Landscape view of vegetation and mountains in former Demilitarized Zone

A landscape view of vegetation and mountains in central Vietnam's former Demilitarized Zone shows small trees and grassland in the foreground, and layers of mountain silhouettes, blue sky, and clouds in the background.

During the Vietnam War, much of the region's dense forest and human settlements were destroyed by U.S. bombings and defoliation campaigns. Defoliants, including "Agent Orange," were combinations of herbicides intended to kill trees and other plants that could be used by soliders for cover from enemy troops. Between 1961 and 1971, the U.S. sprayed between 12 and 19 million gallons of herbicides on Vietnam, covering an estimated 6 million acres, half of which remains unrestored today.