A visit to Vietnam would not be complete without seeing the famous Cu Chi Tunnel.
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| a diagram showing the intricacy of the tunnel |
The multi-level underground tunnels served as refuge for Vietnamese during the French occupation and Vietnam war. To dug the elaborated underground chamber, they use their bare hands with the aid of simple tools.
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| hole in red circle is just one of the many air ventilations |
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| the small entrance |
There are two underground tunnel complex sites to choose from: one in Ben Duoc and the other is in Ben Dinh. (pic 6765, 6766)
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| the final control before entering the jungle |
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| this is the way to the tunnels |
Ben Duoc underground tunnel complex was the headquarters of Saigon-Gia Dinh Regional Party and Military Command. While the Ben Dinh underground tunnel complex was the headquarters of the Cu Chi district Party. It is also the base for accommodations,dining and meetings. Ben Dinh is where most foreign visitors go and that's where our group went.
Ben Duoc is farther than Ben Dinh but the tunnels here are part of the original network. Ben Dinh tunnels on the other hand were made for tourist purposes. But the tours they offer are exactly the same: tunnel tour, sample of booby traps, demo of how they lived beneath the soil and eating boiled tapioca.
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| our group tour guide demonstrating how the trap works |
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| boiled tapioca |
There are air ventilation, may also use as entrances, that visitors can try to go in for picture taking. The openings are so small that I highly advise not to try if you have a big body structure. We had one companion who went in effortless but it needed two men to help her out.
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| foot size tunnel entrance |
Spread in the middle of the forest aside from the underground chambers are samples of booby traps , military tanks they actually used against their enemies, a bomb crater and life size displays depicting their lives during the war and a glimpse of their make shift clinic and kitchen.
Mid way through the tour is the firing range. Any visitor who wishes to fire a gun will just buy bullets at the souvenir shop. Refreshments are also available here. There are some stalls that sells rice papers, slippers made of car tire and camouflage pharapernalia.
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| firing range |
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| souvenir shop inside the complex |
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| slippers made of car tires |
The climax of the tour would be the tunnel tour wherein visitors were allowed to go inside and experience crawling the tunnels on their own. It was scary at first because it was so dark and you can't see where you are going.It's like you were in a maze but you can't see anything around you. You have to find your way out by crawling. There are exits along the tunnels though if one wishes to cut short his/her tunnel tour. The first of the three segments was only a few hundred meters but its already enough to give you body ache especially on your waist and it will make you really sweat.
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| entrance to the tunnel complex |
Before the tour ends, every participants are gathered in one hut for film viewing. The short video clip shows the lives of the locals during the war and how they were able to built and lived in the underground tunnels.
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| film viewing hut |
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| this jackfruit tree will surely catch your attention |
To visit Cu Chi tunnel from Ho Chi Mihn, buy your tickets at the many travel agents along Phnam Ngu Lao street.The tour costs from $5-10 depending which of the two sites you want to visit plus if there are side trips included. The Bin Dinh tour usually includes a visit to the handicrafts souvenir shop by handicapped locals.
