DMZ Vietnam War battlefields - Rusty Compass travel photo gallery
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    DMZ Vietnam War battlefields

    / Last updated 24 Aug 2012

    Introduction

    A photo gallery from a long day visiting the battlefields of Vietnam's DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) including Khe Sanh, Vinh Moc Tunnels, the Ben Hai River and the vast Truong Son Cemetery.
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • Heading up Highway 1 towards the DMZ along the once deadly "street without joy" between Hue and Dong Ha.
    • The scarred pill-box that looks over the bridge.
    • La Vang Church Quang Tri, was destroyed during the Easter Offensive in 1972.
    • La Vang is one of the holiest shrines in Vietnam and to this day receives huge crowds of pilgrims - despite the fact that only the belltower still stands. Mary is said to have appeared here to persecuted Christians in 1798.
    • Long Hung Church Quang Tri - another church destroyed at Easter 1972 - Quang Tri town.
    • Long Hung Church Quang Tri - the tip of the original crucifix remains.
    • North Vietnamese soldiers were holed up in here.
    • The rebuilt Quang Tri Citadel. This was the epicentre of the fighting at Easter 1972. The whole town was levelled in aerial bombardments.
    • The original walls tell the story of the 1972 Easter Offensive - when North Vietnamese units siezed the town. They were finally turned back with the help of US air power, in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Three years later, they captured the entire country.
    • This devastated Buddhist School is preserved as a war monument.
    • The peaceful setting that became the stage for some of history's most intense warfare.
    • The Rockpile, DMZ - a former observation post. It's now being carved up by quarrying.
    • Dakrong Bridge was another critical point along Route 9 both for the Ho Chi Minh Trail and South Vietnamese access to the hinterland.
    • Route 9 to Khe Sanh and on to Laos.
    • The airstrip at Khe Sanh. The mountains in the background were vital strategic points.
    • The metallic strips that were used to for makeshift runways. In the 90s these were everywhere throughout the country - used for fencing, houses, sheds, anything at all.
    • The airstrip at Khe Sanh is finally growing some vegetation. On my first visit in 1994, nothing would grow here.c
    • A shot from my first visit to Khe Sanh in 1994. At the time, this was the only monument at the site. The town however was full of military junk and there was still plenty of unexploded ordnance in the bush.
    • Now, some huge pieces of leftover US military equipment have been moved here - including this C130, tanks and helicopters. No meaningful information is provided.
    • Khe Sanh is being rebuilt for tourists
    • Khe Sanh
    • Mr Minh gives an informative account at the Khe Sanh museum.
    • US military junk, Khe Sanh Museum.
    • French era bridge on the original route 9 - at an important Ho Chi Minh Trail crossing.
    • Picturesque DMZ coastline near Vinh Moc
    • Entrance to Vinh Moc tunnel network on the northern side of the DMZ. The tunnels were built by villagers to escape US bombing.
    • Bomb crater, Vinh Moc
    • Museum, Vinh Moc Tunnels
    • Flag tower at the Ben Hai River crossing.
    • Ben Hai River - the old border and the restored Hien Luong Bridge. It was originally built in 1952 by the French.
    • Monument at the Ben Hai River "Desire for National Reunification". It stands on the south bank depicting a mother and child waiting for the return of a father who has travelled north to the aid of the communist movement.
    • Our day ended at the Truong Son Cemetery along the Ho Chi Minh Highway.
    • The massive Truong Son Cemetery is a stark monument to the terrible toll in human life Vietnam paid for national unification - and it holds only a tiny percentage of the war's casulaties. Those buried here were some of those involved in the defense and maintenance of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
    • The travel experience to the DMZ depends very much on a good guide. I was fortunate to travel with Mr Tam. Tam grew up in the area during the war and has vivid memories of life in the battle zone. He travels with original US military maps donated to him by veterans travellling through.
    Quicklink - Introduction - DMZ