Quảng Trị Province

Quảng Trị was the front line of the Vietnam War. The 17th parallel ran through it from 1954 to 1975, and almost every village in the province has a war memorial. For travellers with an interest in the war it is essential. For others it is a half-day drive-through.

What's distinctive

This is the only province in Vietnam where the war is the primary tourism product. The flat coastal plain holds the DMZ sites; the mountainous west holds the start of the Hồ Chí Minh Trail. Quảng Trị also has some of the country's most active unexploded ordnance clearance operations (MAG, RENEW), and you may see fenced-off ground being cleared if you travel inland.

What to see

• Vĩnh Mốc Tunnels — coastal village whose inhabitants lived underground for six years (1965–1971) to survive American bombing. Three levels, families had named cubicles, a maternity ward, a small cinema. Less famous and less crowded than Củ Chi, and arguably more moving. Entry 50k VND.
• Hiền Lương Bridge & Bến Hải River — the 17th-parallel border. Reconstructed bridge, museum, flag towers. Free, photogenic.
• Khe Sanh Combat Base — site of the 77-day siege in early 1968. Hilltop, runway visible, small museum with helicopters, tanks and field guns. 90 minutes' drive from Đông Hà, near the Lao border.
• Trường Sơn National Cemetery — over 10,000 NVA soldiers, mostly from the Hồ Chí Minh Trail. Quiet, immaculately kept; the most affecting site in the province.
• The Citadel of Quảng Trị — site of the 81-day battle of 1972. Almost nothing of the citadel survives.
• Cồn Cỏ Island — small island used during the war; now a quiet beach trip from Cửa Tùng. Ferry runs in summer only.

How to get there

From	Mode	Time	Price (approx.)
Huế	DMZ day-tour	12 hr round trip	$25–40
Huế	Train to Đông Hà	1.5 hr	70–150k VND
Đồng Hới	Train to Đông Hà	1.5–2 hr	100–200k VND
Đông Hà	Hired car for DMZ loop	full day	1.5–2m VND

The DMZ is hard to do well by motorbike unless you already know the area — the sites are spread across 80+ km. A guided tour from Huế is the standard way most travellers visit. See transport/sleeper-buses for through-routes.

When to visit

March to August is dry and hot. September to November is monsoon and typhoon season; coastal sites can flood. December to February is cool and grey but tolerable. The cemeteries are best in calm weather; the tunnels are humid year-round.

Where to stay

Most travellers do the DMZ as a day-trip from Huế and do not overnight in Quảng Trị. If you stay, Đông Hà has Mường Thanh Quảng Trị and a few mini-hotels (400–800k VND). At the coast, Cửa Tùng has basic beach hotels. None of this is charming; the appeal is logistical.

Practicalities

• Hire a guide, not just a driver. The DMZ sites are not self-explanatory; the difference between a good and a bad guide is enormous. Look for guides with personal or family connection to the war.
• Carry water and sun cover at Vĩnh Mốc — the surface walks between tunnel entrances are exposed.
• Stay on marked paths near Khe Sanh and inland areas. UXO clearance is ongoing.
• Cash. ATMs in Đông Hà only.

How long

A long day from Huế covers all five main sites at a brisk pace. Two nights in Đông Hà lets you do the coast (Vĩnh Mốc, Hiền Lương) one day and the mountains (Khe Sanh, Trường Sơn cemetery) another, at a more humane pace.

Related: Huế, Quảng Bình, Phong Nha town, Central Vietnam.