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Published: December 11th 2007
Long Hung church...
Or whats left of it - Now kept as a memorial...After having read up on the area and finding out that it was the sight of some of the heaviest battles during the war.
We decided that today we would go to the demilitarization zone. (DMZ)
Our hotel arranged for a taxi to pick us up and show us the points of interest.
So off we went to the Vinh Moc Tunnels.
Along the way we stopped see:
Long Hung Catholic Church A dilapidated Catholic Church which was the site of a fierce and bloody battle between American troops and the Viet Cong.
The Americans had sought refugee within the church walls, but this was to no avail.
The Church has been left standing in its bullet ridden state as a reminder of the war.
It still retains an eerie feeling. Ben Hai River From 1954 until the defeat of the Americans in 1975, Ben Hai river marked the division of Vietnam.
It was the original demarcation point between North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 and is crossed by the Hien Luong Bridge.
5km either side of the river was declared a DMZ - a stark contrast to what really
The Info....
Saves me writing it...
For those that don't already know, if you click on the picture it will make it bigger, then you will be able to read it..... took place in this region.
In fact, the surrounding region experienced some of the heaviest fighting during the Vietnam War.
Some areas, such as Vinh Moc were termed Free Fire Zones, allowing a virtual free for all without fear of future repercussions and everything was designated a target.
As a result of this heavy fighting, there are still unexploded bombs lying around and there are still casualties today from them.
These areas were completely devastated either by relentless shelling or defoliation during the war and were eventually replanted with eucalyptus trees, chosen for their durability and speedy maturity.
The Vinh Moc Tunnels The tunnels are situated 19 km north of the Ben Hai river.
These were built in 1966 to escape the massive ariel and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam.
As Vinh Moc village lies just north of the DMZ, it was one of the most heavily bombed and shelled strips of land by the American forces.
Apart from the choice of fleeing the area and relocating, the only option the villagers had was tunneling.
So they began tunneling into the red earth clay, which surrounded them. It was the very claylike consistency of
What must it have been like?
Being under siege for 81 days and nights!!! the soil in the area of Vinh Moc which allowed these tunnels to be made.
This took 18 months to complete. There are 3 levels of tunnels with the lowest going to a depth of 30m, 12 entrances with 7 opening up to the ocean, and in total the tunnels cover over 2 square km.
Next to the tunnels is a museum with an emotional display of memorabilia.
Take note of the before and after photos of Vinh Moc and the stories about the Suicide Squads.
These volunteers were responsible for ferrying supplies out to the offshore Con Co islands whilst under the constant risk of being spotted and killed by US helicopters specially stationed to sever those supply lines.
Though not many people visit this place it is still an important sightseeing site.
For those who want a first hand experience of life in a war zone,
it makes for an interesting tour especially for the adventurers.
In fact the lesser tourist population here,
lends an added authenticity to the feeling of being trapped in a war-torn area.
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amanda ingram
non-member comment
Hi both, Looks like a really interesting place i love to see old buildings, amazing history. Hope all is well xx