The DMZ

Tour code: VIG07
Duration: 1 Day

Hue

The Demilitarized Zone, or the DMZ, was 2 kilometers thick and ran along the Ben Hai river from the eastern sea-line, reaching west all the way to the border of Laos. During the French Indochina war, the south side was occupied by the French-controlled State of Vietnam, on the northside was that Communist-dominated independence movement, the Viet Minh. The French relinquished their control of Vietnam in 1954, as the Viet Minh was recognized as the government of northern Vietnam. But the DMZ was still upheld until the end of the Vietnamese-American war ended in 1975, when the north VietCong quickly moved south and claimed victory, over the long and hard fought battle. Relax and let our tour guide show you all the important spots from the wars, and tell stories, as well as visiting some local tribes. This tour is nice if you want to get out into the countryside and see some quieter areas

Highlight

Visit Khe Sanh Combat Base one of the famous battles in the war in Quang Tri
Visit Vinh Moc Tunnels, visit the Demilitarization Zone, visit Rockpile, Dakrong Bridge, visit the museum of Ta Con Airport to see the horrible nature of the fierce war

Itinerary

6:45am Our guide and car will pick you up at your hotel in Hue city then transfer to Dong Ha Town to visit the Demilitarization Zone.

Taking this tour bring you back to the Vietnam War in 19th Century to learn about the fighting history of the Vietnamese. You go along ‘9th Road’ to visit Rockpile, Dakrong Bridge, the starting point of Highway 15, one of the main branches of the Ho Chi Minh Trail across over Thanh Han River.

You also have chance to meet the Paco minority people in Central Viet Nam. They have their own language and tradition different from Kinh people, the main race of Viet Nam. They live in stilt houses, breed goats and cows to earn their living.

The next place of this day trip is Khe Sanh Combat Base – one of the famous battles in the war in Quang Tri. It is just east of the Laos border, it was the site of an American base which fell under attack in early 1968. You see the old airfield of red dirt stills remain. Enter to the museum of Ta Con Airport to see the horrible nature of the fierce war, and how hard Quang Tri people fought against the enemy.Free to have your own lunch.

In the afternoon, you will continue visit the war sites through National Highway 1A including Hien Luong Bridge, crosses the Ben Hai River at the middle of the DMZ and marks the former border between North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1972 where the Museum lays on the Ben Hai River, the 17th Parallel.

Vinh Moc Tunnels – a network of tunnels built by villagers seeking shelter from bombings during the Vietnam War, this is the place where an entire village lived underground for two and a half years. Visiting these tunnels, you can see and admire the sheer determination and craft of Vietnamese people in the war, this complex over the course of the war grew to including wells, kitchens, and rooms for each family and spaces for healthcare. Our driver will transfer you back to Hue around 6 pm.

Tour ends at hotel in Hue.