This is a pair of dep lop sandals from Viet Nam. Dep lop translates to "sandal tire rubber". This type of footwear was worn by the Viet Cong during the Viet Nam war. They were easily made, with the entire sandal being made of old automobile and truck tires. The treads were used for the soles, while the side walls were cut into strips of rubber and used for the straps. There is no type of adhesives or stitching used in the construction. The strips of rubber are simply interference fit into the soles. In the tropical environment of Viet Nam these were more practical than common combat boots. The open air construction allowed the wears feet to dry much more rapidly than a pair of boots. And there was virtually an endless supply of material. This pair was brought home by a Marine veteran of that war as a souvenir. If you collect Viet Nam era memorabilia then you gotta have a pair of Ho Chi Minh sandals!

Item # AA1250

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