To start with, we recommend you to take this shorter tour Phong Nha DMZ Hue private tour (8 hours) if you are not really into history.
Phong Nha full DMZ Hue private tour
Private DMZ tour Phong Nha Hue is another option that fits perfectly with travellers' need who want a different route from North to South, not from South to North. Unlike many other DMZ tours starts from Hue city, Dong Ha city or Dong Hoi city, with this tour, we will pick you up at your hotel in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park area, Son Trach, Bo Trach district of Quang Binh province (Chay Lap farmstay, Cocohouse Riverside Homestay, Phong Nha farmstay, Phong Nha Lake House Resort, ...) heading South towards Quang Tri province - the most bombed place on earth.
We will have first stop at Vinh Moc tunnel - a refuge for villagers of Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Linh district of Quang Tri province during the US bombing operation Rolling Thunder in almost 2000 days from 1967 to 1972. Next stop will be the DMZ Freedom bridge aka Hien Luong bridge crossing Ben Hai river at 17th parallel. Here you can see Museum of 17th Parallel and Unification Will and UN Peacekeeping Building. Let's walk across the demarcation line from North to South or Checkpoint Charlie Vietnam to understand the country's pain of separation and division. Take a look at the monument of National Desire for Unification where Ho Chi Minh quote was carved "Vietnam is one - The Vietnamese are also one - River may dry - Mountain maybe eroded- but the truth of Vietnam's unification has never changed". We'll have lunch break in Dong Ha city with local specialty recommended by your guide (Please bring some snacks along if you wish to skip the lunch)
Note: upon your request, we can have a stop at General Giap memorial house with extra cost of 10 USD. Please make your request before the tour.
Phong Nha full DMZ Hue private tour
On the way to the next stop, we will drive pass Gio Linh base aka Doc Mieu firebase - one of the strongest point of the so called McNamar line (anti-infiltration Defensive Line). We can stop here upon your request. Lunch break in Cam Lo town or Khe Sanh town depending on your wish. Take your time to discover the gastronomical delight of Quang Tri province. After lunch, we continue the tour to The Rockpile - a US Marine lookout and artillery base just besides the Highway 9. Rockpile hilltop used to look for enemy infiltration from the DMZ into South Vietnam. Keep going West along Highway 9 towards Laos, we will stop at Dakrong bridge - a starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail leading to the famed A Shau valley and the Hamburger Hill. Not finish yet, your adventure to the West will stop at another famous site - Khe Sanh Combat Base where holds the longest single battle of the Vietnam war in 1968 during the Tet Offensive.
Drive all the way back to Dong Ha along Highway 9 with some background music of the Vietnam war to appreciate more about the beautiful landscapes of the DMZ area with acacia forest, tapioca and rubber plantation, rugged hills and mountains with distant stilt house of the Bru ethnic people. We can stop at a local market of the Bru hilltribes to see the local products sold by the locals (avocado, jack fruit, bamboo shoot, ...) Keep eastbound on Highway 9 to Dong Ha city to visit Mine Action Visitor Center (if not Saturday, Sunday) - a display of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) found, collected in and around the DMZ. Say goodbye to your guide in Dong Ha and our driver will take you to your accommodation in Hue city. Tour ends.
Note: upon your request, we can have 2 other stops at Quang Tri citadel (extra cost 10 USD) which is well known for the second of battle of Quang Tri from June 28th to September 16th during the scorching Summer of 1972 (This battle is etched into Vietnam war history with an estimate of 20.000 K.I.A. from both sides North and South) and the last additional stop is Bo De primary school riddled with bullet holes from the 81 days and nights battle of Quang Tri.
Phong Nha full DMZ Hue private tour
Price: 230 USD for 1-2 persons (+US$ 50 for extra person)
Includes:
- Private car with driver
- Private English speaking guide
- All entrance fees
- Toll fees
- Bottled water
- Door-to-door service
Phong Nha full DMZ Hue private tour
Note: If you only want a quick transfer from Dong Hoi to Hue with only several stops along the DMZ, we advise that you consider do this tour Dong Hoi - Vinh Moc tunnel - Hue.
