Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone

The Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone was a buffer zone created in 1954 that divided Vietnam between the communist-led North and the anti-communist South. It followed the course of the Bến Hải River in Quang Tri province just south of the 17th parallel. Initially negotiated as a temporary measure, it became a de facto border between the two states throughout the Vietnam War period. The DMZ was finally breached in March 1975 with the North's last offensive and abolished in July 1976 with the reunification of Vietnam.

1969 map of the Demilitarized Zone

Geography
Photo taken from the north side of the DMZ at the Route 1 crossing. The guard tower on the left is a re-creation and spires seen in the distance through the arch are a new monument.

The border between North and South Vietnam was 76.1 kilometers (47.3 mi) in length and ran from east to west near the middle of present-day Vietnam within Quang Tri province.[1] Beginning in the west at the tripoint with Laos, it ran east in a straight line until reaching the village of Bo Ho Su on the Ben Hai River. The line then followed this river as it flowed in a broadly northeastwards direction out to the Gulf of Tonkin. Either side of the line was a Demilitarized Zone, forming a buffer of about 6.4–9.7 kilometers (4–6 mi) in width.[1] Although it was nominally described as being at "the 17th parallel," the border never actually followed that line, only straddling the general area of that line of latitude.

History
The Demilitarized Zone between North and South Vietnam, March 1968, looking west toward Laos.

The First Indochina War (also called the French Indochina War) was fought in French Indochina from 1946 to 1954 between the French Union (including the anti-communist State of Vietnam) on the one side, and the communist-dominated Viet Minh/Democratic Republic of Vietnam and allies (aided by China and the Soviet Union) on the other.[1] The Viet Minh won the war after their victory in Dien Bien Phu on 7 May 1954. On 22 July 1954, the French Union gave up its control of Vietnam, Vietnam was divided into two: North (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South (State of Vietnam).[1]

The postcolonial conditions of Vietnam were set at the Geneva Conference of 1954, and an agreement was signed between France and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 21 July 1954.[1] The agreement reflected the military situation on the ground: the northern part of Vietnam, which was almost entirely controlled by the Viet Minh, became the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, under the communist leader Ho Chi Minh. The southern part of Vietnam, where the Viet Minh controlled only relatively small and remote areas, became the independent State of Vietnam under Bảo Đại, the last scion of the old Vietnamese imperial house. The State of Vietnam later became the Republic of Vietnam. A temporary boundary, running primarily along the Bến Hải River was established pending elections, with the area on either side of the border declared a demilitarized zone. Troops of both governments were barred from that area.[2]

After war between North and South Vietnam broke out in 1955-one year after the division, the DMZ hardened into a de facto international boundary. The war itself evolved into a proxy conflict of the Cold War and milions of the United States as well as allied soliders being sent to the country to help anti-communist government of South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam from 1965 to 1973. Despite the DMZ's supposed status, 3rd Marine Division intelligence estimated that the combat strength of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong (a branch of North Vietnam) forces in the DMZ area in January 1968 was 40,943 troops.[3]

The North was ultimately victorious in the war with the fall of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975, and the DMZ ceased to exist after the reunification of Vietnam under a communist regime between North Vietnam and the North-controlled Republic of South Vietnam on 2 July 1976.

Tourism

Exploring the Demilitarized Zone can today be comfortably achieved by joining one of various tours starting daily from Huế or Đà Nẵng.[4] Together with a local guide the most famous war settings, such as Khe Sanh Combat Base, The Rockpile, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Doc-Mieu-Station or the Vinh Moc tunnels, are visited on a full-day trip.

Although the Vietnam War ended decades ago, walking outside marked tracks can still be dangerous because of numerous unexploded ordnance devices.[5]

  • Map of the DMZ from 1957
    Map of the DMZ from 1957
  • Map of the DMZ from 1966
    Map of the DMZ from 1966

See also

References
  1. "International Boundary Study No. 19 – Vietnam – "Demarcation Line"" (PDF). US Department of State. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. "17th parallel". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  3. Pike, COL Thomas F., Military Records, February 1968, 3rd Marine Division: The Tet Offensive, p. 115, ISBN 978-1-481219-46-4. NVA and VC Order of Battle information is located on pages 114-127
  4. "DMZ Vietnam Travel". Vietnam Guide. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  5. Lonely Planet, ISBN 978-3-8297-1595-9.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for DMZ (Vietnam).

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