#Da Nang Tourist Information

Vinh Moc Tunnels (DMZ) – Famous War Tunnels in Vietnam

Vinh Moc Tunnels are an underground village complex in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, built during the Vietnam War to shelter civilians from intense American bombing. Spanning three levels deep into a coastal red-clay hill, the network included family living quarters, a well, a maternity hospital, and meeting rooms. Today, this historic site remains preserved as a powerful monument to human resilience and wartime ingenuity.

You may also like: Ky Anh Tunnels in Da Nang

• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP

• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team

• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others

Must Knows about Vinh Moc Tunnels

– Location: Vinh Moc village, Cua Tung commune, Quang Tri province, Vietnam

– Name meaning:

– Other name(s):

– Opening hours: 7 am to 5 pm daily

– Ticket price: 50.000 VND per adult

– Reason(s) to visit: the second largest tunnels built in the Vietnam War, close to important sites in the Demilitarized Zone of Vietnam, located on Central Vietnam world heritage route

– Best time(s) to visit: anytime during the day, sunny days

– Time to spend: 40-60 mins

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/vinh-moc-tunnels-vietnam

– Recognition(s): special national heritage site (inscribed by Vietnam government on 31st December 2014)

– Food & drink: yes available

– Shopping: yes available

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Reviews: Google reviews, TripAdvisor reviews

– Fact:

Vinh Moc Tunnels on Map

Brief History of Vinh Moc Tunnels

Built between 1965 and 1967, the Vinh Moc Tunnels served as an underground village in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, just north of the Demilitarized Zone. As intense American bombings devastated the surface, local villagers and militia hand-dug a massive three-tiered subterranean network reaching depths of 23 meters.

The complex housed around 60 families who lived, worked, cooked, and even gave birth – with 17 babies born underground. Equipped with wells, a meeting hall, and a maternity clinic, the self-sustaining community successfully protected its population, resulting in zero civilian casualties throughout the war.

What to Expect in Vinh Moc Tunnels Today?

The Theater

After entering the Vinh Moc Tunnels area, look to the left, there is a theater (or reception hall). Here, before exploring historical remains, visitors can sit down and watch a 20-minutes-long movie named 17th Parallel: Vietnam in War (French: Le 17e parallèle: La guerre du peuple (English caption is available).

17th Parallel: Vietnam in War (Le 17e parallèle: La guerre du peuple) is a landmark 1968 documentary by renowned Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens and Marceline Loridan. Filmed over several months, it intimately captures the extraordinary resilience of ordinary villagers in Vinh Linh, Quang Tri Province, located just north of the Demilitarized Zone. The film documents their daily struggles, agricultural labor, and constant endurance under relentless American bombardment. By moving underground into cave and tunnel networks like Vinh Moc, the documentary powerfully highlights how civilians organized their lives, education, and healthcare subterraneanly, presenting a moving testament to human survival and solidarity during wartime.

It’s cool inside this building because it’s always air-conditioning.Therefore, visitors can take a break here before or after going inside the tunnels.

Near the hall’s entrance, there are some local specialties and souvenirs for sale.

The Tunnels

Located in Vinh Moc and Son Ha villages, Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Moc Tunnels is 1,060.25 meters long (excluding branch tunnels, family rooms, etc.); the tunnel height ranges from 1.7 to 1.8 meters, featuring 13 entrances (6 opening onto the hill and 7 facing the sea). Along both sides of the tunnels, small niches were carved out, spacious enough for 2 to 4 people to live in. Inside the tunnels, there is also a hall (with a capacity of 50 to 60 people) used for meetings, film screenings, and cultural performances, along with other facilities such as a bulletin board, a maternity ward, 3 water wells, restrooms, a surgical station, an infirmary, and kitchens (Hoang Cam stoves).

The tunnel system and underground facilities of the Vinh Moc Tunnels consist of 3 levels: Level 1 has a total length of 421.82 meters, a width of 0.90 to 1.1 meters, a height of 1.6 to 1.75 meters, and a depth of 8 to 11 meters below the ground surface. The tunnel has an arched shape, with relatively flat floors, walls, and ceilings. Level 2 is located at a depth of 11 to 15 meters below the ground, with a length of 508.08 meters, a height of 1.6 to 1.94 meters, and a width of 0.8 to 1.1 meters. The tunnel has a vaulted arch shape with a solid basalt red-clay structure. The main axis of Level 3 runs primarily southward and then turns eastward, with a length of 130.35 meters, a height of 1.6 to 1.74 meters, a width of 0.8 to 1.1 meters, and a vaulted arch ceiling at a depth of 21 to 22.5 meters below the ground. It features 2 water wells, 1 bathroom, 5 chambers staggered on both sides of the main axis, 2 exit systems (numbers 10 and 12) leading out to the sea, and a system of primary passageways connecting the different levels together.

The Museum

The museum at the Vinh Moc Tunnels showcases historical photographs, wartime artifacts, and maps detailing the civilian resistance in Quang Tri Province. It offers valuable context on how local villagers engineered their underground lives before visitors explore the remarkably preserved subterranean network itself.

The Bombshell Exhibition

The bombshell exhibition area at the Vinh Moc Tunnels displays a stark collection of heavy artillery casings, bomb fragments, and unexploded ordnance. Set against the backdrop of Quang Tri Province, these remnants provide a sobering visual testament to the sheer volume of destructive firepower rained down during the war.

Is Vinh Moc Tunnels Worth Visiting?

Yes, the Vinh Moc Tunnels are widely considered well worth visiting, especially for anyone interested in history, resilience, and human ingenuity.

Located in Quang Tri Province (within the former Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone), they offer a deeply moving and unique perspective compared to other wartime sites in Vietnam.

Here are key reasons why Vinh Moc Tunnels is worth visiting:

– Vinh Moc Tunnels is a civilians’ underground village (Unlike Cu Chi Tunnels)

While the famous Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City were primarily a military base and guerrilla warfare network, the Vinh Moc Tunnels were built specifically to protect ordinary villagers—farmers, women, children, and the elderly. Entire families moved underground to escape relentless bombing, creating a fully functioning subterranean community.

– Vinh Moc Tunnels has an astonishing engineering and architecture

Constructed entirely by hand using simple hoes and shovels, the tunnel system spans nearly 2 kilometers across three distinct levels (reaching depths of up to 23 meters / 75 feet). It features remarkable planning:

Individual family living quarters (just large enough for a bamboo sleeping mat)

A communal meeting hall

Kitchens designed to disperse smoke safely (the famous Hoàng Cầm stoves)

Wells for fresh water, storage rooms, a medical clinic, and even a maternity ward.

– Vinh Moc Tunnels has a story of life in the midst of death

Despite the horrific conditions and constant bombing overhead, life went on. An astounding 17 babies were born safely inside the Vinh Moc Tunnels during the war. Walking through the space where children were born and raised under the earth is an emotional and unforgettable experience.

– Vinh Moc Tunnels has larger passages and greater preservation than other tunnels in Vietnam

Unlike the extremely cramped Cu Chi tunnels (which have been widened for tourists in many places, but are still notoriously tight), the Vinh Moc tunnels were dug into hard red basalt clay, making them structurally stable and surprisingly spacious. In many areas, average-sized adults can walk through the corridors almost completely upright without needing to crouch or crawl the entire time. Furthermore, they remain largely in their original, uncommercialized state.

– Vinh Moc Tunnels brings a powerful contrast at the exits

The tunnel system has 13 entrances, several of which open directly onto the cliffs overlooking the East Sea. Emerging from the dark, earthy, claustrophobic corridors into the blinding sunlight and expansive blue ocean view creates a profound emotional contrast—shifting from the darkness of war to the serenity of peace and freedom.

In addition, together with Cu Chi Tunnels, Vinh Moc Tunnels in Quang Tri will be one of future nominations for UNESCO world heritage site title.

Vinh Moc Tunnels vs Cu Chi Tunnels

While both networks date to the Vietnam War, Cu Chi served primarily as a military base for guerrilla fighters, featuring narrow, tactical combat tunnels. In contrast, Vinh Moc was built as an underground village where entire families—including children—lived for years to escape intense bombing.

Top 5 reasons Vinh Moc is often considered better for tourists:

Walk upright: Unlike Cu Chi’s notoriously cramped, claustrophobic passages that require constant crawling, Vinh Moc’s tunnels are taller and wider, allowing most visitors to walk upright comfortably.
Authentic preservation: Vinh Moc is remarkably untouched and raw, offering an uncommercialized atmosphere free of massive crowds and heavily staged tourist traps.
Fascinating civilian architecture: It offers a unique glimpse into domestic subterranean survival, featuring preserved family quarters, kitchens, wells, and a maternity room where 17 children were born.
Stunning coastal scenery: Situated right on a peaceful seaside cliff in Quang Tri Province, the site blends profound wartime history with beautiful ocean views.
Multi-Level engineering: Spanning three deep structural tiers, it showcases astonishing human ingenuity carved purely by hand into stable red-clay earth without metal supports.

Our thoughts:
– Choose Vinh Moc Tunnels if Central Vietnam is your first destination in Vietnam.

– Choose Vinh Moc Tunnels if don’t like seeing crowds or overtourism.

– Choose Vinh Moc Tunnels if you plan to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of Vietnam.

– Choose Vinh Moc Tunnels if you plan to go from Phong Nha to Hue/Da Nang and vice versa.

How to Get to Vinh Moc Tunnels in Vietnam DMZ

Dong Ha to Vinh Moc Tunnels

Dong Ha is the nearest city to Vinh Moc Tunnels. The distance is around 35km, so it takes the visitor approximately 45 minutes to get there by car or 60 minutes if go by motorbike.

If like to go to Vinh Moc Tunnels by motorbike, there are 2 routes from Dong Ha:

– Route 1 (Highway QL1A): go northwards to Hien Luong Bridge. After seeing it, keep going and at this crossroad (Google maps location: 17°01’01.6″N 107°02’53.8″E), turn right. At Trường THCS Hiền Thành, turn left and keep going until the end. After that, turn right and go straight. At the crossroad near Trạm y tế xã Kim Thạch (Google maps location: 17°03’50.6″N 107°06’07.1″E), turn left and go straight again to find the welcome sign of Vinh Moc Tunnels. There are many pepper farms and fruit gardens in this area.

– Route 2 (coastal road): go eastwards to Cua Viet Beach. After that, follow the coastal road (northwards) to find Vinh Moc Tunnels. This route is most scenic. On the way, there are also some beautiful beaches, including Cua Tung Beach.

We suggest going to Vinh Moc Tunnels by Route 1 and come back to Dong Ha by Route 2.

To go to Dong Ha Vietnam, visitors can choose one of these ways:

– Take a flight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Bai International Airport in Hue (HUI). About the best ways to get from Hue to Vinh Moc Tunnels, please see below paragraphs.

– Take a flight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi Airport in Dong Hoi (VDH). About the best ways to get from Dong Hoi to Vinh Moc Tunnels, please see below paragraphs.

– Take a flight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang International Airport in Hue (DAD). About the best ways to get from Da Nang to Vinh Moc Tunnels, please see below paragraphs.

– Train bus or train from Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Dong Hoi,…

– Take a bus or private car or trains from Phong Nha.

In the furture, visitors can have a direct flight to the Quang Tri Airport from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Vinh Moc Tunnels is only 25km away from this airport, so after arriving, there is only 40-minute drive by taxi to get there.

Hue to Vinh Moc Tunnels

See also: Hue to Vinh Moc Tunnels by Private Car

Vinh Moc Tunnels is about 100 km away from Hue city center and 115km from Hue airport (Phu Bai International Airport). The most popular ways to get there are taking a private transport by car/van and a guided tour.

It takes visitor approximately 2-2.5 hours to go by private car/van from Hue to Vinh Moc Tunnels. For a round trip, it’s 4-5 hours. We recommend visiting these places on the way: Hien Luong Bridge, Long Hung Church, Quang Tri Citadel, Phuoc Tich Ancient Village…

If like getting there by motorbike, visitors can book a local rider (‘easy rider’). Instead of going back to Hue, finish the day at Phong Nha or Dong Hoi and then explore amazing caves in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park on the next day.

To go to Hue city, visitors can take a direct flight from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. From Da Nang or Hoi An to the south, going by car, train, bus, motorbike,…is all possible.

Da Nang/Hoi An to Vinh Moc Tunnels

Vinh Moc Tunnels is about 230 km away from Da Nang city center and Da Nang International Airport (DAD). So, the most popular ways to get there are taking a private transport by car/van and a guided tour.

Compared to Hue airport, there’re more flight choices to Da Nang, including both domestic and international flights.

It takes the visitor approximately 4-4.5 hours to go by private car/van from Da Nang center to Vinh Moc Tunnels. If stay in Son Tra or Ngu Hanh Son areas, the drive is longer. The fastest route is the CT01 Expressway. If want to have a quick visit to famous places in Hue, choose Highway QL1A instead.

From Hoi An, the distance to Vinh Moc Tunnels is around 260 km. The best transportation option is private car. We suggest going early in the morning to have more time for visiting.

Due to very long distance, visitors need to book a private car/van or tour if like to see Vinh Moc Tunnels.

We recommend Ky Anh Tunnels (Tam Ky) as an alternative to Vinh Moc Tunnels if you don’t want to spend too much time for transportation.

Dong Hoi/Phong Nha to Vinh Moc Tunnels

Vinh Moc Tunnels is about 80 km away from Dong Hoi and 85km from Dong Hoi airport (VDH). The most popular ways to get there are taking a private transport by car/van and a guided tour.

Phong Nha, the nearby touristy town, is approximately 130km to Vinh Moc Tunnels.

There are some directly flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi, mostly operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, two largest airways in Vietnam. From Hanoi (if travel from north to south), visitors can take sleeper bus (overnight bus) or train to this city.

It takes the visitor approximately 1.5-2 hours to go by private car/van from Dong Hoi to Vinh Moc Tunnels. The fastest routes are Highway QL1A (AH1) and the CT01 Expressway.

Many visitors choose to have a private transfer/tour from Phong Nha or Dong Hoi to Hue with sightseeing main sites in DMZ, including Vinh Moc Tunnels or/and Hien Luong Bridge, Khe Sanh Combat Base. Consider a very long drive and limited food otion.

Vinh Moc Tunnels Itinerary

Here are guided tours to Vinh Moc Tunnels:

Guided Tours to Vinh Moc Tunnels (DMZ Tours)

Here are guided tours to Vinh Moc Tunnels:

– Vinh Moc Tunnels Tour from Hue

– Vinh Moc Tunnels Tour from Da Nang

– DMZ Tour from Hue: Vinh Moc Tunnels & Hien Luong Bridge

– DMZ Tour from Da Nang: Vinh Moc Tunnels & Hien Luong Bridge

– DMZ Tour from Hoi An: Vinh Moc Tunnels & Hien Luong Bridge

– DMZ Tour from Phong Nha with Hue Drop Off

– DMZ Tour from Dong Ha

– DMZ Tour from Dong Hoi

Other Places to Visit in Vietnam DMZ

Besides Vinh Moc Tunnels, visitors can go to these places to visit:

– Along Highway 1A: Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River, Quang Tri Citadel, Doc Mieu Base, Con Tien Combat Base, Truong Son National Military Cemetary, Ben Tat Bridge, Our Lady of La Vang Church, Long Hung Church, Bo De School, Quang Tri Mine Action Visitor Center, Cua Tung Beach, Cua Viet Beach, Quang Tri Museum, Gio An Ancient Wells, Dong Ha Market.

– Along Highway QL9 (Road 9): Khe Sanh Combat Base (Ta Con Airfield), The Rockpile, Camp Caroll (Hill 241), Lang Vay (Lang Vei) Special Forces Camp, Dakrong Bridge, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Headquarters of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (PRG), Road 9 National Military Cemetery, Lao Bao Prison.

– Related sites: Hamburger Hill (A Biah Hill)