Every year, Vinh Moc Tunnels relic site attracts tens of thousands of visitors. - A group of students from the Faculty of Tourism - Nha Trang University went on a field trip to Vinh Moc Tunnels.

Today, Vinh Moc is rising with new vitality, the green color of pepper and fruit trees makes it hard to believe that this place was once the center of American bombs.

After the Dien Bien Phu victory that “resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world”, the Geneva Agreement on the issue of restoring peace in Indochina was signed on July 21, 1954. Together with the Declaration on the issue of restoring peace in Indochina and the Indochina Armistice Agreement, the Vietnam Armistice Agreement affirmed Vietnam’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, stipulated that foreign troops must withdraw from Indochina, determined that military demarcation lines were only temporary and that each Indochinese country would hold free general elections to unify the country... However, the Republic of Vietnam government of Ngo Dinh Diem did not hold general elections according to the Geneva Agreement. With the help of American imperialism, the Ngo Dinh Diem government dragged the guillotine everywhere to massacre true patriots and attacked uprising movements in the South. In 1965, the US imperialists launched the Gulf of Tonkin incident, starting a war of destruction in the North. Vinh Linh became a fire pit during the years 1965-1972. The land at the border suffered about half a million tons of bombs and bullets, on average each local person had to bear up to 7 tons of bombs and bullets from the US invaders.

Faced with the fierce destruction of the American imperialists, implementing the slogan "not an inch gone, not a millimeter moved", our army and people in the entire South and the border area had many ways to cling to their land and villages to fight the enemy. The people of Vinh Linh built solid tunnels, staying there day and night to live and fight steadfastly. Vinh Moc is the most prominent tunnel among the 114 tunnels of the tunnel village system to fight the Americans in Vinh Linh. With only human strength and hoes and shovels, the people here have created a tunnel system like a fortress. The entire Vinh Moc tunnel has a tunnel length of 1,060.25m, a tunnel height of 1.7 - 1.8m (not including alleys, apartments...) divided into 3 floors: Floor 1, 8 - 10m deep from the ground, 421.82m long; Floor 2, 12 - 15m deep from the ground, 508.08m long; 3rd floor, 20-23m deep from the ground, 130.35m long; has 13 entrances, of which 6 lead to the hill, 7 lead to the sea and 3 ventilation wells. The two sides of the main tunnel axis are about 3-5m apart, hollowed out into a small cellar for the family's living space. In fact, it is a system of underground apartments, each apartment is enough for about 3-4 people. Inside the Vinh Moc tunnel, there are also 3 water wells, 1 hall for 50 people, an infirmary, an operating room, a Hoang Cam kitchen, etc. The tunnels are zigzag to limit the destruction of American bombs; at the tunnel doors there are wooden pillars to prevent collapse and landslides. Thanks to the reasonable ventilation system, even though the tunnel is deep, it still ensures ventilation for hundreds of people during long periods of fighting and living. Vinh Moc tunnels were truly a solid fortress that resisted bombs, aircraft, and artillery fire from the 7th Fleet.

Some types of bombs and ammunition that the American army used to attack Vinh Moc.

Visiting Vinh Moc tunnel village today, tourists cannot help but be surprised when they are able to squeeze through the deep tunnels, witnessing the evidence of the war in the past. Besides the death with deep bomb craters, bullets and bombs still shining with immortal vitality, there are images of children born in the tunnels (during the time of fighting the Americans, having to live in the tunnels in Vinh Linh, 60 children were born, 17 children were born in Vinh Moc tunnels alone. Now they are more than half a century old, have become grandparents). Suddenly I remembered the verses in the poem "Our immense homeland" by poet Bui Minh Quoc "the darkest tunnel is the brightest place, where I can see the strength of Vietnam"...

In 1972, Quang Tri was liberated, the people of Vinh Moc and Vinh Linh escaped from life in the tunnels. The tunnel system was preserved and became a valuable heritage of our nation's sacred resistance war against the US.

Becoming a legend, an underground wonder, in 2014, Vinh Moc tunnel was recognized as a special National Historical Site.

Pursuant to Decision No. 1694/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2023 of the Prime Minister, the Vinh Moc Tunnels National Special Historical Relic and Vinh Linh Tunnel Village System, Quang Tri Province are invested in preservation. Along with that is the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritages: Traditional festivals, culture, beliefs, customs and practices of local people, investment in building technical and urban infrastructure; socio-economic and environmental factors related to the relic. The Vinh Moc Tunnels National Special Historical Relic and Vinh Linh Tunnel Village System become a red address to educate the tradition of patriotism, revolutionary struggle, solidarity and creativity of our people in the fight to defend the Fatherland.

Every year, Vinh Moc Tunnels relic site attracts tens of thousands of visitors. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, and since the beginning of the year, Vinh Moc Tunnels has been bustling with visitors. Visitors include veterans, university students and international tourists. They come here to gain more experiences about the land and its indomitable people - the land of fire in the resistance war against the US to save the country and the hard work to build a new life.

Thang Long

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ngoi-lang-dia-dao-huyen-thoai-231811.htm