Hochiminh trail

Ho Chi Minh Trail (Remnants of the Indo-China War): Nearly half a century after the Second Indochina War ended in the 1970s, not much is left of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Only a few rusty remnants of cannons and tanks can still be found in some places, serving as a reminder of a cruel, senseless war.

In Khammouane: Most of the wartime "traffic" was concentrated between the steep escarpments of the Nakai Nam Theun Plateau and the rugged limestone karsts of what is now included in the Hin Nam No National Protected Area, namely the Pha Tang area near the crossing of Rd. No. 12 into Vietnam. Tourism is affected since many areas are completely off limits due to the hidden dangers, even in areas that are cleared already. Nevertheless, some trails can be safely used for extended motorbike tours (without straying to the left or the right).

The Trail's Structure: In reality, the Trail was not a single road but an extensive labyrinth of small pathways through vast and impenetrable jungle, through rivers and rice fields mostly on Lao soil along the Vietnamese border. It served as a strategic supply route for the North Vietnamese into "hostile" South Vietnam. It comprised of several thousand kilometers of narrow footpaths, all weather roads, bridges, underground shelters, supply stations and hospitals.Which has now become a conservation area and features historical remnants (such as bomb craters, weapon debris, and old marching trails) scattered across various local areas in Boualapha District.