A Luoi District Huyện A Lưới |
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Rural district | |
Country | Vietnam |
Region | North Central Coastal |
Province | Thừa Thiên-Huế |
Capital | A Luoi |
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) |
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 usd by the Americans in Operation Delaware and then by the North Vietnamese for courier flights.
Many areas and mountains in the A Luoi region became historical in the mid-late 1960s during the Vietnam War, such the Battle of A Shau, the 5th Special Forces 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.