DMZ Tour from Dong Hoi: Vinh Moc Tunnels & Khe Sanh Base

Walk through three-tiered tunnels dug by hand, then stand at the border that divided a nation.

A full-day DMZ tour from Dong Hoi explores five war sites across Quang Tri Province: the underground Vinh Moc Tunnels where families sheltered during bombing, the 17th Parallel at Ben Hai River marking the wartime division, Khe Sanh Airbase in the mist-shrouded mountains, Dakrong Bridge on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and Quang Tri Citadel. A professional English or Vietnamese-speaking guide leads the route, which includes hotel pickup, lunch, entrance fees and bottled water. The day runs roughly 11 hours and ends back in Dong Hoi or continues to Hue depending on your option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Historic DMZ tour and war sites

• 07:00 AM pick up in Dong Hoi city center
• 07:30 AM pick up in Phong Nha Village
• 08:30 AM explore Vinh Moc Tunnels
• 09:50 AM visit Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River
• 11:20 AM visit Ta Con Airbase (Khe Sanh Combat Base)
• 12:50 PM lunch at local restaurant
• 01:45 PM depart for Route 9 and Da Krong Bridge
• 02:45 PM visit Da Krong Bridge
• 04:15 PM visit Quang Tri Ancient Citadel
• 06:30 PM tour ends and return to hotel

The experience

Vinh Moc Tunnels anchor the morning. You start at the exhibition hall to see photographs and artifacts, then descend into the three-tiered network hand-dug into red earth to shelter an entire community during intense wartime bombing. The walk passes through preserved living spaces: family quarters, meeting rooms, a smokeless Hoang Cam kitchen, and the maternity room where 17 babies were born during the war. The tunnels open directly onto the windswept coast, where the sea view marks the end of the underground passage.

The afternoon moves through the symbolic sites of division and conflict. After leaving the tunnels, you cross Hien Luong Bridge spanning the Ben Hai River along the 17th Parallel, painted in two colors to mark the border that split North and South Vietnam for over 20 years. Khe Sanh Airbase sits in a mist-shrouded valley where the 170-day Battle of Khe Sanh unfolded in early 1968. Today it is an open-air museum surrounded by coffee and rubber plantations. Lunch happens at a local restaurant in Quang Tri, with vegetarian options available if you request them when booking. Then you travel Route 9 to Dakrong Bridge, a modern suspension bridge spanning the Dakrong River amidst limestone mountains, once a crucial hub of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Quang Tri Citadel closes the day. Located on the Thach Han River, it endured 81 continuous days of bombardment in 1972, absorbing explosive power equivalent to seven atomic bombs. The battlefield is now a serene memorial park with a central monument honoring thousands who died there. Your guide returns you to your hotel in Dong Hoi or, if you booked the Hue drop-off option, continues south to Hue Province.

What’s included

• Professional Vietnamese or English-speaking guide throughout.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village.
• entrance tickets to Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge, and Khe Sanh Airbase.
• lunch at a local restaurant with vegetarian options.
• two 500ml bottles of water per person.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.
• and a SOVABA travel company hat.

Options for this experience

2 options

DMZ Tour - Drop-off in Dong HoiGuide in English · 07:00Lasts 1 day. Lunch and two bottles of water per person are included. Pickup is included in a car, van or bus.

DMZ Tour - Drop-off in HueGuide in English · 07:00Group tour lasting 1 day. Lunch and two bottles of water per person are included. Pickup is included in a car, van or bus.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to11h before

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SOVABA TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Choose the Dong Hoi drop-off if your hotel is in the city and you want to return by evening. Pick the Hue option if you're traveling south and prefer to end the day in Hue Province instead of backtracking to Dong Hoi.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

28 verified traveler reviews

5 ★27

4 ★0

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is inside the Vinh Moc Tunnels?

Vinh Moc Tunnels is a three-tiered underground network hand-dug into red earth where families lived during wartime bombing. You walk through preserved family quarters, meeting rooms, a smokeless kitchen, and a maternity room where 17 babies were born. The tunnels end at the coast with sea views.

How long is this tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs roughly 11 hours total. Pickup begins at 7am from your hotel in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha village, and you return by 6:30pm.

What does the 17th Parallel and Ben Hai River represent?

Hien Luong Bridge spans the Ben Hai River along the 17th Parallel, the line that physically divided Vietnam into North and South for over 20 years during the war. The bridge is painted in two contrasting colors to commemorate that division. Today it stands as a symbol of reunification and peace.

Is lunch included, and can I request vegetarian food?

Lunch at a local restaurant in Quang Tri is included. Vegetarian dishes are available if you let the operator know your dietary needs when you book.

What is Khe Sanh Airbase and why is it significant?

Khe Sanh Airbase was the core of U.S. military defense along Route 9 during the Vietnam War. In early 1968, it became the focal point of the famous 170-day Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the war's most intense sieges. Today it is an open-air historical museum set in a mist-shrouded valley surrounded by plantations.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Vinh Moc Tunnels involves walking through underground passages and climbing stairs, but the pace is set by the group and the guide.