The discovery was made in Dong Lam residential area, Phong Thai Ward, during a mine clearance operation by a multi-task team under Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in Vietnam.
An inspection found 18 explosive items of various types, including 105mm and 90mm artillery shells, 82mm mortar rounds, 66mm anti-tank rockets and 40mm grenades.
After a technical assessment, the clearance team determined that all the munitions could be safely moved. They were then transported to a central demolition site for disposal in accordance with NPA procedures.
The area where the cache was found was considered strategically important during the war. Bong Bong field airstrip, which was used by the US military between 1965 and 1968, lies about 750 metres west of the site.
The site also witnessed fierce fighting during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Decades later, unexploded ordnance buried underground continues to pose a threat to local residents.
NPA said clearing the explosives would improve safety for 161 people using the land for farming and livestock production, while reducing risks for nearly 2,000 residents in Dong Lam.