CHAU DOC - Tup Duc Hill

Those who knew of the importance of a small bump-of-a-hill at Gettysburg were fools to try to take this hill during the Vietnam War. Yet the US army spent – as the story goes – more than $2 million to knock the VC troops out of this hill’s deep, hidden crevices. Thus known as the ‘$2 million hill,’ it’s more a mass of vegetated rocks than a hill. Just walking up – past bullet holes in the rocks – involves some work, but it’s worth adding onto a long day-trip loop for Chau Doc, or detouring to if you’re motorbiking to Ha Tien. It’s 8km west of Tri Ton town, which is 41km south of Chau Doc (past Cam Mountain). As war sites go, it’s actually more interesting than Cu Chi.

Obvious steps lead up toward the hill – a Vietnamese flag flying triumphantly way above – but then the path leads into dark, tight nooks between giant boulders where the VC once lived. Kids are usually around to volunteer to take you up the passageways – and I was happy for the help. There’s a recreation of a VC military planning session in one crevice, and some nice views near the hilltop.

When I visited you couldn’t make it all the way to the top; some of the trail hadn’t been cleared. And ‘there are bees,’ one worker warned. It’s a few thousand dong to enter, and open daily.

Other attractions:

BOAT TOURS
SAM MOUNTAIN
TRA SU BIRD SANCTUARY

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