Vinh Moc Tunnels – The longest and largest tunnel system in Vietnam

Vinh Moc tunnel is an accurately a miniaturized image of a deep underground village. During the war, the villagers dug the tunnels by hand, desperate to hide from heavy bombing. There are kitchens, wells, and rooms here where families lived underground for years.

Where is Vinh Moc Tunnel?

Vinh Moc (Vịnh Mốc) is a tunnel complex in Quang Tri, Vietnam. 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.

The tunnel system existed north of Ben Hai River, Hien Luong Bridge during the years 1965-1972. It was within 17th demilitarized zone established under the Geneva Convention on Indochina in 1954.

The Vinh Moc tunnels are among thousands of underground passageways built across Vietnam throughout the war, including the massive Cu Chi tunnels in Saigon. Most of the tunnels were destroyed by American bombs, but a few like Vinh Moc are intact and now attract hordes of tourists, many of whom marvel at the cramped conditions.

What inside the complex of Vinh Moc Tunnels?

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.

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?

The system is a testament to the endurance, wisdom and bravery of the local population. Rather than flee, 350 Vinh Moc villagers chose to create a series of interconnected bomb shelters from 1965 to 1966. During the seven years (1965 – 1972), the American troops dropped more than 9,000 tons of bombs in the area but no villagers were killed . Around 60 families lived and 17 children were born inside the tunnels.

With the passage of time, the legendary tunnel system has become a powerful reminder of the horrors of war. In 1976, the tunnel system was recognized as a national heritage site and was opened for public viewing in 1995.

When you are deep in the tunnels, visitors are sometimes amazed by all facilities of this underground village. There are freshwater wells, rice storage, Hoang Cam kitchen, guard station, telephone station, infirmary, operating room, residence rooms, bathrooms, and even a hall used as a place for meetings, performances, films, with a capacity of up to 50 people.