The photo shows the flower-releasing wharf on the Thach Han River, a memorial to the soldiers who died crossing the river to support the citadel in 1972. The wharf, built in 2012, is a place where people and tourists pay their respects and release flowers into the river to honor the fallen soldiers during holidays.

Scripted by writer Chu Lai, "Mua Do" is set in 1972 when the liberation army of South Vietnam had completely taken control of Quang Tri province—the location of the temporary dividing line between North and South Vietnam. Having lost this strategic base and facing the potential loss of Thua Thien province, the US supplied additional equipment to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to counterattack and recapture Quang Tri, especially the citadel, to pressure a favorable treaty.

After the film's release, many viewers visited the historical sites in Quang Tri featured in the film to pay their respects to the soldiers who fell for the peace and reunification of the country.

Duc Hieu, 27, a Quang Tri native, along with a VnExpress journalist, suggests 4 destinations associated with prominent scenes in the film for tourists.

Several aircraft, including the C-130, UH-1, and CH-47, are on display within the memorial grounds. There are also tanks, bomb casings, and artifacts from the liberation soldiers and the US military.

Quang Tri Citadel

The citadel is located in Quang Tri ward, about 14 km from Dong Ha city center. It was built between 1809 and 1837, from the Gia Long to the Minh Mang dynasties. During the Republic of Vietnam era, it was named Dinh Cong Trang Citadel.

The square-shaped citadel has 500-meter sides surrounded by an 18-meter-wide and 3-meter-deep moat for defense. It has 4 gates, with the main gate facing south. Quang Tri Citadel offered convenient access north or south by river, road, and sea.

From 28/6 to 16/9/1972, the US and ARVN dropped 328,000 tons of bombs on the citadel and Quang Tri town in an attempt to recapture it and exert pressure during the Paris Peace Accords.

In the film, the Quang Tri Citadel was reconstructed by the film crew on a nearby agricultural plot along the Thach Han River for filming purposes.

Visitors to the citadel are encouraged to offer incense at the central memorial and then visit the museum to learn about the 81-day battle to defend it.

Thach Han River

About 500 m from the citadel, the Thach Han River was the only supply route into the battlefield. Only one company could swim across each day, carrying limited necessities and ammunition. During the monsoon season, the river's high, swift currents caused trenches to collapse, forcing soldiers to stay submerged for days without food or rest. Water aggravated their wounds, and many soldiers perished in the river.

Ta Con Airport Historical Site

Located in Khe Sanh commune on National Highway 14, Ta Con Airport is over 75 km from Quang Tri Citadel. The area is a basin-shaped valley spanning approximately 60 ha. From 1966 to 1968, Ta Con was a crucial US military base in central Vietnam. Due to its strategic location, it was often referred to as the "Dien Bien Phu" of north-central Vietnam.

Hien Luong Bridge - Ben Hai River Historical Site

The banks of the Hien Luong River, a "historical witness" of the country, also appear in "Mua Do." The complex includes the two banks of the Hien Luong, the Hien Luong Bridge, the Ben Hai River, the north bank flagpole, the joint operations house, the border police station, the loudspeaker system, the "Aspiration for Reunification" monument on the south bank, and the 17th Parallel Museum. According to the 1954 Geneva Accords, the 17th parallel, marked by the Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge, was the dividing line between the two military regroupment zones in Vietnam. After two years, general elections were to be held to reunify the country. However, the two banks of the Hien Luong remained divided until 1975.

The bridge witnessed bombings and the blue-and-yellow painted conflict. After reunification, it was painted gray. In 2014, the Hien Luong Bridge was repainted blue and yellow for the first time since the war to symbolize the Vietnamese people's desire for unity. Photo: Vo Thanh

Hien Luong Bridge viewed from the north bank of the Ben Hai River, next to the Ben Hai commune fields, featured in the scene depicting people fleeing on the "highway of horror." This event took place along a 9 km stretch from the La Vang intersection to the Ben Da Bridge, bordering Thua Thien Hue province.

Besides the four locations associated with "Mua Do," visitors to Quang Tri can explore other historical sites, including the Vinh Moc Tunnels, the Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery, the Highway 9 National Martyrs Cemetery, and Con Co Island. Photo: Vo Thanh

Quang Tri Citadel. Video: Duc Hieu

Tuan Anh

Photo: Duc Hieu