A model of humans in the Vinh Moc Tunnel has attracted visitors to the site. In its 2,000 days of existence, 17 babies were born in the underground tunnel. (Photo: vietnamnet.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - TheMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has assigned authorities and relatedorganisations in the central province of Quang Tri to strictly protect theenvironment at historical underground relics in the province.
In a decision issued latelast week, the ministry assigns Quang Tri province'sRelics Preservation Institute to be the major unit, in coordination withthe provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and theCentre for Relics and Landscape Conservation, to implement the task thisyear.
Two national historical relicsof Vinh Moc Tunnel in Vinh Thach commune and Vinh LinhTunnel in Vinh Linh district, which were used as guerrilla warfare against theAmerican air war of destruction against North Vietnam between 1965and 1972, are the targeted environmental protection sites.
They are recognised asunique historical and cultural relics with great educational values andsymbols of strong will and patriotism against foreign invasion.
The tasks also includeassessing the effectiveness of the model and proposing solutions forthe implementation to contribute to preserving a sustainable tourismdevelopment for the province.
The specific subjects of thetasks are the natural and socio-cultural environment, preserving andpromoting historical values and related socio-economic developmentconditions at the sites and highlighting technical infrastructure, highquality tourism services and tours to the relics.
The implementation of the taskat the two sites is urgent and aims to prevent and limit theimpacts on the relics' historical values and surrounding environment,according to the ministry.
Quang Tri reported seriouserosion hitting many coastal areas of Vinh Moc village, Vinh Thach commune, VinhLinh district.
In October last year, Vinh MocTunnel was damaged by the erosion which has occurred since 2006 due tosea water encroachment.
Tunnel history
In mid-1960s, the nationalmovement of liberation of South Vietnam was at its peak.
The US forces expanded attackson northern Vietnam by both air and sea.
The enemy paid specialattention to Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, with the aim of turningthe area into a white zone to prevent the North from assisting the South.
They dropped about half amillion tons of bombs onto this area.
To evade the attacks, localpeople in the district built a system of tunnels deep under the ground toprotect themselves and at the same time supply food and armaments tothe North Vietnamese garrison on the island of Con Co, with target tohinder American bombers on their way to Hanoi.
From 1965 to 1968, Vinh Linhpeople created 114 guerilla warfare tunnels in villages, communes andtowns. The tunnel system was used until 1972.
Vinh Moc Tunnelis the most intact as it consists of three floors, 1,701-m long with13 gates.
To build the system,people had to dig and remove about 6,000cu.m of rock and soil. It iscalled the tunnel village because the tunnel has a hall, apartments, maternityhospital, message boards, water wells, toilets, and surgical station. In2,000 days of existence, 17 babies were born there underground.
In 1976, the then Ministry ofCulture and Information recognised the tunnels as a national-level historicalsite.
The site annually welcomeshundreds of thousands of visitors, many of them foreigners./.
VNA
