If you are interested in military history, then the Vinh Moc tunnels are a must-visit during your time in Vietnam. This tunnel system is not as popular with visitors compared to the Cu Chi Tunnels due to it’s more isolated location, but still offers a fascinating insight into the lives and experiences that the Vietnamese people endured during the war.
Where is Vinh Moc Tunnels
Vinh Moc Tunnels are located in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam. They lie just south of the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separated North and South Vietnam during the war. This is the largest tunnel system in Vietnam, with many of the original tunnels remaining sturdy and largely naturally preserved. However, many areas have also been carefully restored to demonstrate how the tunnels were used and lived in by the people and soldiers.
The closest cities to the Vinh Moc Tunnels include:
- Dong Ha: 40 km north (around 1 hour by car/motorbike)
- Hue: 100 km north (around 2.5 hours by car/motorbike)
- Da Nang: 220 km north (around 5 hours by car/motorbike)
Opening hours and entrance fee for Vinh Moc Tunnels
The Vinh Moc Tunnels are open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The entrance fee is 50,000 VND per person.
Brief history of the Vinh Moc Tunnels
The Vinh Moc Tunnel systems were built during the war with America and acted as a stronghold where civilians could shelter from the relentless bombardment from the US.
From 1965 to 1968, around 114 tunnels were built, stretching over 40 km. The tunnels at Vinh Moc are far deeper (22m) than those found at the Cu Chi Tunnels.
This is due to the fact that the main purpose of the Vinh Moc tunnels was to act as a permanent underground village. Whereas Cu Chi Tunnels were shallower to allow for quick guerrilla surprise attacks.
Inside the tunnels, there were;
“meeting halls (with a capacity of 50-60 people) for gatherings, film screenings, and cultural performances, as well as other facilities such as bulletin boards, maternity rooms, three wells, latrines, a surgical station, an infirmary, and a communal kitchen.”
(Vietnam Pictorial, 2025).
During the most intense years of the war, the population of the tunnels swelled to roughly 1,200 people. Those who made the tunnels their home endured hardship and disease while sheltering in the tunnels.
Getting to the Vinh Moc Tunnels
Vinh Moc Tunnels are slightly out of the way, so the best way to get there is travelling by motorbike.
If you are planning on visiting and you’re setting off from Da Nang it’s a good idea to split the journey over a couple of days, spending some time in Hue and maybe a night in Dong Ha before making the fairly short journey to the tunnels.
Personal experience
At the beginning of May 2025 I decided to go on a road trip from Da Nang to Dong Ha to visit my friend from university. For the journey I rented a Honda Wave 110cc, which in retrospect was a questionable choice, my bum will be a testament to this after the bumpy roads. Prior to setting off on the journey I also thought it was a good idea to hit a PR on deadlift (180kg), this might have, no pun intended, compounded the uncomfortable nature of the road trip as my back was very fatigued.
Regardless, I set off in the early morning with my first stop being Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam and one of my favourite cities in the whole of Vietnam. It was very hot and sunny day so after driving through the Hai Van Pass which connects Da Nang to Hue I was looking for somewhere to cool off.
Natural hot springs to the way to Hue
I stopped off at a natural hot spring after seeing some fairly low key signage advertising the location. It’s not on Google Maps, however there is a small restaurant fairly close by, so if you head there you should find it no problem.
This was definitely a local spot and they were a bit surprised to see a foreigner. However everyone was really friendly and even offered me a beer, which I gladly accepted. It was great to cool off although I did almost drown while trying to get the perfect ‘Instagrammable’ photo.
Continuing the journey
PSA: Driving in Vietnam can be somewhat daunting at times. However, when you are driving in the countryside, it’s important to be especially careful as you will be sharing the same road with some very large trucks and lorries. It’s imperative to drive with purpose and flexibility. Remember as a general rule the biggest vehicle on the road has the right of way.
Arriving in Hue city
After around a 2-hour leisurely drive with plenty of stops to take photos of the abundant and lush rice paddies with the occasional water buffalo grazing nearby I arrived in Hue around 6 PM. After dropping my bags at my fairly basic hotel it was time to get out and explore the city.
One of the best parts of Hue is the food, it has a more rich flavor than other parts of Vietnam, unfortunately I didn’t take any photos of the food. From recollection I ate Bun Bo Hue (beef noodle soup) from a local vendor.
Enjoying the peace and quiet in Hue can be a unique experience in Vietnam, where there is seemingly no slowing down and no shortage of noisy places, but in Hue there are places in the city that truly give you that feeling of quiet serenity. I love Vietnam, but one of the things I miss from my home, Scotland, is the calmness that is ever-present in the solitude and isolation of an empty street or desolate pathway. I found this escape near the Imperial Palace, which looks incredible at night.
Night life in Hue
Okay, yes I love a bit of peace and quiet… but don’t kid yourself I also enjoy having a bit of fun. So after my short walk I headed to the bar street, which was popping off. I might have indulged in a fair few pints of lager after meeting a group of Vietnamese who were out celebrating their friend’s birthday. After bar hopping and embarrassing myself on the dance floor I said farewell to my new friends and headed back to my hotel.
On the road again
The next morning I woke up fairly early around 7 AM, luckily enough there was a local restaurant selling, yes you guessed it, Bun Bo, so I treated myself to another delicious bowl hoping that the beef broth would wash away my sins from the night before, not sure that materialised, but it was tasty. I was on the road pretty soon after this with my final intended stop being Dong Ha.
Stopping at a rest stop on the road to Dong Ha
There are countless places to stop when you are on the highway in Vietnam, one of my favourite places to get some food, coffee and most importantly a hammock are the local truck stops. There are plenty of uncles having a quick nap, probably after driving all day. The only thing I would say is maybe ask for no ice in the drinks here (không đá), trust me your stomach will thank you later.
Arriving in Dong Ha
After my short nap I got back on the road and arrived in Dong Ha in the early afternoon. My first impression of Dong Ha was that it was your typical Vietnamese city, with a population of around 165,000, it’s not a huge city by any means. everyone I met, from servers at restaurants to locals on the street were very warm and friendly.
As I arrived slightly earlier than expected my friend was taking a nap, so I decided to explore the city a bit. While driving around I came across a military history museum, so I decided to check it out while I waited on my friend to wake up from his beauty sleep.
Exploring the museum
When I first arrived at the museum it was temporarily closed. I’m not sure exactly on the reason for this. However, it gave me some time to look at some of the military relics scattered around the museum. I have included some photos of the cool vehicles that I saw below.
While I was walking through the museum grounds a group of children approached me and asked for a photo. Whenever, I meet locals in Vietnam they always come with great energy and these boys were no different, and as I left, they gave me a parting gift. It’s these small moments in life when you realize kindness and thoughtfulness will be remembered far longer than any material possession can give or own, but it won’t stop me from buying the latest iPhone or financing a snazzy car in the future.
Slightly off topic, but while writing this blog I am reminded of my own hypocrisies and it made me think of one of the most powerful philosophy that has shaped the way I see the word. This is understanding that, there are always multiple realities in life, nothing is black or white, nothing is simple, people will do things for a multitude of reasons. ‘Don’t judge a person unless you’ve walked in their shoes‘. Don’t evaluate a persons worth based on their smiles and laughter. Make your judgement on how they treat you and how they make you feel.
Inside the museum
Now after around an hour I popped back to the museum’s front entrance and was happy to see that it was now open. Stepping inside the well air conditioned room was a welcome respite from the sweltering heat. The museum consisted of two floors, with historical exhibitions ranging from early life in Vietnam to information and historical artifacts from the many wars that have been fought in Vietnam.
I was especially impressed with the in-depth exhibition on the battle for Quảng Trị Ancient Citadel, which was a historic 81-day siege which saw North Vietnamese regular troops capture and hold out the citadel from the Americans and ARVN troops for 81 days (June 28 to September 16, 1972) until finally succumbing to the heavy U.S. firepower. If you are interested in this battle I would highly recommend that you watch the film ‘Red Rain‘ (Mưa đỏ), which depicts the hardship and courage that were shown by the North Vietnamese army during this historic siege.
Fidel Castro Park, Dong Ha
Just opposite the museum I wandered over to a park and was surprised to see a statue of Fidel Castro right in the center with an inscription which read “‘For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to devote her blood“. I didn’t stay too long as the sun was beating down, so I found a bench which offered some shade and waited for some time.
Catching up with an old friend
I gave my friend (Ha) a call and fortunately he had awoken from his slumber. I drove the short distance over to his place and was warmly welcomed by his family. It was so great to catch up, even after such a long time apart we could still laugh at the same jokes and reminisce about our time at university, which felt like a lifetime and a world away.
Driving to the Tunnels
I set off in the late morning to the Vinh Moc Tunnels, it’s around 70 km away from Dong Ha which took around 1 hour and 30 minutes in total. Surprisingly, one of my Russian friend, ‘Jay’ was travelling down from Hanoi after buying a new scooter, so we linked up and set off together.
Crossing the Hien Luong Bridge
The Hien Luong Bridge is one of the most significant historical landmarks in Vietnam, representing the 21-year division between North and South Vietnam and is a testament to the resilience of the Vietnamese people. The original bridge was constructed by the French in 1952, shortly before the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Following the French’s defeat, the Geneva Accords of 1954 established the 17th parallel as a temporary military demarcation line separating the two sides of Vietnam.
The Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge became one of the most visible symbols of this division. For more than two decades, the bridge stood at the center of a heavily guarded border, with North and South Vietnam separated on either side.
Today, Hien Luong Bridge and the surrounding historical site serves as a symbol of Vietnam’s reunification. One of the most apparent things that you will notice are the many Vietnamese flags and wartime flags which surround the bridge.
Arriving at the Vinh Moc Tunnels
After another 30 minutes on the road, we finally made it to the Vinh Moc Tunnels. We had spent most of the morning riding through the countryside, so it was nice to arrive somewhere a bit quieter. It was hard to believe that this peaceful area had once been heavily bombed during the war. It was slightly difficult to locate the tunnels as you need to drive along some fairly windy roads on the way.
There weren’t many people around when we arrived, which was actually quite nice. It was completely different from my experience at the Cu Chi Tunnels, where there were a lot more tourists and the whole place felt much more commercialized.
We parked our bikes and had a look around the site before heading towards the tunnel entrance. There are a few information boards and displays around the area explaining the history of the tunnels.
It was absolutely roasting outside, so I was quite keen to get underground, in a strange sort of way. At the same time, it was pretty strange standing there knowing that hundreds of people had spent long periods living underground in this exact area during the war.
After having a look around outside, we eventually made my way over to the entrance and started heading down into the tunnels.
Entering the Tunnels
As I had previously visited the Cu Chi Tunnels I thought I had a good understanding of what it would be like. However, as I stepped down from the sunlight into the tunnels with the temperature slowly dropping I was astonished at the sheer depth and scale of the tunnels. The tunnels are divided into to three levels with the lowest floor at around 22 metres underground.
While traversing the tunnels at points it can become slightly claustrophobic, especially when there are groups of tourists navigating their way through the labyrinth of passages. I would honestly recommend visiting the tunnels on your own or with a couple of friends as if you visit the site with a tour you’ll likely be crammed into a tight group, which doesn’t seem like the best way to experience the tunnels. There are a lot of mannequins throughout the tunnels, which gives you a feel for how people lived in the tunnels during the war. I will say it can be a bit freaky when you turn a corner and see one of these mannequins hiding in the shadows.
Quick meal
We stayed at the tunnel complex for around 2 hours and after feeling satisfied that we had seen everything the site had to offer and almost getting stuck in an off-limits part of the tunnels we started our journey back to Dong Ha. After such a long day of travelling it was nice to sit down for a quick meal and play with a friendly cat
Final thoughts
Overall, visiting the Vinh Moc Tunnels was one of the most memorable parts of my trip through central Vietnam. Unlike the Cu Chi Tunnels, the site feels much less commercialised, which made it easier to appreciate the history and imagine what life must have been like for the people who lived underground during the war.
The journey there was also a big part of the experience, stopping off in Hue and Dong Ha, meeting awesome people and catching up with old friends is what its all about. If you’re travelling through central Vietnam and have an interest in history, I would definitely recommend making the effort to visit Vinh Moc. It may be a little out of the way, but I think the isolation is part of what makes the experience so memorable.
Videos
References
Vietnam Pictorial (2025) Vinh Moc Tunnels – A Mysterious World underneath the war