The MYSTERY OF
THE Missing French Fort
on Back Beach
I have heard stories of an old French Fort on Back Beach, Vung Tau, Vietnam.
I have seen pictures of this fort.
Twice, I have walked the full 10 kilometre stretch of Back Beach, but I haven't seen any French fort.
It is not there now. It is missing. I now have questions about this?
I have seen pictures of this fort.
Twice, I have walked the full 10 kilometre stretch of Back Beach, but I haven't seen any French fort.
It is not there now. It is missing. I now have questions about this?
- Was there really a French fort on Back Beach?
- If so, where was it?
- If so, what was its purpose?
As with all history/mystery cases on this website, if you know something about the case, or you have a theory, please feel free to contribute. [email protected]
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Did an old French fort really exist on Back Beach?
And if so, why?
And if so, why?
There are many stories about Vung Tau across both Indochina wars. Many are true, some are not. A place like Vung Tau island, which attracts colourful characters from all over the globe, is capable of producing an endless amount of pub history. Let's provide hard evidence of this fort before we advance with this history/mystery.
1. Photographs: The French fort at Back Beach appears to be right on Back Beach. It sat atop a small dune. It is a little reminiscent of the remains of World War 2 bunkers around Normandy. By 1968 it was not in good shape and was obviously abandoned.
2: Many Indochina War Two veterans have told me that they remember seeing the decaying fort on Back Beach.
2: Many Indochina War Two veterans have told me that they remember seeing the decaying fort on Back Beach.
Some initial thoughts:
- These photos remind me of the block house forts the French strung across vast lengths of northern Vietnam. I think they were part of a strategy called hedgehogs.
- The French had already spent a lot of time and effort building large cannon fields on both Big Mountain and Small mountain.
Today there is an operational Vietnamese army base mid way along Back beach. It is set back about 500 metres from the beach - at the back part of the sand dunes. It used to be a French army base. Might it have been connected to the old fort on the beach? It seems to be a good starting point for this investigation.
If indeed the fort and the army base were connected, then the strip of beach directly east of the base warrants a check. That strip of the beach is now a beach resort. Maybe the owner can help. 7th Dec 2015.
If indeed the fort and the army base were connected, then the strip of beach directly east of the base warrants a check. That strip of the beach is now a beach resort. Maybe the owner can help. 7th Dec 2015.
I mentioned hedgehogs before. After a bit of checking with Wikipedia, I found something. Hedgehog defence was used by the French in Indochina.
The Hedgehog defence is a military tactic in which a defending army creates mutually supporting strong points in a defence in depth which is designed to sap the strength and break the momentum of an attacking army. The strong points are designed to be expensive for an attacker to assault, and although the defending positions can be bypassed, and are indeed designed to be bypassed, doing so exposes the attacker's rear echelons and line of communications to counter attack. (Wikipedia)
If the old French fort on Back Beach was truly used as hedgehog defence then there would need to be more forts - a string of forts. 8th Dec 2015.
*Update - 10th Aug 2019
THE MYSTERY OF
THE MISSING FRENCH FORT
ON BACK BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF
THE MISSING FRENCH FORT
ON BACK BEACH
It is nearly four years since I opened this history mystery case.
A couple of weeks ago I was taken to a French blockhouse in Ho Chi Minh City. It was in remarkably good condition for a building which has been abandoned for so long. It was not a ruin like the blockhouse in the above photographs. It is completely intact. The style is very similar to the missing French blockhouse ( only a few slight differences).
While I worked on the video and story of the blockhouse in Ho Chi Minh City, I could not help but start thinking about the 'missing French fort on Vung Tau Isalnd'. Something was worrying me. Something was not right. I decided to re-look into the case.
A couple of weeks ago I was taken to a French blockhouse in Ho Chi Minh City. It was in remarkably good condition for a building which has been abandoned for so long. It was not a ruin like the blockhouse in the above photographs. It is completely intact. The style is very similar to the missing French blockhouse ( only a few slight differences).
While I worked on the video and story of the blockhouse in Ho Chi Minh City, I could not help but start thinking about the 'missing French fort on Vung Tau Isalnd'. Something was worrying me. Something was not right. I decided to re-look into the case.
As soon as I saw the photos I knew what was worrying me. Both photos quite clearly show there is no parapet at the front of the fort. The fort had no front parapet. It wasn't broken off through abuse. The edges of the roof and adjoining parapet walls are straight. It never had a fully enclosed parapet around the roof.
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I had been told that the fort was on Back Beach, so I imagined that the photographers would have been standing with their backs to the ocean when taking their photos of the fort.
What I thought was the front of the fort must have been the back.
However, even as I say that, I know it makes no sense.
What I thought was the front of the fort must have been the back.
However, even as I say that, I know it makes no sense.
The next part of my hypothesis (why this makes no sense at all) is best demonstrated on video. [Click the link below to be taken to my Youtube History Channel.] Then come back here to continue with History Mystery.
NOT NOW since ##!!## youtube closed my channel.
NOT NOW since ##!!## youtube closed my channel.
I have found a French (?) map which might helps us with this case.
I WILL ADD THIS NEW INFORMATION AS SOON AS I CAN.
AND PLEASE SEND YOUR THEORIES TO HELP SOLVE THIS CASE. [email protected]
I WILL ADD THIS NEW INFORMATION AS SOON AS I CAN.
AND PLEASE SEND YOUR THEORIES TO HELP SOLVE THIS CASE. [email protected]