Day 1 and 2: 2018 study tour underway!

All smiles at Adelaide Airport ready to go on 30 September

Safely arrived and walking on the streets of Saigon at 6am on 1 October - ready for a busy day.

Martin talking in front of  Notre-Dame Cathedral in the centre of Saigon

Group in front of the Re-unification Palace (Presidential Palace) in Saigon.

The famous gates of the palace in the background (see below)

A North Vietnamese tank crashes through the gates of the Presidential Palace in Saigon on April 30, 1975. The taking of the palace marked the fall of the U.S.-backed south and the end to a decade of fighting.

At the War Remnants Museum - confronting, disturbing and only one-side of the story!

Eating again at lunch, before going to the market and a swim before dinner. 

Roger Leon Fisher - a name to commemorate

A plaque

In an isolated cemetery

A name and a few details

Died:	Killed in action, South Vietnam, 26 April 1968, aged 23 years
Last Rank:	Lance Corporal
Last Unit:	3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR)
Born:	Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia , 28 March 1945
Home Town:	Not yet discovered
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered

A face 

Nothing else to tell the story - but we can commemorate at Long Tan when we are there.

Changi, more than a name for an airport!

Image above: Prisoners of War in Changi Prisoner of War camp in 1942.

On the way to Vietnam we have a two hour stop-over in Singapore. However we do not leave the Airport called Changi. Changi Airport is recognised as one of the best airports in the world, with accommodation, bars, pools, shops etc. 

However there is more to the name that you should know as young historians. 

Two hours is not enough time to go into Singapore but certainly enough time for us to contemplate the plight of the Australians captured in Singapore by the Japanese in 1942 and as a result spent the rest of the war, until 1945 in the Changi prison (POW Camp) or elsewhere.  

The name Changi is synonymous with the suffering of Australian prisoners of the Japanese during the Second World War. This is ironic, since for most of the war in the Pacific Changi was, in reality, one of the most benign of the Japanese prisoner-of-war camps; its privations were relatively minor compared to those of others, particularly those on the Burma–Thailand railway.
                                                   https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/pow/changi

Sadly many of those captured were sent from Changi between 1942-45 to work, and for many die on the infamous Burma Railway and other locations under the control of the Japanese. 

Image above: Three prisoners at Shimo Songkurai in 1943 suffer the effects of malnutrition. The photograph was one of the last to be taken by George Aspinall on the camera he smuggled up to the Thai–Burma railway from Changi.

I recommend that you read as much as you can about the Fall of Singapore and the experiences of the Australians in the Changi POW camp and on the Burma Railway to get a feel for that important time in Australia's military history. A time of great significance and heated controversy - why a controversy? 

We can talk about it when we have two hours to kill in the airport, a luxurious place, a very different experience to that of Australians in Singapore in 1942-45.

 While talking about Changi, check out the Changi POW Artwork of Des Bettany

Des Bettany was a survivor of being a POW at Changi, and after the war became an art teacher at Whyalla. He was to finish his working life as the Principal of the South Australian School of Art in Adelaide. The images he created are fascinating and a real insight into the time. 

Respecting culture

Following on from the posting related to the physical geography of Vietnam I thought it important to do a posting on the culture of Vietnam – often what is unseen! Culture is very subtle and goes way beyond the physical aspect we often see, such a food and clothing. I really think it is important that you have a look at these sites that provide excellent information on the customs and cultural norms of Vietnam (which differ even from North to South Vietnam). It is important that we do not offend out of ignorance of the different cultural norms of a country we are visiting.

The Vietnam Airline video is worth looking at to get a feel for the culture.

Cultural Crossing is another great site to get an idea of the more subtle, unseen to the visitor aspects of the culture.

Other sites you should look at are:

http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/vietnam-guide

https://ethnomed.org/culture/vietnamese/vietnamese-cultural-profile

Looking at the place

 

Image above: Vietnam in Google Maps and the amazing Street View capacity of Google Maps   https://www.google.com.au/maps/@17.0650985,105.637318,6z

Knowing without going

What does this place we are visiting look like? The wonders of spatial technology allow us to have a look at a place in amazing details before we ever go there. I am sure all of you use Google Maps (https://www.google.com.au/maps/@17.0650985,105.637318,6z)  all the time and know about the Street View tool that allows you to have a 360 degree look at street scenes across the world. Such scenes are usually available for settled areas in developed countries and large cities in less developed countries. As Vietnam is not a developed country (often called Least Economic Developed –LED) the Street  View coverage is generally limited to the large cities such as Ho Chi Min City and Hanoi.

To use Street View just click on the little figure at the right hand bottom of the screen and drag to a location on the map.

Remember it needs to be in the built-up area of Ho Chi Min City or Hanoi – however you will also find Street View images for Vung Tau and other places – have a play across the map to see where Street View has been developed.

 A street in Ho Chi Min City

A street in Hanoi

Vung Tau from a building

You can also get a satellite view for many of the areas we are visiting. These images are very useful to show road networks, agriculture, settlement patterns, topography (hilly or not), water bodies (rivers/swamps etc) and generally an overview of the landscape.

 Just click on the satellite box in the bottom left hand corner of the screen to turn the street map into a satellite image of the area on the screen.

 

I really recommend you use Google Maps and do some geography before we go – just out of interest to get an idea of the landscapes we will encounter.

Stories to be told

 Image above: Vietnam veterans talking about their experiences on the Anzac Portal at

 https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/special-features/veterans-stories/vietnam-war-stories 

Stories from Vietnam Veterans

On 27 July we had the privilege to hear the stories of the Vietnam Veterans, Bob, Tich, Jock and Frank.  We will never forget Frank's story!! When in Vietnam we will not have the chance to talk to any Vietnam Veterans but I do think it is worth spending time before we go listening to Vietnam Veterans talking on the Department of Veterans'Affairs site called the Anzac Portal. It will give you further insight into what it must of been like in Vietnam serving in the Australian Army, Air Force and Navy during those difficult years.

Janice and Stuart Smith tell their story.

The story behind the song 'I Was Only Nineteen' that captured the experience of Australia’s Vietnam veterans and helped communicate to Australian society what many veterans themselves had been unable to share. Read more about the story behind the song after watching the above film clip.

Listen to the song, 'I was only Nineteen'.

Whilst on the portal have a look at the following links - some fantastic background on Australians during the Vietnam War.

Australians and the Vietnam War
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australia-and-vietnam-war

Vung Tau Ferry  HMAS Sydney
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australia-and-vietnam-war/australia-and-vietnam-war/royal-australian-navy/vung-tau

Engaging with the community when we are there

Image above: The 2016 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize students with some students from the Song Cau Primary school.

Visiting orphanages in Vietnam in 2018

The Premier’s ANZAC Spirit School Prize study tours to Vietnam in 2016 and 2017 have engaged with the Vietnamese community by visiting schools and orphanages. Students on these tours have raised considerable funds and provided these institutions with computers, data projectors, stationery and money. We hope we have been able to contribute to the health of these institutions and the quality of life and education for the young people involved. 

In 2018 we have planned to visit two orphanages near Vung Tau that we have not visited in the past.  They are: 

Hong Quang Orphan House was originally established by Venerable Thích Thiện Thông in order to support  orphans and poor children in the locality. Even though the centre has been managed by the government, private income is still needed for them to manage by themselves. The centre only receives support from the local community to cover the fees of education, food and personal living necessities. At the moment, the centre looks after around 70 orphans. The children under 5 years old will be at the centre when we visit but the older children (above 5 years old) will be at their school.

Tu An Pagoda is a poor temple which is currently run by Nun Thích nữ Minh Hải with donations from the Buddhist community to help the temple support the orphans (it does not belong to the government). It is home to more than 150 orphaned children, 13 elderly and disabled persons. At present, there are many children of school age and the cost for the children to go to school is difficult for the temple to pay for.

The Venerable Thích Thiện Thông and Nun Thích nữ Minh Hải are aware of our visits and both of them are very appreciative of the the 'kind hearts' of the group. They have said the donation does not have to be cash - the group can also donate the most needed items for daily life at the school, such as rice, milk, clothing, shoes, blankets, diapers, baby wipes, stationery, etc. We can buy those in Vietnam, so please do not pack such! 

Please take note that many children in the orphanage are of school age, so they need to go to school on weekdays. Only younger children are at home, so please do not be surprised if we cannot meet many children (unfortunately we visit on a Thursday and most of the children will be at school).

They are poor orphanages and any help we can give them would be greatly appreciated. I have checked out the orphanages and been assured by the tour group who have dealt with the orphanages in the past that any money/resources provided will go directly to help the orphans. Several of us are planning to do some fund raising in the office and around the place before we go – we would love the orphanages to be provided with some funds and/or items when we visit. Feel free to do something in your school or community groups if you want to help out with any fund raising before we depart. There is no pressure on you to be involved on a personal level but we thought it would be good to engage with the Vietnamese community and do something positive in the community when we are there.

We will collect and receipt all donations at Adelaide Airport before we leave on 30 September. Please give me a ring if you want to discuss this initiative for the tour. 

The Australian story in Vietnam

Image above: Vision from the 1968 documentary: Australian Diggers in Vietnam War.

Primary sources – propaganda or necessary communication?

Australian Diggers in Vietnam: an original source

After viewing the US focussed documentaries on the Vietnam War I thought it was worth referring you to some documentaries developed (official - funded by the Australian Government) to inform the Australian population about what our troups were experiencing and doing in Vietnam. Although rather dry, as primary sources these videos give a real insight to the attitudes and events of the time.

Australian Diggers in Vietnam is a documentary made in 1968 for publicity purposes to give insight into the Australian soldiers' experience. The film follows a group of Australian soldiers transiting into Vietnam, onto helicopter and into a contact with the VC, involving gunfire and capture of a Viet Cong fighter.

The narrator provides information about Australian and Viet Cong communications, tactics, supply lines, operational planning and other related matters. Other scenes include the gunners' command post, Army Air support, gun detachments firing, 20 pounder guns firing, river-bourne operations, troops tracking VC and wading through mud, creeks and moving through similar obstacles, use of APC's on the beach, inspecting villages for VC, detaining suspects for questioning.

1st Australian Task Force1967 to 1969 - Vietnam War 

This documentary covers the work of the units supporting the Australian infantry battalions in Vietnam - showing 105mm Howitzers of the artillery; Centurion tanks and M113 Armoured personnel carriers; Cessna fixed wing spotter aircraft and Sioux observation helicopters marking targets; signallers using various types of communications equipment in the field; the establishment of an artillery Fire Support Base; Bushranger gunships of 9 Squadron RAAF in action firing rockets and machine guns, the work of intelligence units; destruction of Viet Cong tunnels by the engineers; re-supply of units in the field; tanks and APCs supporting 5 RAR the battle of Binh Ba; a cordon and search of a Vietnamese village; winning the hearts and minds through the Civic Aid program; road building; repair of a bridge blown up by the Viet Cong.