VAN LA UNDERGROUND TUNNEL- THE FIRST AND UNIQUE ONE BUILT IN QUANG BINH PROVINCE

Van La Underground Tunnel is located in Luong Ninh, only 7 km to the south of Dong Hoi city. It is known as the fist and the unique tunnel built in Quang Binh province, expressing the united spirit of Vietnamese people during the War against American Empire.

Van La Underground Tunnel belongs to Luong Ninh, a village which is only 7km to the South of Dong Hoi City in Quang Binh Province. The first and only tunnel built in this province, Van La is a creative construction which expresses the united spirit of Vietnamese people during Vietnam War.

In 1966, there had been many communication trenches and personal cellars in Luong Ninh village. However, as they all failed to withstand the bombs and attacks of American troops, people decided that the best solution would be to build a complex of underground tunnels to serve as a sanctuary, enabling people to work and fight safely. As a result, they started to build Van La Underground Tunnel in June, 1966 on a hill in the village which overlooked the rice fields.The intention is that people could immediately run into the tunnel when working. Together with a plethora of roads and trenches inside the village, Van La Tunnel formed a stable underground defense system. The tunnel has an L-shape with 3 gates. It is more than 150m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.8 m high, with a parabolic ceiling.

After more than 360 days, the construction was finished. At some certain times, the tunnel was the sanctuary of more than 300 people. During the war, it functioned at its best, saving the inhabitants of Luong Ninh village as well as the soldiers and messengers from other parts of the country from the threat of American weapons.

In 2006, realizing the important historical values of the tunnel, the Committee of Quang Binh decided to fully renovate and transform Van La Tunnel into a national historical site so that visitors in Vietnam travel can come and admire this wonderful historical construction.