Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels, a must do attraction from Ho Chi Minh City

Date: 26 October 2019

After starting my tour at a handicrafts workshop and then the Cao Dai temple, post lunch we were driven to our final stop on the tour — the famed Cu Chi Tunnels.

Green fields Vietnam — We drove past many rice fields

Entry shooting range Saigon Cu Chi Tunnels — Our tour van dropped us off first at a shooting gallery

Shooting range counter Cu Chi tunnels — You can pay for the rounds here

Shooting range prices Cu Chi tunnels — Here are the prices

Cu Chi tunnels shooting range — I merely watched some other guy shoot a gun. It was loud! (Watch it in the video below)

Welcome Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — After that, our tour van took us inside the compound from where our tour of Cu Chi Tunnels would begin

US army tanks Vietnam Cu Chi tunnels — At the entrance were some old US military vehicles used during the Vietnam War

Old C130 Vietnam Cu Chi tunnels — An old Lockheed C-130 Hercules. All of these were abandoned after US forces fled Vietnam after defeat.

Map of Cu Chi tunnels Ben Duoc — A map of Ben Duoc area.

It’s a large area and some tours include a stop at Ben Duoc Memorial Temple, the large swimming pool, and there’s even a paintball shooting arena.

Cu Chi tunnels rules Vietnam — The Cu Chi Tunnels are managed by the Vietnam Army now. The above are the rules.

Cu Chi tunnels office Ho Chi Minh — An old office with a portrait of Ho Chi Minh on the wall

So what are the Cu Chi tunnels and why are they famous? They are a complex of different underground tunnel systems built over a period of 25 years and used as a hideaway of the Viet Cong fighters. Beginning in the mid-1940s during the war against the French colonials, the tunnels later expanded when the Viet Cong were fighting the United States army.

The underground tunnels were used by the Viet Cong to hide from foreign forces sweeping the jungle and air raids. The tunnels were also used to hide documents and weapons.

Cu Chi tunnels underground model — Our guide took us to a hall where they had a model on display showing an example of how deep the Cu Chi tunnels ran over the years

Ben Duoc Cu Chi tunnels jungle Vietnam — After the talk the guide gave in front of the model, it was time to now explore the jungle

We were first shown some bunkers.

Underground medical bunker Vietnam — This was a bunker for medical treatment (I had to use camera flash as it was dark at some spots)

Stepping underground meeting room Viet Cong — We could take the steps down and check out the below ground bunkers

Underground meeting room Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — Injured soldiers were treated underground

Underground waterwell Cu Chi tunnels — This was a water well. The Viet Cong soldiers sourced groundwater this way.

Resting area bunker Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — This bunker was a meeting area — and a tunnel opening

Cu Chi underground tunnel Vietnam — It was challenging to take photos and videos through these tunnels as there were barely any light sources to brighten up the tunnels much

Walking underground Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — Also, I was recording videos on my GoPro while lugging a DSLR around my neck and taking photos on between using my phone as well. It was tough!

You can see what I mean when you watch the video blog (or vlog) at the end of this blog.

Cu Chi tunnel forest bunker Vietnam — Our guide took us around from zone to zone

Casava rock salt Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — During a break, we were served some boiled cassava and some rock salt to dip it in

After the snack, we were taken to another spot with a lot of dry leaves on the floor. We were shown a tiny hole in the ground that soldiers would use to get to some tunnels.

A staff member demonstrated:

Going down narrow hole Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — We then were offered the chance to get in if we could fit through

Crawling underground Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — Crawling through these tunnels and in the heat… you can imagine how much Viet Cong soldiers must have gone through to evade their enemies. But it worked.

Again, the video below features me going through these narrow tunnels.

Kitchen Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — This bunker was a kitchen (photo taken from my phone)

Underground workshop Ben Duoc Vietnam — This bunker was a workshop

Cu Chi tunnels display models Vietnam — They had models on display demonstrating how workers who supported the Viet Cong went about their chores (photo taken on my phone)

Trap Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — We were also shown traps Viet Cong laid for US soldiers, like this revolving platform which led soldiers into a pit of sharp nails

On display at another area were photos showcasing what life was like in these jungles. It wasn’t just soldiers but their wives and children from nearby villages all lived here to be safe from the preying U.S. forces.

Cu Chi tunnels classroom photo — Here women folk sing and children studied in classrooms

Cu Chi tunnels doctors Vietnam war — Doctors and nurses who treated injured Vietnamese soldiers

Cool drinks ice cream Cu Chi tunnels — There are vendors selling cold drinks and ice cream… because you will come out of the tunnels craving something cold!

Mithun photo from Cu Chi tunnels — They had photographers in one of the tunnels who would take photos of visitors and you have the option to buy a copy later

Tourist store Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — Towards the end of the tour, we were taken to a gift store where you had souvenirs and other items… but a lot of it you will find anywhere else in Ho Chi Minh City

Lacquer paintings Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam — But the prices for lacquer paintings here were lower than the workshop that I visited earlier in the day

Evening sunset cloud Vietnam — By the time we left the Cu Chi Tunnels, the sun had set and we reached Ho Chi Minh City well past 7pm

A visit to Cu Chi Tunnels are without a doubt a must-do when in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s not for everyone mind you — especially the elderly — and erm, if you cannot ‘fit’ through the tunnels. It isn’t easy, trust me… but as uncomfortable as it was, it was a new experience none the less. So I highly recommend it.

Here’s the travel vlog from this day tour: