Doing the DMZ from Hue

One of the more popular long day tours to do from Hue is a DMZ tour, which takes in some of the historic battlefield sites related to the American War.

Travel better, travel smarter

Save money, receive our latest updates and get the most out of your travels.

As most of the sites are well north of Hue, doing a tour from the city will involve plenty of time in a (most likely crammed) minibus as you shuttle up the coast. If you have the time, you are far better off to do the tour from Dong Ha, the capital of the province which includes most of the points of interest, and we cover the DMZ sites in detail in our Dong Ha section. However if you don’t have the time or inclination to base yourself there, Hue is your next best option.

At Khe Sanh Marine Base. Photo taken in or around Doing the DMZ from Hue, Hue, Vietnam by Cindy Fan.

At Khe Sanh Marine Base. Photo: Cindy Fan

Tours leave Hue early in the morning and return in the evening, so it is very much a full day tour. It is also important to note that some of the sites will really hold limited interest to those who have just a passing interest in the War, so be honest with yourself and your timeline when deciding if the tour is for you. Thuan An beach or the Elephant Springs can just as easily make for a comfortable holiday from a holiday.

A typical tour will include The Rockpile, Khae Sanh Marine Base and the museum on site, a bridge which includes a section of what was once the Ho Chi Minh Trail (now the Ho Chi Minh Highway), the Ben Hai River (once the demarcation point between North and South, now just a river) and, what is easily the highlight, the Vinh Moc Tunnels.

Watch your head in Vinh Moc Tunnels. Photo taken in or around Doing the DMZ from Hue, Hue, Vietnam by Cindy Fan.

Watch your head in Vinh Moc Tunnels. Photo: Cindy Fan

In between, expect long stretches in a minibus and breakfast and lunch (which may or may not be included in the price depending on the operator). All tours will include a guide, but standards vary tremendously and the experience can be very scripted, often with a put on Texan drawl.

The area can also be visited independently, in which case we would suggest only Khe Sanh and Vinh Moc as being really worth the effort, but it still makes for a lot of riding or driving time ... Travelfish members only (Around 400 more words) ... please log in to read the rest of this story.