The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was the former border between North and South Vietnam, and was anything but demilitarized as it saw much heavy fighting between the mighty US and the Vietnamese in the 1960s and early 1970s. This narrow strip ran east to west and contains several military bases preserved by the government as a memorial to their costly struggle for independence and unification.
Most of the military sites for visiting are along Highway 9 and run parallel to the Ben Hai River. The main city is Dong Ha on the coast, and this can make a good base from which to explore the DMZ. If you are not very interested in history, there is some spectacular jungle and mountain scenery to explore, although it’s best to come outside the main rainy season (May to October).
Popular on this trail are the Vinh Moc Tunnels, where a whole community fought and lived for years. Hien Luong Bridge marks the old border and was painted in two different colors. Then there are the old US military bases of Camp Carroll, Khe Sanh and the Marine outpost called the Rockpile, all of them scenes of bitter fighting. US veterans can often be seen visiting the scenes of their past, alongside their old Vietnamese opponents.
Getting there
Phu Bai International Airport in Hue is the nearest airport and there are always taxis and buses running out of the airport to the nearby cities and towns. There are numerous bus tours everyday leaving from Hue to explore the DMZ and private tours are also available in a taxi.
In brief
What is it? the former border between North and South Vietnam
Opening hours: all day, every day
Entrance fees: 200,000 – 300,000 dong
** Address/website**: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1885.html
Where: located in Central Vietnam
How to get there: Dong Hoi Airport is the closest at around 125kms away, and handles daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The towns of Dong Ha and Hue offer tours to the DMZ. These can be a cheap way to travel to the site, but involve a very long day’s traveling averaging 12 to 14 hours.