Life Blooms again on Unexploded Ordnance Hotspot in Central Vietnam
Decades after the end of the war, the battle-scarred Quang Tri Province is undergoing a remarkable rebirth.
Efforts to clear unexploded ordnance have reclaimed vast tracts of land, allowing farmers to safely cultivate their crops.
The war left a deadly legacy. Millions of tonnes of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) scattered across the country. Quang Tri bore the brunt with nearly 84% of its land contaminated.
These dormant explosives are everywhere – backyards, fields, even under homes – earning them the chilling nickname 'the Grim Reaper'.
The human toll is heartbreaking. About 7,000 people, including more than 3,000 children, have fallen victim to bomb and ammunition accidents in the province since the end of the war.
Ho Van Hien, residing in Con Village, Tan Lap Commune, Huong Hoa District, was such a victim. When he was seven, he picked up what he thought was a toy in his garden, only to have it explode in his hands.
He was lucky enough to be alive as the blast only cost him a finger, however, not all the victims were as fortunate.
Ho A Bui, a fellow villager, recalled a horrific accident he witnessed 18 years ago. A massive explosion rocked the area about two kilometres away when some individuals attempted to dismantle UXOs to salvage scrap metal.
"When I reached the scene, it was a nightmare," said Bui. "Five people were killed, their bodies mangled beyond recognition."
Everything changed in 1996 when Quang Tri began to partner with international organisations, notably PeaceTrees Vietnam (PTVN), in UXO clearance efforts.
In H??ng Hóa alone, PTVN's teams have disposed of more than 45,000 explosive devices since 2005, reclaiming nearly 1,700ha of land for farmers.
Beyond removing UXOs, they have also financially supported farmers by spending more than $2.7 million on livelihood-improving initiatives.
"Life was a constant struggle for people in Huong Hoa before the land was cleared of UXOs," said Bui. "We tried to farm, but the fear of hidden explosives made it almost impossible to make a living."
The land is coming alive thanks to their efforts. Farmers like Ho A Bui can now harvest crops where they once feared to tread. His recent pepper harvest brought in a small but hopeful income.
The green shoots of recovery have emerged but the specter of 'the Grim Reaper' still lingers over Quang Tri. Experts estimate it could take centuries to fully clear UXOs in the province.
Despite the daunting challenge, disposal teams stay their course.
Tran Van Thanh, a team leader, said that the land is still littered with UXOs, which farmers could stumble upon while working in their fields.
PTVN's operations have helped reduce explosion risks, but there is still a long way to go before Quang Tri can be transformed into a UXO-free land.
"UXO disposal is not something you can learn on the job," said Thanh. "Every discovery is a new challenge as we have to decide how to proceed."
He said that sometimes his team could not move the bomb they found, they had to evacuate people and detonate it in place, which is incredibly dangerous. One mistake can cost lives.
"That’s why precision is everything," he said. "The relief we feel after a successful operation is immense, knowing we've made the community safer."
Recently, Quang Tri government has teamed up with the UK-based Mines Advisory Group to double its efforts on UXO disposal. The three-year initiative, funded by the US Department of State and other donors, aims to dispose of 42,000 explosive devices and organise 350 training sessions for local people.