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All roads from North to South Vietnam had to pass through Dong Loc Junction. Considered a bottleneck; once passed, it would disperse into various routes leading to the South. During the Vietnam War, the American military dropped countless bombs to destroy this vital supply line. Though, Vietnamese people filled the bomb craters to ensure the road remained open.
Vietnamese militia filling bomb craters
Ten young female volunteers fell while on duty at Dong Loc Junction. This place has become a historical relic commemorating the girls and those who fell for the road to the South. In 2013, Dong Loc Junction Memorial Area was ranked as a Vietnam Special National Monument.
The war has ended, the pain has eased, but history stories remain. The story of 10 girls and remnants of the war helps visitors understand more about a fiery period in this seemingly peaceful land. Let Asia King Travel tell the stories of Dong Loc Junction through the article below.
Dong Loc Junction is currently located at National Highway 15 and National Highway 15B intersection, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh Province. It was the starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. The memorial area is 20 kilometers from Ha Tinh City and 330 kilometers from the capital Hanoi.
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Taking a train or bus from Hanoi can be quite a long and tiring journey. However, traveling by private vehicle may have interesting experiences along the way. The most convenient way is by air. Take a flight to Noi Bai International Airport and then connect to Vinh International Airport (Nghe An Province) or fly directly to Vinh if there are flights from your country.
The intersection of national highways at Dong Loc Junction
From Vinh City, drive to Ha Tinh via National Highway 1A. When you are about 9 kilometers from Ha Tinh City, turn right onto National Highway 15B. Continue for another 10 kilometers and you will reach Dong Loc Junction.
Due to the strategic importance of this route, the U.S. Air Force continuously bombed Dong Loc, aiming to sever the transportation lifeline of the North Vietnamese army. As a result, Dong Loc has nicknamed the "death coordinates". In just from March to October 1968, the U.S. dropped 48,600 bombs of various types on this location.
Names and photos of the 10 brave girls who sacrificed their lives. Source: Thanh Nien
On July 24th, 1968, a 10-girl squad was ordered to fill bomb craters in the area where the enemy had just bombed to clear the road for vehicles. Upon receiving the order, the women rushed to the scene to urgently fill the craters and clear the road.
At 4:30 PM, the 15th bombing raid of the day struck Dong Loc. All the girls quickly threw themselves flat on the road. When the sound of the planes faded, they got up to resume their work.
Suddenly, a group of jet fighters returned and dropped a series of bombs directly on 10 girls. They sacrificed at their most beautiful age.
The bomb crater where they fell
When everyone arrived at the explosion site, they only saw a deep crater. The girls had been buried while managing to take shelter in a bunker. The search team could only dig by hand, fearing they might harm the bodies. After two hours, they only found nine girls. It wasn't until the third day that they found the last one, Ho Thi Cuc.
Vietnam commemorates the sacrifice of Ten Young Women Volunteers annually on the day they passed, July 24th. This month, many visitors come to pay respect and learn about the historical significance of the junction. Special ceremonies and events are held during this time.
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pays incense at Dong Loc Junction. Source: Baochinhphu
However, Ha Tinh is extremely hot in the summer. Plus, being crowded will make you overwhelmed. So you can visit a bit later in autumn, from September onward. Pleasant weather is easier to manage and little rain at that time.
The memorial stele bears the names of nearly 4,000 national youth volunteer martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives at Dong Loc Junction. The stele records a heroic and tragic page of history. It expresses gratitude to the heroes for sparing no youth or blood, sacrificing for the nation's victory.
Ho Chi Minh's teachings for Vietnamese youth in front of the memorial
The most touching part of the areal is the Tomb of 10 Heroic Female Martyrs. These women are a part of this place, a part of history. The bomb crater where they fell still remains. When visiting Dong Loc Junction, visitors should stop by and light incense sticks for 10 brave girls.
Their resting place is cared for by later generations
The Victory Monument was built on the ground riddled with bomb craters from the past. The monument symbolizes the strength and the will to overcome all hardships of the Vietnamese armed forces. Around the monument base are symbols of battle at Dong Loc Junction with bombs, smoke, and clouds representing peace.
The war memorial monument towards the aspiration for peace
The exhibition room houses an electronic diorama depicting the events at Dong Loc Junction. It displays images of the junction during the fierce war years, along with many precious artifacts such as a letter from Vo Thi Tan to her mother, a notebook containing Huong's song lyrics, and clothes sets belonging to Xuan (names of the 10 girls who sacrificed their lives).
Squad Leader Vo Thi Tan sent a letter to her family 5 days before her sacrifice
The war is over, it's time to look back and heal the wounds. Hopefully, in the future, no more young men and women will have to sacrifice their youth on the battlefield. Contact Asia King Travel to discover "death coordinates" where life is flourishing.
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