Please download the 2015 ANZAC DAY tour info guide for detailed information regarding this years ANZAC weekend in Vung Tau. Included in this handy guide is useful information regarding visa information for Vietnam, getting to and from Vung Tau, schedule of events for the ANZAC Day Weekend and memorial services, hotel, restaurant and nightlife info and much more.

The Vietnam Swans are pleased to present the 6th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau.

This important fixture for the club continues to grow in stature each year to now be one of the most highly prized trophies in Asian footy. This year we welcome to Vung Tau, 2014 Asian Championships winners the Singapore Wombats for their first Friendship Match, in what is shaping up to be a tough, gritty and highly entertaining affair.

Of course the Anzac Friendship Match is much more than just a football game. Over the past five years it has become an event for our Veterans, Swannies supporters, ex and current players, families and friends to come together, rekindle old friendships and pay our respects to those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

This year’s Anzac Day match will hold extra significance as it falls on a the same day, exactly 100 years ago in which thousands of Australians and New Zealanders landed on the beaches of Gallipoli. Both teams will commemorate the Anzac Centenary with attendance at the traditional Dawn Service at the Long Tan Cross Memorial and we invite all supporters and spectators to join us for this important event in itself.

The Commonwealth Bank Cup is also a big highlight of the day, giving some of our more mature former stars an opportunity to once again stretch the hammies. This year the newly named “Lagler Legends” will be suiting up against the “Al Fresco’s All Stars” from 11.30. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you would like to play in this game.

Program as of 30 March

4.00am Buses Depart Tommy’s Bar
5.15am ANZAC Day Dawn Service, Long Tan Cross
5.45am Busses Depart Long Tan for Tommy’s Bar
6.45am Gunfire Breakfast at Tommy’s Bar
11.30am Legends and All-stars Game (4 x 15min Quarters)
1.00pm Pre match formalities inc national anthems
1.30pm 6th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match: Vietnam Swans Vs Singapore Wombats (4 x 20min Quarters)
3.30 Presentation of the Friendship trophy at ground
17.00  After game function at Tommy’s Bar:

After Game function

Downstairs – Buffet Dinner, Anzac Friendship Game wrap up – speeches by respective coaches, Auctions, Raffle draws and entertainment
In the bar – Essendon vs Pies (replay), GWS vs Suns, Port vs Hawks, Freo vs Swans

Buses – HCMC-Vung Tau

The Vietnam Swans will be organising buses departing from the Commonwealth Bank 65 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City at 10.00am and 6.00pm sharp on Friday 24^th. Return buses will depart Tommy’s Bar at 2.00pm Sunday from Tommy’s Bar. Price will be 200,000 VND per person ($10) each way payable on the day.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL – If you would like seats reserved on the bus contact . The Vietnam Swans cannot guarantee a seat on the bus if you have not booked.

Buses at all other times are available from Hoa Mai buses on Nguyen Thai Binh Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City for 100K VND each way or 165 for the VIP bus, which is highly recommended over the cheaper bus

100th Anniversary Anzac Dawn Service – Long Tan Cross

The Long Tan Cross (LTC), located in Ba Ria-Vung Tau (BRVT) Province approximately 110 km east of Ho Chi Minh City, marks the site of the Battle of Long Tan. This Battle, which took place on 18 August 1966, was Australia’s single most costly engagement of the Vietnam War, with the loss of 18 Australian soldiers.

A cross was first erected on the site in 1969 when the 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, which fought in the Battle, was on its second tour of duty . The original cross was later removed by the Vietnamese. A replica now stands on the same site.

In recognition of sensitivities associated with the LTC, visitors should conduct themselves with appropriate decorum and observe the following protocols in order not to jeopardise continued access to this important site:

• No medals or military uniforms to be worn
• No flags to be raised or displayed
• No music to be played
• Any speeches made at the site to be low key and short

Buses to Dawn Service

Buses will depart from Tommy’s Bar to Long Tan Cross for the Dawn Service at Saturday 4am, returning direct to the ground at around 6.30am where a gunfire breakfast will be held.

The Swans will be booking a bus for players only (of both games – VND200k/$10 each) – contact to reserve a seat.

**A 3 bus package (HCMC-VT, Dawn Service and VT-HCMC) is available for players only for VND500/$25.

All other supporters are encouraged to book a seat on a bus through Glenn at Tommy’s Bar who will be selling tickets at the bar in the days leading up or by contacting him on

Background on the ANZAC Friendship Match

Vung Tau served as the Australians logistics base during the Vietnam/American War and, more specifically, the match will be played at the Greyhound Racing Track. The Greyhound track was formerly known as the Lord Mayor’s Oval – and the venue for footy tournaments back in 1966-71

Against this backdrop of sensitivities, the Vietnam Swans feel extremely privileged to be able to host our ANZAC Friendship Match. We wear two black armbands to respect all who have fallen and to share the vision of one bright future.

The Friendship Match, first played in 2010 as an internal game between Hanoi and Saigon, went international with the China Reds attending in 2011 and 2012, Jakarta Bintangs in 2013 and the Malaysian Warriors in 2014.

Our Friendship Match brings together two worlds from two different eras: Vietnam 1970 and Vietnam 2015.  For all of us who have chosen to live and work in Vietnam 2015, Vietnam is such an exciting, vibrant, generous and welcoming country.

We also use the occasion to raise money for local orphanages and swimming education initiatives that will save young lives. In Vietnam, more children currently die from drowning than road accidents.

We warmly invite people to attend the ANZAC Friendship Match in the spirit of friendship and respect – and to have an amazing day at the footy.

Below are items of related interest:

– Stan Middleton, , 1966-71

- 60 Minutes, . by Peter Harvey. The story was aired on 13 August 2006.

documentary (100 mins) narrated by Sam Worthington.

– Redgum,

2014

– Anzac Friendship Match 2014

– Sydney Swans media,

2013

–

– Youtube,

– Youtube,

–

2012

– 2012 Press Release

–

– Sydney Swans media,

– Youtube,

– Youtube,

– Youtube,

–

– Beijing Bombers,

–

2011

• 25 April, 2011, . Peter Harvey, 6pm National Nine News (via You Tube).
• 25 April, . Telephone interview with Peter Harvey, 5pm National Nine News (via You Tube).
• 24 April, . Peter Harvey reports on the match between the Vietnam Swans and Hong Kong Dragons for Channel 9 News (via You Tube).
• 21-26 April, , AFL Footy Record. Previews Richard “Ossie” Osborne’s trip to Vietnam for the 2011 ANZAC friendship Match and the work being done to help save Vietnamese lives through new swimming initiatives. (Click onto Page 15 of the .)
• Adam Martin,

2010

• , 23-25 April, 2010 (pictorial presentation)
• The Vung Tau Wrap Up. A review of the ANZAC weekend, Vung Tau, 2010 (story on Vietnam Swans website)
• Aussie Rules during the Vietnam War
• Photos of Aussie Rules matches during the War. Click
• , Riding On Magazine (Ulysses Club) reviews, including the match.
• The Vietnam Swans Inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match 2010 (, ,  ) Vietnam Veterans Debrief Magazine, Winter, 2010.
• , TPI Chin Up Vietnam Veterans Magazine. Looks at the Vietnam Swans Inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match.
• .
• , by Peter Harvey, 60 Minutes. The story was aired on 13 August 2006.