This site is about travel in Vietnam and the first thing that we must tell you is that there is no hangover from the war as far as the people of Vietnam and tourism is concerned. Throughout the nation you will be warmly welcomed by the locals irrespective of your nationality. Under no circumstances should you fear what awaits you on arrival in Vietnam. Tourism is big business and everyone is welcome.
Cu Chi Tunnels
This is the essential half day excursion from Ho Chi Minh City where the Viet Cong dug a complex 250km network of tunnels which allowed them to move right underneath US bases.
DMZ (Demilitarised Zone)
Day excursions from Hué take you to what was a no man’s land located at the 17th parallel which divided North and South Vietnam. Ironically it became the world’s most militarised zone.
Vinh Moc Tunnels
These tunnels are the genuine article which haven’t been changed for the tourists as is the case at Cu Chi. Located just north of the DMZ so again accessible from Hué.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
This was the supply route from the North to the South along which (somehow) men and arms were moved in large quantities to help the march towards Saigon. We saw part of the trail whilst travelling north through the Central Highlands.
China Beach
A favourite spot among US servicemen who headed there for R&R (rest and relaxation). It is near Danang.
Hué Citadel
In 1968 this ancient citadel was largely destroyed as a 3 week battle came to and end and US forces retook control from the North Vietnamese.
Khe Sanh
This is the site of the most famous and most controversial battles of the war where 10,000 North Vietnamese died. A 75 day siege here required a huge redeployment of US and South Vietnamese resources to protect the combat base. It turned out that the siege was a diversionary tactic to relieve population centres in South Vietnam of military resources in preparation for the Tet Offensive. It lies on Highway 9 to the south of the DMZ.
My Lai
The most horrendous of all the atrocities that came to light during the war where hundreds of people from this small villages were massacred by US soldiers. The site is 14km from Quang Trung just off Highway 1 in the south-central coastal region.
Useful Vietnam War Resources
The Vietnam War
A quite unique website which presents the history of the Vietnam war in the form of a picture essay which depicts the awful conditions experienced by soldiers from both sides.
Vietnam War – Wikipedia
This online encyclopedia describes the main events of the war in some detail.
