Vinh is the capital of Nghe An province in north-central Vietnam and the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh, whose family home at Kim Lien village nearby is a pilgrimage site. The city was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War and was completely rebuilt in a Soviet style, giving it a distinctive architectural character. Vinh is a transit point for travellers heading to or from Laos via the Cau Treo/Nam Phao border crossing.