Comments on: Vung Tau – Vietnam’s Hottest R&R Destination

By: Jim Shelton

Jim Shelton — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:45:56 +0000

We landed at Vang Tau by way of landing craft with the second half of the 1st Infantry Division. Off the ship down a net , just like in the movies, into landing craft, motored to shore, front gate fell down, and who greeted us, the Army Band. Then hauled by truck to planes and flown to Thu Duc. Waited there until our stuff was off load from ship, USS Barrett I think. From Thu Duc was trucked to DiAn. Don’t think Vang Tau was an R&R center yet, this was maybe Sep 1965?

Might be a little off on the moves, Ben Hoa might been in there somewhere.

Left via Ton Son Nhut.

By: Bob Rose

Bob Rose — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:51:27 +0000

I was stationed in Vung Tau in 68-69 with the 8th Aerial Port, Detachment 1. If you flew in for R&R I probably met you at the terminal. I was a regular at the R&R center. We used to head down to the beach and use the Australian surf boards not far from the beached ship. It was finally removed for salvage in the late 80’s. I was surfing one day (would you believe it?) with some buddies when my board got loose and hit me square in the nose. I almost bled to death on the beach! If it were not for the Aussies who drove me over to thier medical facility, I might not have made it. A young Aussie Doctor gave me 18 stitches on my nose to put me back together. I am and forever will be indebted to them. So if any Aussies are reading this……….I will never forget….their great beer drinking cheer….”up the old rooster and more piss”!. Here’s to you and Gordon Woods surf boards. Vung Tau was a magnificent place to serve out the war and I was one hell of a lucky guy………………

Sgt Robert Rose
8th Aerial Port, Detachment One
June 1968 – July 1969

By: Rodger Eyles

Rodger Eyles — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:45:27 +0000

G’day all you septics
I served with the Australians at Vung Tau during 66/67.
I was a Medical Assistant with 2 Field Ambulance and we had a fair bit to do with your 33 Evac.
Spent many hours on your beach and drinking at the Beachcomber Club. Remember the Life Guards well. There was one we called “Safari” because of the hat he wore.
Went back in 1998 and was amazed to see the old club still there. It is now a clip joint or so I was told.
Came across this site searching for a photo of a Lambretta tricycle that I need for our 44rd Reunion next year.

By: Mike White

Mike White — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:41:53 +0000

I was stationed in Vung Tau in 1968 & 1969 as Bar Manager of the US Forces R&R Center. I have spent many hour on the net trying to find pictures of the R&R Center without any luck. I didn’t take any pictures when I was there-too young to know it was important. I was the guy in the blue shirt usually sitting in the shoeshine chair at the end of the bar talking to ‘Bingo’ the shoeshine boy.

I spent three tours in RVN ‘67, ‘68, ‘69 & ‘70. It is the most beautiful country I have ever seen! I see the ‘Grand Hotel’ is still operating. Thats amazing since the French officers used it for their headquarters so many years ago.

By: Mike White

Mike White — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:38:28 +0000

Hi, I was bar manager of the R&R Center in Vung Tau in ‘68 & ‘69. Spent three tours in RVN from ‘67 – ‘70. The most beautiful country and beaches I have ever seen.

I have spent many hours on the web trying to find pictures of the R&R Center with no luck. I didn’t take any pictures myself-wish I had. I was the guy in the blue shirt usually sitting in the shoeshine chair at the end of the bar talking to the shoeshine boy ‘Bingo’.

If anyone has any pictures of the R&R Center that they would ahare, I would really appreciate it (mikeandgena@windstream.net).

I’m 65 now and double retired. Have had two bouts with cancer. Retired from the Army with 21.5 years as an E-7.

Luck to all vets, Mike White

By: Berwyn Steele

Berwyn Steele — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:30:06 +0000

I was in a A-1 H-J squardon onboard the USS Midway before it went to the yards.The squardon I was in still is flying but in the new type aircraft and on one of the newer carriers. We still visit back and forth and keep in touch by e-mail or phone. The squardon moved onboard the USS Coral Sea and we made two more cruises on her after the midway went into the yards. We were sent off the ship and went in to chue liy or danag we picket up a group of marines and went out with them and tried to find an A-1 that had been shot down and get the gun camera out before the VC got to the plane. We were never very luckey as the vc always beat us to the plane and took as much as they could and put a gernade to the plane. We were always to late. We got our butts shot at alot. The A-1 aircraft was a good attack aircraft and a fighter also as our squardon shot down a russian aircraft while they were out on patrol shot one down and may have shot the other one down also. Very good aircraft the old A-1 was. God Bless America.

By: Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:21:06 +0000

As a Line Captain with Air America flew there many times. However did not get to enjoy the fun and the sandy beach but did get a good view frfom the air. This was in 1966,67,68. Jack Thompson Montgomery, Alabama 334-799-7520

By: william m chambers

william m chambers — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:18:57 +0000

I was at vung tau 2 time and stayed with mom & pop better know
as the warrens also met there brother.serve in viet nam twice 1st
time with the 9th inf out of dong tam would like to hear from them. thank you

By: Harry Miller

Harry Miller — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:19:31 +0000

I had R&R at Vung Tau. I remember arriving and buying a bottle of vodka and some canned tomatoe juice. To be honest I don’t remember my stay or even leaving to return to my unit. But I must of had a great time or at least that was what I was told by my two friends that also had R&R at the same time.

Harry Miller
USA Retired

By: Mike Gabennesch

Mike Gabennesch — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:32:44 +0000

I was stationed in Vung Tau from December 1968 to December 1969. I was a lifeguard at the back beach for the first six months, then I ran the ice cream plant that provided ice cream for about 7,000 troops a week including the Aussies.

We used to eat at the USO because we liked their strawberry shakes. In the village we ate “gook” sandwiches. At the Beachcomber (located at the beach) we ate grilled cheese sandwiches.

All lifeguards were called “Steve” by the Vietnamese because more than one of the early lifeguards had first names of Steve and they had a reputation of fighting with the “Cowboys”.

On the beach we had pinapple girls and surfboards. Bar girls could not get on the beach by themselves without our permission. They had to accompany a GI.

In between our beach and the Aussies’ was a section for the Koreans. Fierce soldiers.

The Aussies had a built-in swimming pool at their resort.

Vung Tau was also a black market center for Vietnam.

If anyone was there at the beach working, or living in Vung Tau when I was there, email me at mgabennesch@fuse.net

Mike