Vinh Moc Tunnels - Phong Nha Caves

Located on the northern side of the DMZ along the coast of the South China Sea, the villagers of Vinh Moc found themsselves tragically positioned in one of the most heavily bombed areas of North Vietnam.  In order to escape this bombardment, the villagers constructed approximately 2.8 km of underground tunnels which they used as a refuge to survive the bombings.  The tunnels were built in three levels (12, 15 and 23 meters deep) and took thirteen months to complete.  Three hundred people lived intermittently in the tunnels during 1966 to 1971.  Sixty-two families made the tunnels their home and amazingly seventeen babies were born here and spent the first years of their lives underground.  

Besides the grotto and cave systems, Phong Nha has the longest underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways, the widest and prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing rock formations in the world. Phong Nha translates as " The wind's fang". Entering this cave is like venturing into the mouth of a giant beast. The main cave system contains 14 chambers, linked by an underwater river that runs for 1.5km. Secondary corridors branch off in all directions. The Outer Cave and some of the Inner Caves have roofs that tower between 25 and 40 meters above the water level.

Details of Tour: 

Day 1: Hue - Vinh Moc Tunnels - Dong Hoi (Lunch,Dinner)
This morning we drive out of Hue. En route to the tunnels at Vinh Moc we stop at Quang Tri. This town was once an important citadel city but was heavily damaged in 1972 during a spring offensive. Still, some of the original ramparts and gates remain. From here we proceed to Vinh Moc and the amazing 2.8kms of tunnels. Unlike their counterparts in Cu Chi in Southern Vietnam, the Vinh Moc tunnels remain unaltered and therefore offer an authentic view of underground life. We enter the tunnels and explore the subterranean passageways. Later we drive to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park for the night. Overnight at local Guest house.

Day 2: Dong Hoi - Phong Nha National Park - Hue (Breakfast, Lunch)
We take a boat trip to the famed caves at Phong Nha. The park has some beautiful limestone formations, grottoes and caves and forest. The park also contains the largest primeval forest in Vietnam and the biggest limestone mountain range on the planet. The most impressive cave - Phong Nha cave is probably the most beautiful with many fascinating rock formations with imaginative names such as The Lion, Fairy Caves, Royal Court and Buddha. Phong Nha also boasts underground rivers, large caverns and passageways and broad pristine sandbanks. Following our exploration of the caves we return to Dong Hoi for lunch before driving back to Hue.

Tour price:

The trip includes

• The car with air-condition

• English speaking tour guide

• Local tour guide

• Accommodation at Phong Nha Guest House

• Meals as indicated in the program

• All entrance, permission and visiting fees

The trip excludes 

• Visa to Vietnam

• Departure airport tax

• Meals which are not included in the program

• Personal travel & medical insurance

• International flights to and from Vietnam

• All personal & daily expenses

• All gratuities and tips to drivers and guides

Note:

• Please not wearing skirts or shorts when visiting these places.

• Surcharges for peak seasons, Christmas and New Year Holidays, lunar New Year Festival, extras for room, air tickets upgrades shall be applied

General information about Vinh Moc Tunnels:

Overview

The Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hue are another must-visit sight in Hue. These tunnels were built in 1966 to escape the massive Ariel and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam. As Vinh Moc village lies just north of the DMZ, it was subjected to heavy bombing and shelling by the American forces. The only way the villagers saw to survive in Vinh Moc -one of the most heavily bombed and shelled strips of land, was to do something about it, and do it fast.

Apart from the choice of fleeing the area and relocating, the only option they had was tunneling and they precisely chose the later and began tunneling into the red earth clay, which surrounded them. The Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hue - a 2.8km maze of tunnels, ranging on three levels from 15m to 26m below the ground, is the result of tunneling of villagers of Vinh Moc.

Thus, an enormous Viet Cong base was established down there, along with accommodation for the civilians and their families who had built the tunnels. Today just a walk through the creepy alleys of the tunnel is enough to send shudders down the spine of visitors and to think that all the while there were people were living down there, while bombs were being dropped right above their heads, is a spine chilling thought.

Living in the tunnel was anything but comfortable, as the space was so small and cramped. The rooms in which the people had to live were tiny - 6 x 3 ft - barely enough room to sit, let alone live comfortably. However, since it kept them safe from what was happening above, so that is all that mattered. People had difficulty walking straight and had to walk with their heads down most of the time. There was minimal lighting and hence limited visibility. Today there are a few very faint lights down here, but it is always better to carry a torch as well.

Though not many people visit this place it is still an important sightseeing site in Hue, Vietnam for those who want a first hand experience of life in a war zone. It makes for an interesting tour especially for the adventurers. In fact, the lesser tourist population here lends an added authenticity to the feeling of being trapped in a war-torn area.

General information about Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park:

Overview

Viet Nam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park has been recognised as a world natural heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at its 27th general assembly session being held in Paris from June 30-July 5.

At the session, delegates from over 160 member countries of UNESCO World Heritage Convention agreed to include Phong Nha-Ke Bang park and 30 others worldwide to the list of world heritage sites.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang park is now the fifth UNESCO recognised site in Viet Nam after Ha Long Bay, the imperial city of Hue, the ancient quarter of Hoi An and the My Son historical site.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, located to the north of the majestic Truong Son range in central Quang Binh province, is one of the world's two largest limestone regions.

The over 200,000 ha of parkland includes beautiful limestone formations, grottoes and caves, and boasts lush forestland covering 95 percent of the park area.

The area is considered a paradise for researchers and explorers of grottoes and caves, and Vietnamese and British scientists have so far surveyed 20 with a total length of 70km. Of them, 17 are in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area.

The Phong Nha cave itself which lends its name to the whole system is probably the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock formations, enchanting visitors with evocative names such as Lion, Fairy Caves, Royal Court and Buddha.

Besides the grotto and cave systems, Phong Nha has the longest underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways, the widest and prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing rock formations in the world.

According to initial statistics, the primitive tropical forest in Phong Nha-Ke Bang houses 140 families, 427 branches, and 751 species of high-rated plants, of which 36 species are endangered and listed in the Viet Nam Red Book. The forest is also home to 32 sets, 98 families, 256 races and 381 species of four land backboned animals. Sixty-six animal species are listed in the Viet Nam Red Book and 23 other species in the World Red Book. In general, Phong Nha-Ke Bang's animals are more diverse than in other natural reserves and national parks.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang also boasts dozens of mountain peaks of over 1,000 metres still unexplored by men and seen as ideal sites for activities like climbing and exploration. Worthy of note are Peak Co Rilata with the height of 1,128 m and Peak Co Preu, 1,213 m. Lying between these peaks are valleys which promise tourists exciting eco-tours.

In addition to the diversity in the ecosystem, Phong Nha-Ke Bang is home to archeological and historical relics, such as an ancient hieroglyphic script of the Cham ethnic minority, King Ham Nghi's base built for the resistance war against French colonialists in the late 19th century, and the Xuan Son ferry station, Ho Chi Minh Trail and Road 20 used during the US resistance war.

Central Quang Binh province has poured heavy investment into upgrading the Phong Nha-Ke Bang visitor site to turn it into the country's major tourist destination.