Cu Chi Tunnels Ho Chi Minh City

The Cu Chi tunnels are two hour drive away from Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi Tunnels are a maze of interlinked tunnels that were built by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Theses tunnels were barely one meter high and ran 80 cms across and were used as supply routes, kitchens hospitals and training facilities.

Theses tunnels were instrumental in winning the Vietnam War as these tunnels formed an effective base for the Viet Cong while launching guerrilla attacks. The area had literary become a “free fire zone” during the Vietnam War as the American carpet bombed the area. The Viet people answer was to literally take everything underground.

This underground tunnel has a combined length of more than 200 km! Considering that the soil in Cu Chi is very hard and that very basic tools were used to dig the elaborate network the Cu Chi Tunnels are a fascinating example of what man can be driven to do if pushed hard enough. It is also said that the mammoth task of creating wells, hospitals kitchens, sleeping areas were all fueled on a measly diet of tapioca sugar and peanuts.

For added atmosphere there is also a shooting range where, for $1 per bullet, you can try your hand at firing various kinds of guns- anything from a shotgun to an AK-47. At the end of the tour, you can also visit the dining hall and try the steamed tapioca that was a part of the staple diet of the guerrillas. Souvenir hawkers abound so you could also buy some “war memorabilia”.

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a must visit if you are in Ho Chi Minh City.