Local authorities announced on Sunday that Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam is slated to receive a C-119 aircraft, which participated in the war against the U.S. in Vietnam, from the Ministry of National Defense for display at the Ta Con airport relic site in Huong Hoa District.

Quang Tri has agreed to allocate VND3.5 billion (US$142,682) to the acquisition of the C-119 aircraft to enhance the collection of large-scale artifacts showcased at the Ta Con airport relic site. 

According to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Quang Tri, the C-119 aircraft, originally a transport vehicle upgraded to a reconnaissance aircraft, played a significant role in battles along the Truong Son Road, including in Quang Tri.

In May 2016, the Ministry of National Defense issued the aforementioned aircraft to Quang Tri for exhibition purposes. 

Subsequently, the Quang Tri Monuments and Scenic Conservation Center entered into a contract with Factory A41, which is responsible for maintaining and repairing all kinds of aircraft equipped for the Vietnamese military, for the repair, disassembly, and transportation of the C-119 aircraft from Ho Chi Minh City to Ta Con airport.

However, due to financial constraints, Quang Tri only recently resumed the exhibition plan after an eight-year hiatus. 

The estimated cost for repairing, restoring, and relocating the C-119 aircraft from Ho Chi Minh City to Ta Con airport is VND3.5 billion.

Currently, Ta Con airport houses a C-130, a large U.S. military aircraft nicknamed ‘packhorse,’ which served during U.S. presidential trips. 

The management board reports that Ta Con airport receives approximately 15,000 visitors annually, with 50 percent being international visitors. 

Despite its significance, visitors typically spend minimal time at the monument, with entrance tickets priced at only VND50,000 ($2).

The Ta Con airport relic site encompasses a cluster of strategic bases utilized by the U.S. military from 1966 to 1968, serving as a crucial link within the Khe Sanh base group. 

This landmark is intricately linked to Vietnam's campaign to liberate Khe Sanh-Huong Hoa in 1968 and was nationally recognized in 1986.

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