- Duration: 20 thousand km
Laos is a state with a rather uneasy history. And along with such exotic names as the "pearl of the Mekong", there is also the sad "title" of the most bombed country in the world. Numerous military conflicts have not passed without a trace for the people of Laos, nor for its culture : there are several colorful and very characteristic attractions that are designed to honor the memory of times of turmoil. One of them is the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
What is the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
In fact, the space of this landmark goes far beyond the territory of Laos. By this term, the US military designated a set of transport routes, including water, that were used by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam for the transfer of troops to South Vietnam. The total length of these tracks is more than 20 thousand km, and they are on the territory of both Laos and Cambodia.
Without going into historical details about the constant bombing and cruelty of that time, it is worth noting only that the Trail has always been maintained in excellent condition. This was followed by more than 300 peasants from different settlements.
Today a walk along these strategic points brings, as a rule, a lot of impressions. Here you can see a huge amount of military equipment, weapons and shells. Somewhere on the hill lies a rusted downed helicopter, and a bit further around the corner the Vietnamese tank survives on the ruins - it's a familiar landscape on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
How to get to the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
The path runs through the Lao-Vietnamese border. In Vietnam, tourist routes in this area begin in Hanoi. In Laos, there is no specific point from which it is customary to inspect this landmark - each one adjusts the route for himself. Most tourists with a purpose to walk along the Tropez come to the city of Saravan and its province. In addition, it is best to inspect this landmark as part of the sightseeing tour - guides, as a rule, know the most interesting and, importantly, safe places.