Rest and convalesence centre at Vung Tau DPR/TV/520

Australian soldiers in Viet Nam lead tough lives and [need] occassional breaks from the war and the harsh jungle terrain. The Army gives them a rest with five days of leave outside Vietnam, in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok or Taipai. In addition, they get five days off duty at the Australian Rest and Convalescent centre at Vung Tau, a seaport on the South China Sea. It is here that the soldiers can forget the war for as while and take it easy. A spacious patio dominates the first floor of the villa and with its handy bar and wide view of the harbour, plus fresh ocean breeze, it is a favoutite spot for the Diggers. They can sit back with a drink and talk, or lie back and relax completly, just as "Tassie" Wass, a 5th Battalion Sergeant from Liverpoll, NSW, is doing... Frequent visitors to the villa are Australian patients from the 36th Evacuation Hospital, an American establishment in Vung Tau for sick and wounded soldiers. These men clad in pyjamas are accompanied on their trips to the villa by Red Cross worker Miss Hilda Zinner from Sydney. Here Miss Zinner talks to Lance Corporal Neville Hunter of Charters towers, Queensland...The army has a small fleet of four power boats and every day the Diggers take to the water... Here boat driver Graeme Forward, of Mount Hawthorne, W.A. has two little non military passengers as well as Sergeant Wass and Corporal Graeme Leach a 5th Battalion soldier from Liverpool NSW. The villa is situated only a short distance from Vung Tau's shopping centre, where the holidaying Diggers can hunt for souvenirs or simply enjoy local scenery. Lance Corporal Edward Kelly, of Perth and Private Peter Bye of Perth are shown here looking for souvenirs to send home... And always children follow the Diggers...One little girl greeted Private Bill Jarrett, of 5th Battalion, from Revesby, NSW, by placing a garland of flowers around his neck... For the troops in Vietnam, Vung Tau's Rest and Convalescent centre will undoubtedly be remembered as the place where they had the best time of the 12 months they spent in Viet Nam.