Full-day excursion to the demilitarised zone (DMZ) and the Vinh Moc Tunnels

On this full-day excursion, you will visit the demilitarised zone (DMZ), which formed the border between North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. You will visit the most well-known battlefields and the impressive Vinh Moc Tunnels, which housed an entire village for 2½ years during the war.

You will be picked up from the hotel in the morning and driven to the demilitarised zone. Despite its name, some of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War were fought here. The entire area extends over 8 km around the Ben Hai River and runs from the coast of Vietnam in the east to the border of Laos in the west.

The first stop of the day is Quang Tri Citadel, the site of one of the major battles in 1972, when US and South Vietnamese troops fought the North Vietnamese troops. You will visit a memorial to the soldiers who died for the country’s independence. Afterwards, the tour heads to the Ben Hai River, which you cross on foot over Hien Luong Bridge, which is considered an important national monument to the reunification of Vietnam. Over on the other side of the bridge, you will visit the museum of the same name, where you will see various monuments as well as historical relics of the war.

Next stop is the Vinh Moc Tunnels, which are reminiscent of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels outside Ho Chi Minh City. However, the Vinh Moc tunnels were intended for civilians rather than soldiers, and are therefore also better excavated and relatively easy to walk through, making them a popular alternative for tourists. The tunnel network is spread over three levels and comprises a total of around 2,000 metres of tunnels. When the war began, most of the local population was evacuated to other parts of the country, but some people in the zone chose to settle in the tunnels to escape the constant bombing in the area. It is said that, during the five years from 1966 to 1971, some 300 people lived in the Vinh Moc Tunnels. You will also visit a small museum here where you can see photos of the harsh living conditions in the underground corridors.

After visiting the tunnels, it’s time for a traditional Vietnamese lunch. The tour then takes you to the old US Khe Sanh military base at the border with Laos. More than 10,000 North Vietnamese, 500 Americans and countless civilians are believed to have died during the 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh. Vegetation in the area has only recently begun to grow again after being all but wiped out during the war. The area has now been transformed into a park consisting of a museum and a memorial. After the visit, you’ll head back to Hué.

You will be back at the hotel in the evening after an eventful and fascinating day.

Duration: approx. 10 hours

This excursion is open to TourCompass’ own guests only.

We recommend that you book the excursion when booking the tour.