Dakrong Bridge In Vietnam DMZ

Dakrong Bridge: Introduction

One of the critical places on the Ho Chi Minh Trail is the Dakrong Bridge, which crosses the Dakrong River. The Ho Chi Minh Trail was an important route during the Vietnam War, a route used to transport aid to the South.

When the North and South were not unified, the North had to send aid to the South to continue the resistance. The Ho Chi Minh Trail was the most vital route to do that. Today, let’s explore the history of the Dakrong Bridge with Hoi An Private Taxi.

Dakrong Bridge Location & How To Get

Dakrong Bridge is located in Dakrong Town, Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province. It’s 45 kilometers away from the Quang Tri city center. The bridge belongs to the Scenic Cluster Dakrong.

Today, it has a beautiful appearance and is a sturdy bridge. But in the past, this was just a simple iron bridge, which collapsed the most.

Dakrong Bridge map:

So, how do you get to the Dakrong Bridge? Depending on where you depart from, you can use motorcycles or private cars to visit the Dakrong Bridge in Quang Tri. Or, you can join a DMZ tour with transportation and a tour guide.

• You may be interested in our Vietnam DMZ Tour, Hue to Phong Nha private car, and Da Nang to Phong Nha private car.

Dakrong Bridge Entrance Fee & Opening Hours

It’s free to visit the Dakrong Bridge. It is open 24/7 on all days of the week. However, we do not recommend visiting it after dark for safety reasons.

So, it’s perfect for those who want to explore Vietnam’s history without spending too much money or being under time restrictions.

Construction History Of Dakrong Bridge

During the fierce war between the US and Vietnam, the US and Ngo Dinh Diem’s ​​government did not comply with the Geneva agreement in 1954. According to the Geneva agreement, in 1956, Vietnam will officially launch unification after participating in the national general election. But the southern government’s Ngo Dinh Diem refused to participate in the event, leading to war.

During the war, the North was liberated, and the South was still under the domination of the United States and the Republic of Vietnam. People’s lives were very miserable. To continue the resistance and unify the country, the North must provide aid to the South. And to serve the resistance, the Dakrong Bridge was built. Dakrong Bridge was an iron bridge built to serve the Southern battlefield during the war.

The old Dakrong iron bridge worked during the country’s separation and was not repaired until 1975. In 1975, with the help of Cuba, Dakrong Bridge was rebuilt into a new bridge 100m long and 6m wide. However, in 1999, this bridge also collapsed, and the government built a new bridge like now.

Dakrong River

Where the Dakrong Bridge crosses is the Dakrong River, a famous river with the majestic beauty of nature. The river is between the legendary Truong Son mountain range of Vietnam and adorns that mysterious beauty. In a place with a diverse ecosystem, if you are lucky, you can encounter precious birds or plants here.

Dakrong River is not too long; it has a total length of 85km. In the Dakrong river system, many relatively large streams flow down from the source, such as Rowlay, Paây, Scam, Ra Ngao, Ta Sam Ba Le… The river still has many vestiges of the culture of the period Neolithic belongs to Hoa Binh and Bac Son culture. In addition, traces of bronze culture such as labor tools, bronze fish hooks, and other jewelry have been found here.

When coming to Dakrong Bridge, you can admire the bridge’s beauty between the majestic mountains of Vietnam and much more. Across the river are indigenous people living a simple and peaceful life. You will see the beauty of the vast nature of Vietnam, like being released by the cool breeze drifting upstream of the river.

1959 – 1964, this section of the river was the secret crossing point of the first line 559 – Truong Son – Ho Chi Minh trail. The first three points, Khe Xom, Cu Tien Bridge, and Xom Ro (3-7 km east of the center of the scenic area), were included in the list of national monuments in 1986. 

Tourist Attractions Near Dakrong Bridge

Bridge Dakrong is a point that belongs to the series of the Vietnam DMZ. There are many other DMZ places near the Dakrong Bridge that you can visit. For example, Khe Sanh Combat Base, Rockpile, Quang Tri Citadel, etc.

We recommend the following sites that you can add to your Vietnam DMZ tour besides the Dakrong Bridge:

Khe Sanh Combat Base

Only about 16 km from the Dakrong Bridge. It takes about 20 minutes to move to Khe Sanh Combat Base. You don’t need too much time to move here. Here you will witness the legendary battlefield of the 170-day battle between the US and Vietnam.

At Khe Sanh, many war artifacts, such as planes, tanks, and bombs, are kept at the Khe Sanh Victory Museum. You can go there to see the artifacts of the war and listen to stories about the heroic war that day.

Rockpile Vietnam

Rockpile Hill is almost 9 miles away from the Dakrong Bridge. It’s a historical hill in the Vietnam DMZ, which was once a US military base during the Vietnam War. The US used this place as an observatory to monitor the activities of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Rockpile Hill has become a tourist destination and is visited by veterans, especially American veterans.

Quang Tri Citadel

The Ancient Citadel of Quang Tri is one of Vietnam’s special national relics. It’s famous for being the location where the Second Battle of Quảng Trị (28 June 1972) happened. Back then, it was a fortress built under the Nguyen dynasty in 1809. Later, during the Vietnam War, especially in 1968 and 1972, it witnessed severe battles and was seriously destroyed.

Nowadays, the local authorities have preserved it for tourists and historical enthusiasts to visit.

Moreover, if you’re looking for more Vietnam DMZ sites, we recommend Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River (65 km away) and Vinh Moc Tunnels (79 km away). Despite being quite far from the bridge, they’re very well-known historical sites in Quang Tri, which are closely related to the wars in Vietnam. Many historical lovers, tourists, and veterans visit them each year.

Conclusion

The Dakrong Bridge is a must-see part of the Vietnam DMZ site series, located on the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. It offers an insight into the war history and a part of Quang Tri’s natural soul. Furthermore, tourists can combine it with other nearby DMZ attractions, such as Khe Sanh Combat Base, Rockpile Hill, or Quang Tri Citadel, to make a meaningful DMZ tour.

Hoi An Private Taxi hopes that all our information will help you gain better knowledge for your upcoming visit to Vietnam. Thanks for reading.