban geography, intended to enrich the experience of future school groups visiting the city of contrasts. 

Key features of Dharavi encompass: 

• Thousands of single-room factories and businesses providing local employment. 
• A dynamic population, with many temporary residents seeking opportunities. 
• Entrepreneurs drawn by the low-cost labour market, contributing to the local economy. 
• A strong sense of community, with residents supporting their rural families through their earnings. 
• A diverse range of crafts and industries, from pottery to recycling and leatherwork. 
• A unique electrical system tailored to each household and business. Access to major train lines for commuting outside Dharavi. 
• Security initiatives, including surveillance cameras, by businesses. 
• A deep-rooted community attachment among residents, many wishing to stay within this familiar setting. 
• The renowned 2008 film “Slumdog Millionaire” was partially shot in Dharavi. 

Local residents lead official daily tours of Dharavi, providing insights into their community and supporting local employment. Tours are intimate, typically with up to 10 participants, guided by locals equipped with communication tools and knowledge of photography etiquette. Visits include industries, homes, a temple, and interactions with locals, lasting 2-3 hours with options for longer explorations. 

For a visual representation of Dharavi, please refer to the photographs provided below. 

Edventure Travel successfully executed a six-day, service-focused tour in Cambodia for ISKL, marked by impactful contributions and experiences shared by both staff and students.  

Participants engaged deeply with the local community, notably through the construction of a brick house for a rural family in dire need of new housing. This initiative not only provided essential shelter but also offered a hands-on learning experience for the students, fostering a sense of accomplishment and empathy. The tour was designed to immerse participants in the culture and challenges of the local community.  

Observe and hear from staff and students alike underscored the profound impact of their efforts, highlighting the tour as not only a journey through Cambodia but also a meaningful venture into making lasting positive changes. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Hiroshima, Japan, primarily recognised as the location of the first atomic bomb detonation in August 1945, presents an array of enriching cultural encounters, significant sites, and unique flavours for secondary school student groups. Whether opting for a one- or two-day excursion, our video unveils the diverse opportunities that Hiroshima and its surrounding areas have to offer, ensuring an educational and memorable experience. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

The Temples of Angkor in Cambodia are arguably one of humankinds great ancient building achievements. The stone temples are the absolute pinnacle of artistic and engineering achievement of the once-mighty Khmer Empire that ruled from the 9th to the 15th Century. Over 70 stone and brick structures remain today, combining Hinduism and Buddhism, forming an incredible temple complex to explore. The temple construction was accomplished with help from elephants, oxcarts, river barges, ropes, pulleys, engineers, and artisans. Exploring this complex with our specialist local guide reveals an empire’s rise, reign, and ruin. Enjoy our short video. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Observe and hear the experiences of students from Hunter Valley Grammar School as they navigate through Vietnam, contributing to the construction of three homes in Sapa and engaging in a variety of practical and collaborative challenges. Before the lens, both educators and pupils share their reflections on the educational journey undertaken across Vietnam in December 2023. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Touring Japan offers secondary school students an enriching educational experience, as it provides them with firsthand exposure to Japan’s unique blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity. Engaging with Japan’s rich cultural heritage through visits to historical temples, shrines, and castles complements their historical studies, while witnessing the rapid technological advancements in cities like Tokyo can enhance their understanding of global technology and economics. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive network of underground passageways located in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, that played a significant role during the Vietnam War. Spanning more than 250 kilometres, these tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches, and living quarters. The tunnels were constructed with multiple levels and trapdoors, designed ingeniously for security and defence, reflecting the strategic military thinking of the Viet Cong. Due to the harsh conditions within the tunnels, including pests, disease, and limited air supply, life was extremely difficult for the Viet Cong. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Watch and listen as students from Westminster School navigate Vietnam, actively participating in a diverse range of interactive pursuits and challenges. In front of the camera, both staff and students recount the transformative nature of their educational trip through Vietnam in October 2023. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Sapa is a former colonial retreat located in the country’s far north. The town is surrounded by towering mountains, including Mt Fansipan (elevation 3147m). Ethnic minority groups have lived in and around Sapa for centuries, cultivating terraced rice fields, growing traditional medicines, and crafting exquisite and colourful costumes and jewellery.  

With our experienced guiding staff, we glimpse into the lives of the various ethnic groups. En route, we learn about the indigo clothes dying process and the ingenious bamboo irrigation systems of the Black Hmong or Dao minorities. We follow several trekking routes passing grazing water buffalo and see ethnic handicrafts produced using age-old techniques. Based at a family homestay, we can undertake a community project to help benefit the local community, who have significantly fewer opportunities living in remote areas. 

Watch our short video clip to immerse yourself in the best of what Sapa has to offer. Enjoy the journey. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Hanoi’s Old Quarter (Pho Co Ha Noi) is steeped in history and tradition. Located in the city centre of Hanoi, the Old Quarter was the key residential and commercial area where manufacturing took place to service the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in the 11th century. Today it still maintains its distinctive atmosphere of a time long since passed. 

The unique feature of the Old Quarter is its 36 streets dedicated to one specific trade or guild. Artisans from villages around the city used to gather in one area of their guild to sell their wares to merchants. The crafts or guilds of each area gave the names to the streets of the Quarter so that most streets names start with hàng (“wares”), for instance Hàng Mam Street (fish sauce street), Hàng Ma Street (fake money street) and Hàng Non-Street (hat street). 

One of the best ways to explore the Old Quarter is on a pedal-powered rickshaw (xich-lo). Sitting in the front of the single-seated rickshaw, the passenger slowly meanders through the Quarter, watching the production of crafts and traders selling their wares. The 36 streets are incredibly compact, and competition for space and customers is at the heart of its atmosphere. Throughout the journey, the passenger passes traditional architecture, ancient temples, and streets that change their name every hundred metres. The erratic traffic flow and seeming lack of road rules are almost unbelievable to watch and be amongst!  

On many levels, navigating these streets is educational. It’s incredible to see how people use confined areas creatively. Products are offered for sale from storefronts and along retaining walls. Bright colours and lights attract attention, and motorbike parks take over pedestrian walkways. Buildings are long and narrow to minimise taxes based on shop front widths. From a social aspect, the residents of the Old Quarter have little concept of privacy. They seem to switch off from the frenetic noise and activity around them, and yet they can push for a sale, spot a potential customer, and calmly face the reality that everyone else on their street is selling the same goods. 

Be immersed in the Old Quarter atmosphere by watching our short video clip. Enjoy the ride.

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand. 

Year 10 student Saxon Taranto, from a school in Melbourne, recently took part in a two-week educational tour of Vietnam that included several service-focused projects. During the tour, we interviewed Saxon asking for his thoughts and reflections. Saxon revealed how life-changing his experiences in Vietnam were and how his outlook on life has changed significantly. 

Watch the video below to see and hear what Saxon has to say in his own words, and see a selection of photos taken of Saxon’s group in action throughout Vietnam. 

Ready to plan your next trip? Be in touch to discuss your school’s future travel program to Asia or New Zealand.