A visit to the Vinh Moc Tunnels

Báo KonTum•11/08/2023

11/08/2023 13:17

Although we had heard much about the remarkable feats of this tunnel system, this time we had the opportunity to see and hear for ourselves when we visited and explored the Vinh Moc Tunnels with the Provincial Journalists' Association delegation on a field trip to Quang Tri and some provinces in Central Vietnam. Visiting the Vinh Moc Tunnels, we felt the enduring hardships, the indomitable creativity, and the courageous fighting spirit of the soldiers and people of Quang Tri during the war years.

At just after 7 a.m. on a late July day, our vehicle departed from Dong Ha city, traveling north along National Highway 1A, then turning onto a small road leading to the coast, to the Vinh Moc Tunnels, located in Vinh Moc village, Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, 7 km north of Cua Tung beach. Along the cool, shady bamboo-lined road, few would know that during the period from 1965-1972, as part of their plan to expand the war of destruction, aiming to render this land lifeless, the US military and its puppets dropped hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs and ammunition on Vinh Linh. According to statistics, from 1964 to 1972, the US imperialists dropped over half a million tons of bombs of various types on Vinh Linh. These included highly destructive and lethal bombs such as excavation bombs, drilling bombs, cluster bombs, and napalm bombs. In an area of less than 820 square kilometers, it suffered over half a million tons of bombs and ammunition; on average, each person in this region had to endure 7 tons of bombs and 10 artillery shells.

A delegation from the Vietnam Journalists Association visits the Vinh Moc Tunnels. Photo: MT

From tunnel entrance number 1, we followed the guide deeper into the tunnels. As we walked, the guide introduced the tunnels and cautioned us to be careful not to get lost or stumble into the deep pits.

According to descriptions, the Vinh Moc Tunnels consist of a system of arched tunnels measuring 0.9m x 1.75m and 2,034m in length. The tunnels have 13 entrances, including 6 leading up to the hill, 7 leading towards the sea, and 3 ventilation shafts.

The Vinh Moc Tunnels are divided into three levels: Level 1, 8-10m below the surface, is 421.82m long. This level was used for combat maneuvers and shelter. Level 2, 12-15m below the surface, is 508.08m long and served as living quarters for the villagers. Level 3, 20-23m below the surface and 130.35m long, served as a storage area for food and weapons for Con Co Island, as well as supporting the combat efforts of the troops and civilians in the Vinh Moc Tunnels.

Along both sides of the tunnel, small compartments, 1.8m deep and 0.8m wide, were dug out, serving as rooms for families of 3-4 people. In addition, the tunnel contained a hall with a capacity of 50-60 people, used for meetings, watching movies, and performing arts, as well as other facilities such as a bulletin board, a maternity ward, three water wells, toilets, a surgical station, a medical station, and a kitchen (Hoang Cam kitchen). During the fierce years of war, 17 children were born here.

The Vinh Moc tunnels also have a system of trenches connecting the tunnel villages and tunnels to each other, creating a continuous "tunnel village system" throughout the area. From 1965 to 1968, the entire Vinh Linh district dug 2,098 km of trenches.

Trenches served both to prevent casualties from bombs with small destructive power and radius of destruction, and to allow people to move around more flexibly to support the fighting. Therefore, this trench system was dug throughout the villages and communes of Vinh Linh district at that time. The trench system connected houses to fields, from one tunnel to another, from one village to another, and from one commune to another. At the time, the trench system in Vinh Moc Tunnels was not only used by pedestrians but also by bicycles, and even livestock such as buffaloes, cows, and pigs moved through the trenches to protect themselves and reduce the risk when bombs fell.

With its immense historical value, the Vinh Moc Tunnels have been recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Monument since 1976; and in 2014, they were recognized as a Special National Monument.

Manh Thang

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