A Lưới district
A Lưới is a rural district of Thừa Thiên Huế province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. It is located west in the highly mountainous area of A Shau Valley bordering Laos. The population includes many Bru, Hoa and Tà Ôi people. As of 2003 the district had a population of 38,616. The district covers an area of 1,229 km2 and its capital lies at A Lưới, a former French airfield, later used by the Americans in Operation Delaware and then by the North Vietnamese for courier flights.
A Lưới district
Huyện A Lưới | |
|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam |
| Region | North Central Coast |
| Province | Thừa Thiên Huế |
| Capital | A Lưới |
| Area | |
| • Total | 475 sq mi (1,229 km2) |
| Population (2003) | |
| • Total | 38,616 |
| • Density | 81/sq mi (31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (UTC + 7) |
Many areas and mountains in the A Luoi region became historically significant in the mid-late 1960s during the Vietnam War, such the Battle of A Shau, the 5th Special Forces' A Lưới Camp that was overrun in 1966, as well as the 4,878-foot Dong Re Lao Mountain best known as the "Signal Hill" that was seized by 1st Cavalry Division LRRP / Rangers in 1968 during Operation Delaware. Also, A Bia Mountain, known as the Hamburger Hill that was seized by members of the 101st Airborne Division.
A Lưới is connected to the former French colonial capital and coastal city, Huế, one of the main historical cities in central Vietnam by National Road 49, a road notorious for poor safety because of the mountainous terrain and poor road surface. The A Lưới district has one town and 21 communes. The central town has gas stations, and a few guest-houses for travelers.