A Luoi - Khe Sanh - Vinh Moc tour 2 days

Draft itinerary:

Day 1: Hue - A Luoi ~ 70km (L, D)

Day 2: A Luoi - Dmz - Hue ~ 330km (B, L)

Highlights tour:

+ A Luoi : A Luoi is a district of Thua Thien-Hue Province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. It is located to the west of the province in a mountainous area bordering Laos. The population includes many Bru, Hoa and Ta Oi people. As of 2003 the district had a population of 38,616.The district covers an area of 1,229 km². The district capital lies at A Luoi. It is connected to Hue, one of the main towns in central Vietnam by National Road 49, a road notorious for its poor safety because of the hilly terrain and poor road surface, including a stretch of 16 km through the Kim Quy hills. Many of the hills in the area became famous during the many border battles of the mid-late 1960s during the Vietnam War, such as Me On, Suoi Mau (lit Bloody Waterfall), and A Bia, better known for the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

+ Ta Oi people: The Ta Oi is an ethnic group of Vietnam (34,960 in 1999). They speak a Mon-Khmer language and concentrate in A LUoi district of Thua Thien Hue province and Hương Hóa district of Quảng Trị province.

+ Hien Luong Bridge: Hien Luong Bridge is a bridge over Ben Hai River, Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Viet Nam. This bridge is located in 17th Parallel and in Vietnam War, it was bisected between South Vietnam and North Vietnam.        

+ Vinh Moc tunnels: Deep beneath the dark earth, hidden from screeching bombers and harbouring desperate soldiers, the people of Vinh Linh, Quang Tri lived for many years in the now famous Vinh Moc Tunnel. They survived, and even prospered in their makeshift underground community. During that time, 17 children were born in the tunnels, each of whose lives is a testament to just how perfect the complex network of caves and warrens were at protecting those forces within. As time goes by, it has become both a historical evidence and a tourist destination for discovering a heroic period of Vietnam’s history.

+ Cua Tung beach:  Cua Beach is located in Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province. Although Cua Tung Beach is not very wide or long, it has its own beauty. The beach has sparkling green water, silky sand, and it is touched by soft breezes throughout the year.      

+  The Dakrong Bridge and the Ho Chi Monh Trail: The current incarnation of the Dakrong Bridge was built in 1975 after reunification. Just west of the main DMZ zone, the bridge was considered the beginning of the Ho Chi Minh Trail network, and during the years of conflict with the United States, this access point was hotly contested. The Dakrong Bridge fell many times. Now it's a grand suspension bridge, a proud thumbed nose as if to say, "You can't knock down my bridge anymore." The road to the bridge leads to the border with Laos, and even the overnight buses that take intrepid travelers over this route will stop for a good look at the bridge, which heads south (buses continue on the main road west to Laos). Across the bridge is a small village that's a popular stop for tour groups, and where most buses turn around and head back to the main highway. The stunning scenery all along Hwy. 9 is worth the ride.