War History Sites in Vietnam

A property steeped in history, the Metropole first opened its doors in 1901 and has played a key part in the ever-changing history of its locale. As well as hosting Trump and Kim’s infamous ‘Hanoi Summit’ in 2019, it also rehoused no less than 15 international embassies during the ‘American War’. 

Today the hotel is the most luxurious and atmospheric in the city. It’s our first pick for any client, and we encourage guests to partake of the hotel’s daily ‘Paths of History’ tour, where you’ll learn more about the history of the hotel and visit its recently excavated underground bomb shelter.

For history buffs, especially those with a keen interest in the War then an extended stay in Hue is a must. This historic city in the center of Vietnam played a key role in the conflict, with numerous important sites both within and around the city. 

Hue’s Imperial Citadel – built by the Nguyen Dynasty in 1800 as the then capital of Vietnam – was seized by the Viet Minh in 1947. The ensuing six-week battle with the French destroyed much of Hue, and lead directly to the eventual US involvement some years later.

In 1968 it was again the epicenter of fighting, this time in the five-week Tet Offensive. Thankfully much of the Citadel survived – although you’ll find it riddled with shell damage and bullet holes – with the remainder still being re-built and restored today

A short distance on from the DMZ and Vinh Moc is the former US Air Base of Khe San – a name known around the world during the Tet Offensive. Just 15km from the Laos border, Khe San saw some of the most intense fighting of the entire war, with the US Air Force eventually abandoning the site in July 1968. 

Today much of the site has been lost to the jungle, but there is a small museum to visit and also several Air Force relics – including two helicopters, a large transport plane, and numerous bunkers and and artillery – standing poignantly amongst the overgrowth.

Famed for its pristine beaches and rugged, untamed scenery, a visit to Con Dao is principally all about rest and relaxation. Should you be looking for activities during a stay however, an eye-opening visit can be taken to the infamous Con Dao prison. Built and run originally by French colonialists, the prison was taken over by the US Army during the war and used to house Vietnamese POWs – in truly appalling conditions.

The prison and its notorious ‘Tiger Cages’ were visited by a delegation of press and Congressmen in 1970, with photographs subsequently published in Life magazine helping to build anti-war sentiment back in the US.

Located on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, accessed by a thrilling speedboat journey down from the city center, the Cu Chi tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches as well as hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American war. 

A visit to the underground villages will provide a better understanding of how the tunnels were constructed, the hardship of life in the tunnels, and the Vietnamese resilience during combat.