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 | Ho Chi Minh City Out of Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels Reviews | Tips 61 - 70 of 83 |  |
 | |  |  | Out of Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels: Cu Chi Tunnels | |  |  | |  |
Located near the village of Ben Suc, about 75km (46 miles) northwest of HCMC, the tunnel network of Cu Chi District became legendary during the 1960s for its role as a revolutionary base during the American War. In the late 1940s during the war against the French, the Vietnamese began digging tunnels into the reddish-brown clay of Cu Chi with simple hand tools. The tunnels were part of an underground network that zig-zagged from the southern tip of the Ho Chi Minh Trail near the Cambodian border to the Saigon River. In the Cu Chi district alone, there were over 200km (125 miles) of tunnels. The network was several stories deep in places, included innumerable trap doors, a complete system of kitchens, medical clinics and operating rooms, meeting rooms and sleeping chambers with bamboo beds. The network also incorporated storage chambers for weapons and food, wells for drinking water, ventilation shafts to provide air and to vent smoke from the ovens. Cleverly concealed entrances, some even under the surface of nearby streams, hid access to the complex. Primitive and gruesome booby traps protected the occupants if their tunnel was discovered. Up to 16,000 guerrillas could live in the tunnel complex at any one time. The Cu Chi tunnels are a must for any tour program in the South. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Out of Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels: Cu Chi Tunnels - Part 1 | | | | | |
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a must-see for any war or history buff. You don't have to be one of these, however, to get have an amazing and sobering experience. Out of the things we did and saw in Vietnam, the Cu Chi Tunnels are probably the best set up for tourists. You can easily spend several hours here. The visit starts by watching a short film on history of the war. For Western tourists it's quite an eye-opener - we don't often hear the perspectives of 'the other side'. It's strong-worded propaganda and you'll either find it offensive or amusing, but it's an interesting insight either way. Guided tours leave every ten or fifteen minutes, depending on demand. Our guide was a man called Trí and I would definitely recommend him. He is quite obviously the youngest guide (at least working on the day we were there) and has a very dry, wicked sense of humour: *Brooke and Anarae are giggling and squriming through the tunnels* Trí: Look out girls, a snake! Brooke and Anarae: AAAAARGH! American Tourist: Has anyone ever got stuck in the tunnels? How would you get them out? Trí: Oh, we can't damage the tunnels. Had to destroy the tourist. American Tourist: *Jaw drops* Anyway :P ... The tour shows you several facets of the tunnel system, including the original tunnel trapdoors (tiny!), the ingenious kitchen and a display of weapons making. You learn that the Vietnamese were truly ingenious and the War a terrible waste. You also get the opportunity to wriggle through a section of the tunnel (widened for tourists but still a tight squeeze!) and sample some tea and tapioca, a typical VC tunnel-dweller's meal. Leave a Comment Directions: The Cu Chi Tunnels are a fair drive out of HCMC. I don't know if you can get there by public transport, but I would recommend going on a daytour like we did. It makes things a lot easier!
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