A Vietnamese tour guide demonstrating how to disappear into the Cu Chi tunnel network through a hole camouflaged on the jungle floor some 70km from Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon City). The 200km underground tunnel network includes sections for living, dining, meeting and fighting and was used during the resistance against the US during the Vietnam War.

A white line remains on the Hien Luong bridge in Dong ha Vietnam, once the marker between Communist-controlled north and US supported south, is now just an arbitrary line.

Groups of war veterans from the US have been touring the country to reflect on history for the 40th anniversary of the end of Vietnam War.

Louis Andre was a Special Forces First Lieutenant based here, and remembers drinking from these waters.

“I’ve always thought that it was a mistake that we were involved and I’ve always been upset that we didn’t do more to, once we withdrew, to remedy the long-lasting effects of the war,” he said.

Remnants of the war are everywhere in this province. Unexploded cluster bombs, or BLU’s risk being mistaken for toys when discovered by children. Elsewhere, the group meets Agent Orange victims – millions of gallons of toxic chemical were sprayed on to Vietnam’s jungles resulting in respiratory cancer and birth defects for thousands.

I’ve always thought that it was a mistake that we were involved

Some of those who fought here, remained. David Clark was a sergeant in the US Marines in Danang where he now lives with his Vietnamese wife. He recalls intimidation techniques required of him in the past. “It is far more enjoyable to put smiles on the Vietnamese people’s faces than what I used to do, to make them fear me.”