Vinh Moc tunnels

Vinh Moc is a tunnel complex in Vietnam. It held a strategical location point during the Vietnam War given that it was located on the border of North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The tunnels were built to shelter the people from the intense bombing of Son Trung and Son Ha communes in Vinh Linh county of Quang Tri Province in the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. It was constructed in several stages beginning in 1966 and used until early 1972. The complex grew to include wells, kitchens, rooms for each family and spaces for healthcare. Around 60 families lived in the tunnels; as many as 17 children were born inside the tunnels as well.

The tunnels were a success and no villagers lost their lives. The only direct hit was from a bomb that failed to explode, the resulting hole was utilized as a ventilation shaft.

Three levels of tunnels were eventually built.

Geography

The tunnels lie on the South China Sea north of the Ben Hai River.

The soil is a dense clay, allowing easy hand digging of the tunnels. Air caused the clay to harden, making the walls extremely strong.

See also

*Vietnam War
*Demilitarized zone

External links

* [http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02WAR200305] Memories of the tunnel designer
* [http://www.blurrytravel.com/sea2003/journal/06142003/06142003.html Travel Guide to DMZ] includes a picture of the tunnel map
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/vietnam/map.htm Washington Post map of the DMZ]