Old-time Vietnam — The Highway of Horror

THE EASTER OFFENSIVE OF MARCH 1972 Quang Tri lies 57km northwest of Hue and 40km from the DMZ. After the 1954 Geneva Accords, Vietnam was divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This division resulted in Quang Tri being in South Vietnam. Further northwest, Dong Ha became the northernmost town of South Vietnam, closest to the 17th parallel, which is the border between North and South Vietnam. In March 1972, the North Vietnamese army, known as PAVN (People’s Army of Vietnam), launched the Easter Offensive against the South. In this offensive the PAVN attacked and captured both Dong Ha and Quang Tri. The PAVN captured Dong Ha in late April, 1972. Quang Tri came under PAVN control by May 2, 1972. Highway 1, officially National Route 1A, runs through the major cities of Vietnam from the Huu Nghi Quan Border Gate near the China-Vietnam border. It extends all the way to the very southern tip of Ca Mau Province. The French colonists constructed this highway in the early 20th century. During the Easter Offensive of 1972, the PAVN launched serious shelling at Quang Tri in order to gain control of the city. The section of Highway 1 between Quang Tri and Hue became the only escape route for the 20,000 residents of Quang Tri. Almost the entire population attempted to flee the city. Between the few days in late April and early May, both the civilians and the ARVN military jammed this section of Highway 1, both on-foot and in vehicles, and bumper-to-bumper. The majority of the vehicles were ARVN fleets, consisting of “flatbeds, takers, small trucks, jeeps and ambulances.” When this convoy had gone 6 miles south, the PAVN attacked. Because the ARVN 3rd Division failed to organize flank security, the attack caused serious casualties to both civilians and the ARVN military. The Catholic Long Hung Church was built in 1955. Standing in ruins, it is the living testament to the horrifying few days of killing on Highway 1. People were trapped on this road and did not have any other escape routes or cover. #highwahofhorror #hue #vietnam #americanwar #vietnamwar #highway1 #southeastasia #vietnamhistory #travel#thingstodo