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Quang Tri Travel Guide
Quang Tri Province is bordered on the north by Quang Binh, on the south by Hue, and on the west by Laos. It is located just south of the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
The provincial capital of Quang Tri is Dong Ha. The new town of Quang Tri, was built across the Thach Han River from the former provincial capital of Quang Tri City, which was almost completely destroyed during the war.
When Vietnam was divided into North and South in 1954, Quang Tri became the northernmost province of the Republic of Vietnam, and thus it became the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
From 1964, American bases were established in the province, and in October 1966, the 3rd Marine Division moved to bases just south of the demilitarized zone. Also in 1966, North Vietnamese forces began occupying the northern part of Quang Tri and were pushing deeper into the province.
The provincial capital, Quang Tri City, was a main area of fighting in the 1968 Tet Offensive, and was briefly taken over by the North Vietnamese. The well known Battle of Khe Sanh (1968) was a part of the North's efforts to occupy the whole of the province.
After Khe Sanh was evacuated in July 1968, the North Vietnamese continued trying to take the entire province. In 1972 the North Vietnamese captured Quang Tri (the First Battle of Qu?ng Tr?), but they lost much of it in the South Vietnamese counteroffensive in June to September, 1972 (the Second Battle of Quang Tri).
However, South Vietnamese forces were unable to hold the province during the final North Vietnamese offensive of the war (the Ho Chi Minh Campaign), and the entire province fell to the North Vietnamese in March, 1975.
After the South Vietnamese were defeated in Quang Tri, a provisional revolutionary government was established, and most of the residents fled the province. The province was heavily Catholic, and many were vehemently anti-communist. Due to the fighting, shelling, and bombing during the war, it is estimated that some 80% of the population fled the province.
What To See & Do Historic sites in Quang Tri include the Quang Tri Bastion, the La Vang Church, and the Sac Tu Pagoda. There are also important sites marking battles that took place in Quang Tri Province during the war. They are the Hien Luong Bridge, the Tung Gate and the Vinh Moc underground tunnels.
Vinh Moc Tunnels These tunnels are very well known in Vietnam. An underground village was constructed in the caves to escape the bombing during the Vietnam War. The underground complex grew to include kitchens, rooms for each family, and health clinics. Today, the tunnels have been restored, and reinforced with concrete and lighting installed.
Truong Son Cemetery The cemetery was built on several low lying hills in Truong Son Village, Gio Linh District. It is a memorial to the Vietnamese soldiers, who lost their lives in the struggle for national liberation and independence.
Hien Luong Bridge
In the Geneva agreement signed in 1954, the Ben Hai River was designated as the temporary demarcation line between the north and the south. The Hien Luong Bridge, located on 17th Parallel, across the river was divided into two, and each end was to be a border gate. The bridge itself was built by French engineers in 1950, and is approx. 170m long.
Nowadays, Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge have become the historic landmarks and tourist attractions. Visitors can go boating down stream on the river and admire the beautiful scenery.
Quang Tri Fortress The Quang Tri Bastion, in the center of present day Quang Tri Municipal District, played an important role in Vietnamese history. It was a military bastion and an administrative office of the Nguyen Dynasty in Quang Tri Province from 1809 to 1945. It was first constructed in the early 19th century, then later reconstructed using bricks in 1824 by King Minh Mang.
The square-shaped citadel had a thick perimeter wall, 2,160 meters in circumference, with a gate on each side. There were four ramparts jutting out from each of the four corners to defend the four citadel gates, and a deep moat. Inside the fortress there were beautiful structures used as places of worship, and to celebrate festivals.
During colonial rule, the French established a military camp and a prison there in the late 19th century. The prison was used to detain communist insurgents.
In 1972, during the phase out of the American participation in the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese forces captured the fort. To recapture the fort, U.S. and South Vietnamese forces launched a heavy artillery and bombing attack. The bombing and shelling by the U.S. and South Vietnam forces destroyed all the structures inside the fortress. There was fierce fighting at the fort from June to September, and the walls of the citadel are riddled with bullet holes; evidence of the devastation of the fighting.
The U.S. and South Vietnam dropped and fired an estimated 330,000 tons of bombs and shells on the town of Quang Tri and the vicinity.
The Quang Tri Bastion is now quiet and peaceful, but visitors can still see the bombs and shells. There are photographs and documents on display in the museum in the bastion located east of National Highway 1A, and south of the Thach Han River. This historic site is well worth visiting, and will give you an idea of the fierceness of the fighting during the war.
When To Go A good time, weather wise, to visit Quang Tri, is from March to August. But it is best in March and April when it is usually dry and the temperatures are cooler, although there still is a chance of light rain.
Cambodia
province. 
lighting installed. 
Nguyen Dynasty in Quang Tri Province from 1809 to 1945. It was first constructed in the early 19th century, then later reconstructed using bricks in 1824 by King Minh Mang.
on the town of Quang Tri and the vicinity.