How one of the most bombed places on the planet survived | CNN

A CNN Travel newsletter spotlights survival stories tied to a “history” theme, beginning with Vĩnh Mốc, a fishing village in central Vietnam that became one of the most bombed locations during the Vietnam War. Because relocation was impossible under heavy bombardment, villagers built an underground tunnel complex within two years, featuring arched ceilings, thick walls, and zigzag pathways designed to absorb blast impacts. Over eight years, American forces dropped an estimated 9,000 tons of explosives there. Hundreds lived beneath the village for six years, and at least 17 children were born in an underground maternity ward. The newsletter also references Poland’s Wolin Underground City and Kyrgyzstan’s Saimaluu Tash petroglyphs.