Named after the socialist republic's first president and deisgned by military genius Gen. Võ Nguyễn Giáp, the Hồ Chí Minh Trial ran over 20,000km in length through Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia. During the American War in Việt Nam, the trial, despite heavy bombardment and even the use of chemical weapon by the Americans, never ceased to function as a crucial lifelinethat connected the country's North and South.