Ben Hai River – Quang Tri Province, Vietnam

There was once a time when the Ben Hai River (Song Ben Hai) served as a stark dividing line between North and South Vietnam. Today, the serene river now houses a proud monument signifying the country’s reunification.

The 100km-long river originates in the Annamite Mountains before flowing into the South China Sea. At its widest, the Ben Hai River is 200 meters across and at the time of Vietnam’s separation, the main north-south road (Highway 1) crossed the river via the Hien Luong Bridge.

Ben Hai River, Quang Tri — Ben Hai River. Photo: Rolf Müller

Built in the early 19502 by the French, this symbolic bridge was heavily damaged during the peak of the American War before being replaced with a new structure on the site of the old one. A memorial gate to Ho Chi Minh can be seen on the site of the Hien Luong Bridge. If you’re eager to learn about Vietnam’s partition, then visiting the Ben Hai River is for you.