Category: Quang Tri – DMZ

Hien Luong Bridge - Ben Hai River are two important historical sites that should not be missed when visiting the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Quang Tri Province. These sites are steeped in history and offer a glimpse into Vietnam’s past struggles. Located on Highway 1A, Hien Luong Bridge crosses the Ben Hai River. This iconic bridge straddles the 17th parallel, a line that once symbolized the division between North and South Vietnam. During the years of the Vietnam War, from 1954 to 1976, the bridge served as a symbolic boundary between the two regions. Visiting these sites provides you a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s history and the resilience of its people. 1. Overview of Hien Luong Bridge - Ben Hai River Hien Luong Bridge - Ben Hai River, located on the 17th parallel, are silent witnesses to the heartbreaking separation of many families during a turbulent historical period. The harsh reality of war forced husbands and wives to live apart, one in the North and the other in the South, causing immense suffering. Children lost their fathers, and wives grieved for the absence of their husbands. These two landmarks symbolize the enduring pain experienced by countless individuals. Ben Hai River The Ben Hai River is nearly 100 km long, less than 200m wide at its widest point. The river originates from the majestic Truong Son mountain range, a land famous for its rugged beauty. From there, the river meanders along the 17th parallel, flowing from the west to the east coast. Finally, the river flows into the East Sea through Cua Tung. This river is not only a natural landmark but also an important geographical feature of historical and cultural importance. Hien Luong Bridge Hien Luong Bridge across Ben Hai River at Km 735 on National Highway 1A, connecting Vinh

KHE SANH COMBAT BASE AND THE WEST OF QUANG TRI Heading west from Dong Ha city on Highway 9 or Asia Highway 16 (AH16), beginning to ride to the foothills of the Truong Son range, you will see the hill isolated 230m high dominates the valley, it is the Rockpile. The American troops delivered by helicopter used the directing artillery to targets across the Quang Tri province and into Laos, but the base was abandoned in 1968s. Along the highway continues follows a picturesque valley past the Dakrong Bridge (a spur of the Ho Chi Minh Trail) before driving among ever more forested mountains to emerge at Khe Sanh Combat Base. In this area, you'll see a few stilt houses of the ethnic minority Van Kieu and Pa Cô Khe Sanh Combat Base and the Battle The battle of Khe Sanh or known as Ta Con airport attracted worldwide news attention and, along with the simultaneous Tet Offensive of 1968, demonstrated the futility of America's efforts to contain its enemy. In 1962 an American Special Forces team arrived in Khe Sanh town to train local Bru minority people in counter-insurgency, and then four years later the first batch of Marines was sent in to establish a forward base near Laos, to secure Highway 9 and to harass troops on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Skirmishes around Khe Sanh increased as intelligence reports indicate a massive build-up of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops in late 1967, possibly as many as forty thousand, facing six thousand Marines together with a few hundred South Vietnamese and Bru. Both the Western media and American generals were soon presenting the confrontation as a crucial test of America's credibility in South Vietnam and drawing parallels with Dien Bien Phu. As US President Johnson famously remarked, he