thehochiminhtrail

Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Fuel Tanks Raining Down
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Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Fuel Tanks Raining Down

Air Craft Fuel Drop Tanks.   Location: Khammouane Province Ban Thabak-N18° 14.027′ E104° 39.742′   As a way of extending the flight duration, exterior fuel tanks were fitted on the wings or the main fuselage. Some Tanks were 600 gallons, some 2500 liters extending range considerably. Once empty the tanks were jettisoned and would fall…

Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Disappearing Trails-Route 23
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Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Disappearing Trails-Route 23

Route 23: Savannakhet Tad Hay Bridge.   Location: N16° 16.760′ E105° 57.534′ The Red Princes Bridge.   Over the Xe Bang Heing River, this bridge was built in 1942 and designed by Souphanouvong who became the first President of Lao PDR in 1975. It was destroyed by the American bombing in 1967. South West of…

Tales from The Ho Chi Minh Trail -Disappearing Trails Muang Nong-Ta Oy
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Tales from The Ho Chi Minh Trail -Disappearing Trails Muang Nong-Ta Oy

Muang Nong to Ta Oy -Savannakhet Location N16° 22.478′ E106° 29.869′   Updated June 2021   There are a few different ways of getting to Ta Oy from Muang Nong. The most popular is Via Ban Along over the 300 meter Bamboo bridge, the bridge is removed in the wet season and built again in…

Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Tham Nam Cave
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Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Tham Nam Cave

 Tham Nam -Ban Nongboua   Location; N17° 32.915′ E105° 44.863′   Caves played a huge part during the conflict in Laos, with the war against the Americans run from a massive cave complex housed in Xam Neua.  Smaller caves served similar purposes, and were all very safe, natural shelters from the bombers above. Cant imagine…

Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Ban Phanop
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Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Ban Phanop

 The Phanop Valley   Location. Khammouane province; N17° 32.210′ E105° 44.489′   Along the Trail there are a huge number of small villages, many of which played key parts in the Trail’s history . Ban Phanop is one such village, located quite near the top in Khammouane Province. Ban Phanop is famous for a daring…

Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Disappearing War Scrap
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Tales From The Ho Chi Minh Trail-Disappearing War Scrap

Ban Saenphan   Location; Khammouane Province N17° 29.330′ E105° 41.839′ Updated April 2021.   Starting at Ban Langkhang off Route 12, you can join the Ho Chi Minh Trail and travel down to Ban Saenphan, which is just before the second Xe Bangfai crossing. There used to be ‘flyers’ available telling us about things of…