Overview
In the midst of fierce years, no one could suspect the existence of Vinh Moc tunnels - a living and fighting world in the ground, isolated from the outside world.
Where are Vinh Moc tunnels?
The Vinh Moc tunnels are located in Vinh Moc village, Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province. If you follow the journey from the North to the South along the road on National Highway 1A, when almost reaching the Martyrs Cemetery in Vinh Linh district, you turn left about 13 km towards the sea to Vinh Moc tunnels.
On the road shaded by lush bamboo, perhaps few people know that right below their feet is a system of tunnels, an underground "world" of troops and people of Vinh Linh during the resistance years from 1965 to 1972.
Vinh Moc tunnels - Legend of "steel" heroes
In many revolutionary bases on the "fire land" of Quang Tri, the system of the tunnels of Vinh Moc village is symbolic of the strong will, not stepping back before the enemy of the ancestors.
In 1965, Vinh Moc village was completely destroyed under American artillery. The army and people of Vinh Linh then quietly transferred life from land to the underground. After 18,000 days, they created a system of a massive village in a hill of basalt red soil in the south of Vinh Moc village, close to the sea.
The entire dome-shaped tunnel system is 2,034m long, including many branches connected through the main axis which is 870m long. The tunnels have 13 doors, including 6 doors to the hill, 7 doors to the sea, and 3 vented wells.
It can be said that the Vinh Moc tunnels are an underground village with works such as wells, rice warehouses, Hoang Cam stoves, guard stations, telephone stations, clinics, operating rooms, bathrooms, etc.
Vinh Moc tunnels tourism
With such great historical values, in 1976, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) specifically recognized the Vinh Moc tunnels as historical and cultural relics of National level. In 2014, Vinh Moc tunnels and relics continued to be recognized as special national monuments.
This is one of the attractive destinations of the DMZ (demilitarized zone) tourist route, appealing many tourists to visit and learn. Within the site of the ruins, there is the Vinh Moc tunnels museum which showcases the war evidence, especially the famous painting "To Be Or Not To Be."
Vinh Moc tunnels - the greatly unique works in the "fire land" of Quang Tri is a cultural and historical relic with great historical and educational values, a symbol of immortal patriotism, strong will, and creativity of the ancestors in the years of resistance.
