Phong Nha Cave - DMZ 1-Day Tour

Detailed itinerary

• 06:00 – Departure from Hue

  The bus and tour guide pick up guests in Hue city center. Travel along National Route 1A, beginning the journey to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) – a region that once divided the country for over 20 years.

• 07:00 – Visit La Vang Holy Land

  Stop at La Vang – a major Catholic pilgrimage center in Vietnam, where Our Lady is believed to have appeared in the late 18th century during the fierce anti-Catholic persecution under King Canh Thinh (Tay Son Dynasty).

• 07:30 – Transfer to Quang Tri Ancient Citadel

  The Ancient Citadel is a military fortress built during the reign of King Gia Long (1809), playing a strategic role in various historical periods.

• 07:40 – Visit Quang Tri Ancient Citadel

  This was the site of the fierce 81-day-and-night battle in the summer of 1972 between the Liberation Army of South Vietnam and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, fought to gain control of Quang Tri town.

  Today, this area serves as a memorial site and burial ground for thousands of unknown martyrs, symbolizing the immense sacrifice and loss during the war.

• 08:40 – Transfer to Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River

  Travel north along National Route 1 to the 17th Parallel area.

• 09:40 – Visit Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River

  This area served as the boundary dividing North and South Vietnam according to the 1954 Geneva Accords.

  • Hien Luong Bridge witnessed various forms of psychological warfare, such as loudspeaker battles, competitions to paint taller flagpoles, or painting the bridge brighter colors between the two sides.
  • Visitors will listen to explanations about symbols of division, such as the white demarcation line, the flagpoles of both regions, and the war artifact display area.

• 10:00 – Transfer to Phong Nha via the Western Branch of Ho Chi Minh Highway

  Along the way, the tour guide will share insights about the Truong Son Trail – the strategic supply route for transporting food and weapons from the North to the South during the resistance war against the US. 

• 12:30 – Lunch at a local restaurant (Phong Nha)

  Rest and prepare for the cave exploration in the afternoon.

• 13:30 – Visit Phong Nha Cave

  Phong Nha Cave is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, renowned for:

  • The longest underground river in Southeast Asia
  • A diverse system of stalactites and stalagmites formed tens of millions of years ago
  • Having served as a shelter and supply depot for the Liberation forces during the war

  Visitors will take a motorboat along the Son River, entering about 1.5 km into the cave, while learning about its geology, formation history, and wartime military significance.

• 16:00 – End of Tour

  Transfer guests back to:

  • Dong Hoi (city center, train station, airport)
  • Phong Nha (if staying overnight here)
  • Or return to Hue upon request