Vinh Moc Tunnels - Legend in the Steel Underground

TPO - During the years of resistance against the US to save the country, Vinh Moc tunnels became a symbol of the will and aspiration to unify the country. The magnificent structure, with a closed system of tunnels in the fiery land of Quang Tri, demonstrated the extraordinary intelligence and determination of the army and people in the steel fortress, determined to stay and fight to protect the homeland and keep the blood vessels to the front line open.

TPO - During the years of resistance against the US to save the country, Vinh Moc tunnels became a symbol of the will and aspiration to unify the country. The magnificent structure, with a closed system of tunnels in the fiery land of Quang Tri, demonstrated the extraordinary intelligence and determination of the army and people in the steel fortress, determined to stay and fight to protect the homeland and keep the blood vessels to the front line open.

Vinh Moc (Vinh Thach commune) is a village located close to the coast, about 38km from Dong Ha city - the center of Quang Tri province. This place has an important position in the resistance war against the US to save the country, being both the northern frontier of socialism and a very convenient location for gathering food, provisions and weapons to support the defense of Con Co island, and supporting the southern battlefield by sea.

When the US imperialists began to escalate the war of destruction in northern Vietnam, the Vinh Linh land of less than 820 square kilometers located on the northern bank of the Ben Hai River became a bomb bag, suffering more than half a million tons of bombs and bullets, an average of 7 tons per person from 1965 to 1972.

The bombs dropped by the US imperialists on Vinh Linh land are now displayed in the tunnel relic site as evidence of war crimes.

There are still countless bomb craters on the ground, next to the bamboo hedges and forests that protected the tunnels.

To survive and fight, the army and people of Vinh Moc decided to " militarize the entire population and fortify the entire area", and began building a system of tunnels and widespread battlefields.

With the will of "not leaving an inch, not leaving a millimeter", the army and people of Vinh Linh silently moved their lives from the ground to underground. On July 25, 1965, the first pickaxe was made, opening the tunnel digging process.

In about 2 years and 18,000 working days, Vinh Moc people dug and transported 6,000m3 of earth and rock to complete the underground tunnel system, consisting of 3 main tunnels connected to each other. The total length of the tunnel is up to 1,701m, including 13 entrances (6 entrances to the hill, 7 entrances to the sea). The tunnel has a 3-storey structure for people to live, store goods and avoid bombs.

The tunnel is dome-shaped, 1.7m high, 1.2m wide, and 15-23m deep. Because Vinh Moc is a red basalt land, the soil is soft and highly cohesive, ensuring no landslides. The system of doors and ventilation wells are camouflaged to help with ventilation. At peak times, the capacity of Vinh Moc tunnels is about 600 people.

Vinh Moc tunnels have places for eating, living and activities for Vinh Moc people, and also include a kindergarten, a first aid station, a communications house, a militia guard house, a warehouse and a meeting hall... This ensures the safety of the people, while maintaining daily life and being able to grow crops and fight. During the fierce war years, 17 children were born here.

The tunnels had openings to the sea to transport weapons and goods to support Con Co Island and the southern battlefield.

During nearly 2,000 days and nights in the tunnels, the army and people of Vinh Moc wrote a legend about the miraculous vitality and indomitable will of the people in this land of fire.

Today, Vinh Moc Tunnels and Vinh Linh tunnel village system are recognized as special national monuments, becoming red addresses with great historical value,educating patriotic traditions and revolutionary spirit.

The relic also attracted a large number of international visitors, who expressed their admiration for the immortal patriotism, indomitable will and creativity of the people of Vinh Moc in particular and the Vietnamese people in general in the cause of national reunification.

Coming to Vinh Moc is not only a journey back to the source, learning about the legend in the fiery land, visitors also witness the strong revival of the heroic land in the war, industrious and creative in labor to develop, entering a new era of the country.

As You Wish - Referee - Thanh Hai

Source: https://tienphong.vn/dia-dao-vinh-moc-huyen-thoai-trong-long-dat-thep-post1721804.tpo