The town of Huong Hoa in Vietnam was once well known for its coffee plantation that was assisted by the French but is now used as a stopover for people visiting Laos and exploring the Khe Sanh victory monument or the old American base.
Most of the town’s citizens originate from the Bru tribe, which occupy the surrounding area in the hills, and they can be recognized by their clothing, with the females always wearing sarongs. The whole tribe will also use traditional woven baskets for shopping bags.
There are many reminders of the Vietnam War around Huong Hoa and plenty of memorials and bridges. The coast lays 45 miles to the east and can be accessed by taxi or hire car.
Getting there
The closest international airport is located in Hue, which is a 2-hour drive from Khe Sanh Town. Dong Ha hosts the closest train station that provides services between all the major towns and cities in the area, including Hanoi that is 400 miles from Dong Ha and takes 12 hours on a train. The bus station just outside town runs into Laos and other places in Vietnam.
Huong Hoa attractions
Khe Sanh Memorial Museum: an interesting museum full of war artifacts and information relating to the war.
In brief
What to do: visit war sites and use the town as a stopover to Laos.
Best time to go: February through to April.
How long? One day.
Trivia: the Khe Sanh Combat Base was the site of the bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War in 1968.