About 30km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of 250 km of tunnels and chambers below the city. A half-day tour to explore Cu Chi Tunnels is an ideal option for those who have little time in Ho Chi Minh City but wish to know about history of Vietnam. Let’s check out popular sights to visit at this historical site.
Historical site of Cu Chi Tunnels
A small exhibit showing a cutaway of the Cu Chi Tunnels complext during the Vietnam War
Up to now, two sections of this famous tunnel network are open to the public. One is located adjacent to Ben Dinh Village whereas the other is 15km beyond at Ben Duoc. Actually, most Cu Chi Tunnels tours end up at Ben Dinh as it is easy to reach by tour buses.
Before exploring both sites of the tunnels, visitors will be given an extremely dated propaganda video introducing some short sections of tunnel. Either wimping out or staying above ground, you will surely gain an interesting experience.
Furthermore, when visiting both sites you can have a chance to shell up and fire genuine AK47s and machine guns. Remember that you have to pay per bullet so be warned: if you’re firing an automatic weapon, they come out pretty fast.
Museum of Cu Chi War History
Not being considered as part of the tunnel sites, the small Cu Chi War History Museum lies just off the main highway in the central part of Cu Chi town. The museum showcases mainly of photographs (some quite graphic) together with large chunks of rusting military hardware. If you have visited the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, you will easily find out that many of photos at the tunnels are the same as those of War Remnants Museum.
Exit and entrance gate at Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station
Located just a few kilometers down the road from the tunnels of Ben Dinh, the small rescue station is for protecting many species of wild animals (such as bears, otters and gibbons) that has been confiscated from owners or illegal traders. There is an informative display on the rather depressing state of wildlife in Vietnam, including the ‘room of death’ featuring a host of traps and baits. It’s tough to navigate these back roads solo, so talk to a travel agent about incorporating it into a Cu Chi Tunnels trip.
Cu Chi Tunnels tour is a good place for a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City. Besides, Cityinsight.vn offers a wide range of Ho Chi Minh City tour with fascinating itineraries and flexible duration.
