Vinh Moc Tunnels In Quang Tri, Vietnam
Vinh Moc Tunnel- a world beneath the war
Vinh Moc tunnels– a world of living and fighting in the ground, in the midst of the years of fierce bombing, completely isolated from the outside world.
The work began in early 1965 and was completed on February 18, 1966; located in the heart of a red basalt hill running close to the sea edge.
The special thing is that the commander of this project at that time, his education just finished primary school. Currently, he is a former lieutenant colonel who is living in Dong Ha City and is blind due to the effects of his wartime injuries.
Where is it?
Vinh Moc Tunnels is located in Vinh Moc village, Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, 7 km north of Cua Tung beach. From Dong Ha city, it takes more than 1 hour to drive along National Highway 1A towards the North and then turn into a small road into the sea to reach Vinh Moc tunnels.
On the green shaded path, perhaps few people know that right below their feet is a system of tunnels, an underground “world” of the army and people of Vinh Linh during the war years from 1965 to 1972.
Vinh Moc Tunnels architectural specification
The whole dome-shaped tunnel system has dimensions of 0.9m x 1.75m and a total of 2,034m long, including many branches that are connected together through the main axis with a length of 870m.
The tunnel has 13 doors, of which 6 doors are connected to the hill, 7 doors open to the sea, and 3 vented wells. Moreover, the cellar doors have wooden columns to prevent collapse and landslides, discreetly camouflaged, sloping in the direction of the wind, to ensure ventilation.
The ground level of Vinh Moc tunnels was dug 5m above sea level, inclined from 8 – 120 degrees from South to North, from West to East for easy drainage, not being stuck in the tunnels.
Daily life activity was still happening normally even in the rainy season. Thanks to that, the clay in the tunnel is getting harder and harder, making the structure of Vinh Moc tunnels almost intact today.
Entering the tunnel, visitors will be surprised because it is very cool. Ventilation is the needful safe factor, ensuring hundreds of people live and fight in the tunnel is the most important element of the tunnels.
This is not only a simple fighting tunnel-like other works but also an underground living space of the soldiers and local people. They have turned the underground into sturdy fortresses with three connecting levels. The first level is 8 – 10m deep for maneuvering combat and shelter.
The second level, from 12 to 15 meters from the ground, is the villager’s residence. The third level is more than 23m deep, used as a storage of food and weapons for Con Co island as well as for the army and people of Vinh Moc tunnels.
What makes it special?
It can be said that Vinh Moc tunnel is an underground village with all facilities such as freshwater wells, rice storage, Hoang Cam kitchen, guard station, telephone station, infirmary, operating room, residence rooms, bathrooms, etc.
Inside the tunnels, there is also a hall used as a place for meetings, performances, films, with a capacity of up to 50 people.
Vinh Moc tunnels are evaluated as a typical work of the system of Vinh Linh village’s tunnel. Tunnels are initiated from wells, then radiated into tunnels. The tunnels often run zigzag, in a Z shape to create solid folds, using the ground wall to block the path of the bomb explodes.
In the nearly 2,000 days and nights of existence, in the tunnel, no one was injured and 17 babies were born. It is enough to prove the value and meaning of Vinh Moc tunnels and the miracle of the sacred land and people here.
How to visit Vinh Moc Tunnels?
If you stay in Hue, you should book Hue DMZ Tour to have a great day trip exploring La Vang Holyland, Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River, Vinh Moc Tunnels, etc.
What if you stay in Da Nang or Hoi An? Yes, you can also explore all the DMZ Quang Tri highlights by booking the Da Nang to DMZ by private car or Hoi An to DMZ by private car.
Comments
Post a Comment