When someone mentions Quang Tri Province, people may think about war memories, remnants and scars of time. However, Quang Tri has a proud history, of which the Vinh Moc Tunnel system is a huge attraction for tourists.
From Dong Ha City, the commercial hub of Quang Tri, it takes about one hour by motorbike along National Highway 1A to reach the Vinh Moc Tunnel complex in Vinh Moc Hamlet, Vinh Thach Commune, Vinh Linh District.
The path to Vinh Moc is shaded by bamboo lines and immense rice fields. The peaceful scenery makes passers-by forget the terrible past where many locals died as a result of U.S. bombs. Along the way, tourists can also see many historical relics.
The tunnel system is like a miniature village built underground at 10 meters to 23 meters deep. It is more than 1,700 meters long and there is an interlacing transport system underground. The deeper the tunnel, the narrower and colder it gets.
It has three floors. The first is 12 meters deep and was the place for daily activities of locals while the second floor is 15 meters deep and was home to store food and weapons as well as for meetings. The deepest floor is 23 meters underground and is where locals protected themselves from bombing during the American War.
The system has a total of 13 doors, of which seven are linked to the sea with six linked to the hills. Around 180,000 people lived in the tunnel system for over two years.
The tunnel has been recognized as a national historical site and was opened for public viewing in 1995.