While YPT have somewhat branched out from purely communist tours since our inception, we still offer some great trips for red tourists out there.
The good news, though, is that you do not have to be a card-carrying member of the Bolshevik Party to join! Quite the contrary, in fact. All you need to qualify is merely an interest in red things!
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YPT’s Best Communist Tours?
So, what do we mean by communist tours? Well, there really is no hard and fast definition here! In general, we mean ones that have either a contemporary or historical focus, rather than passing on red tourism, which you can read about here.
As always, we count down, duly saving the very best communist tour until last. Alas, this would be heavy with North Korea were it open, but alas, it is not (yet) anyway.
9) Nanjiecun Collective Tour
Another one of our tours that is seriously underrated. The concept of Nanjiecun is that when China was moving to capitalism, they bucked the trend and stayed as a collective. There are still statues of Mao and Lenin here, as well as people waking up to The East Is Red. Oh, and unlike the rest of China, medical care is free. If you want to see actual existing socialism, this is where it’s at.
8) Vietnam Tour
Part of our South-East Asia adventure, which also takes in Laos and Thailand. It is, though, the Vietnam part that gets us the best communist jollies. And while there are lots of red moments on this trip, it is the visit to the mausoleum of Uncle Ho that is probably the highlight.
7) Cambodia Dark Tourism Tour
OK, so this is maybe not a great tour if you like communism, although I would argue that Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge were not actually real communists. Regardless, this tour really gets you understanding how the tragedy of Cambodia unfolded, as well as the inner workings of the Khmer Rouge.
6) Venezuela Bolivarian Revolution Tour
Not communist, but pretty damned red! And that is even taking into account the kidnapping of Majuro. Because despite this, the revolution continues! On this trip, we get to see what is currently happening in Venezuela, as well as visiting the mausoleum of a certain Hugo Chavez.
You might not think it, what with all the McDonalds, cans of Coke, and millionaires, but China is red. On this tour, we go to perhaps the ultimate communist theme park, Yan’an. This was not only where the Long March finished, but also where Chairman Mao lived.
4) Revolutionary Russia Tour
Do we really need to say any more? I mean, Russia are the OGs when it comes to communism, after all. This trip not only has us visiting Red Square, but also the mausoleum of Lenin. The kicker with this trip, though, is that it is quite literally a revolutionary tour that focuses on the communist history of Russia.
This fabulous tour takes us all along the Chinese border from Tumen down to Dandong on a road trip and, as things stand, is the closest to North Korea that anyone can currently get. And believe it or not, you get to see a whole heap of the DPRK on the way.
2) Transnistria National Day
Transnistria is not called the last of the USSR for nothing and, in many ways, is what the country might have looked like if the USSR had survived. And National Day is great, with it including a great big military parade. Does not get much more communist than that, right?
1) Cuba Revolutionary Tour
This wins quite simply because it is a whole week of revolutionary zeal. This has us checking out basically every main revolutionary site in the country, as well as taking in May Day. And while you no longer see Raul or Fidel on the podium, it still has a certain panache to it.
So, that marks the 9 best communist tours that YPT currently offer, although it is a list that we are always looking to expand upon! North Korea notwithstanding.
And who knows, if North Korea ever does reopen, we will have communist tours every week!
