Overview
Most of the bases and bunkers have long vanished, but this 5km strip of land on either side of the Ben Hai River is still known by its American War moniker: the DMZ. From 1954 to 1975 it acted as a buffer between the North and the South. Ironically, the DMZ became one of the most militarised areas in the world, forming what Time magazine called ‘a running sore’.
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Take your Vietnam trip with Lonely Planet Journeys
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bookable trip
The Mighty Mekong Delta: Vietnam’s Floating Markets and Historic River Villages
9 days / 8 nights
highlights
- 1Watching a dazzling show at Saigon’s historic Opera House
- 2Biking around Bến Tre and riding a traditional sampan, where canals crisscross with local villages
- 3Sampling street food and fresh fruit from the floating markets of Can Tho
from $2,853
per person


Explore more trips
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12 days / 11 nights
All-Encompassing Vietnam: 12 Days in Quy Nhon, Hạ Long, Hội An, and the Mekong Delta
FROM $2,224
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12 days / 11 nights
The Best of Vibrant Vietnam: City, Coastal, and Countryside Traditions
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