The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a 9,940 mile trail within the mountains and jungle used by the North Vietnamese to infiltrate troops and supplies to South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during the Vietnam War. The trail was first built in 1959, when North Vietnam and South Vietnam were divided with the 17th parallel. North Vietnam wanted to build this trail to take over the South in an effort to stop the dispute.
Within this trail, massive amounts of supply and weaponry were being sent through this path everyday. Once U.S. Military Forces had knowledge of this trial and its power, they wanted to cut it off all together. Underground rest places and sections were quickly built all along this trail from frequent disruption by the U.S. Military. But since the countries this trail ran through were ‘officially neutral’ during this war, America was having a hard time in destroying it.
The U.S. wanted to target the trail which entered into Laos, so in 1965, an air bombing of over 30 U.S. Air Strike Jets were sent to Laos to try and destroy one section of the trail. After this failed attempt, another operation was planned three years later. Operation Commando Hunt was put in place to stop troops and supplies on the trail though Laos into South Vietnam. By the end of this operation, around three million tons of bombs had exploded on Laos. From this massive disruption, North Vietnam did slow down for a while, but did not give up trail operations.
This trail was such a disruption to the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War. It inevitably was the reason why it had lasted for so long, and why Vietnam kept fighting back. Because they had an advantage of this one trail. In the end, North Vietnam's goal of overtaking South Vietnam had gone according to plan.
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| The Ho Chi Minh Trail route |
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| Divide between North and South Vietnam |
A Video of the Viet Cong guerrillas working in the jungles on the Ho Chi Minh Trail of western Vietnam
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This trail seems like it played a big part in the war. The trail was like an artery for Vietnam’s survival during this war.
ReplyDeleteI remember learning about this in 6th grade back in Vietnam. Vietnamese history textbooks and most articles that were written in Vietnamese are still very proud of this trail.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very interesting that the U.S. attempted to shut down the trail but failed, and then tried again 3 years later. Also, the fact that 3 million tons of bomb didn't entirely stop North Vietnam from using the trial, shows their persistence.
ReplyDeleteI’m surprised that 3 million tons of bombs were used and still could not destroy the trail. The effort that must have been put into these trails is outrageous I’m sure.
ReplyDeleteWith the 3 million tons of bombs that were dropped onto Laos did the government officials of Laos question or threaten the U.S. government? I feel as though that with that large amount explosives it could cause large amounts of damage to farms and other parts of the country.
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