DMZ - Part of the old war zone

I'd been been planning to do a tour to the Vietnam DMZ for some time.  This is where the Communist North and Capitalist South were divided after the Paris agreement in 1954.  Similar to North Korea and South Korea a zone 10km wide along the 17th parallel (38 degrees north for the Koreas) was declared a demilitarised zone until a referendum/vote was carried out some time later.


I had been warned the tour could be quite boring.  My objective was to get information from the tour guide and to see the topography and conditions the American/Vietnam War was fought under in this area.  On this count the tour didn't disappoint.  It was weird standing in an area knowing that an all might battle with heavy artillery from both sides took place right where I stood... Khe San.


The tour took in other famous sights (which were also major battle fields) including The Rockpile and  Vink Moc Tunnels.  As with Anlong Veng in Cambodia where Pol Pot lived his last days, these places were surprising in their serenity and calmness.  The Vinh Moc Tunnels are particularly picturesque with its beach side setting.


The boredom of sitting on a bus was saved by the company of Nathan from Canada and Jeenah from South Korea.