The village of Dak To bore witness to the full horrors of the Vietnam War. In 1966, the South Vietnamese set up a base on Hill 42 to the north of the town. A landing strip was even built by the Americans to defend "Charlie Hill", strategically the key to the whole region. The capture of this position by the Viet Cong in March 1972 signified the fall of Dak To. The main square, with its memorial and two tanks, memorialises these tragic events.