For those who ebook someday journey from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis it needs to be to the conflict tunnels. On this publish I’m sharing how we organised our go to to the Cu Chi Tunnels at Ben Dinh, what to anticipate and why we although it was well worth the expense of reserving a guided tour.
*This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
The Cu Chi Tunnels are one among Vietnam’s prime vacationer points of interest and welcome greater than 1.5 million guests annually. They’re an enchanting relic of the American conflict in Vietnam when resistance fighters used native assets to out fox their enemies.
They have been a must-visit for Mr Tin Field. However we weren’t completely satisfied this was going to be time out for our children. So I added a sweetener and booked a full day tour together with the Mykong Delta the place there can be a standard lunch, boat rides and biking to lighten the temper.
I’ll be trustworthy and say we don’t often ebook full day excursions. They are often costly, impersonal and poorly organised for households who want a bit extra time. So much additionally rides in your information and the way prepared they’re to entertain youngsters.
So, we have been taking a punt on the tour.
Is it price visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels?
For my part the reply is sure. And right here’s why…
If extra in regards to the First World Battle in Europe than Vietnam’s wars with the occupying French and Individuals then you might have loads to be taught. And there’s no higher means to do that in one of many areas the place historical past was made.
We additionally visited the Battle Remnants Museum throughout our three days in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis but it surely was on the tunnels that we absorbed probably the most data. That is significantly true if you’re visiting with kids. The museum was slightly disjointed and dry as compared.
The tunnels are interactive and in case you get information like us there’s loads of Horrible Historical past-style info to maintain all ages entertained.
What are the Cu Chi Tunnels?
The tunnels have been constructed by Cu Chi locals and resistance fighters between 1946 and 1968, first as a defence towards French colonial forces after which the Individuals.
They served as a communication community between villages but in addition had assembly rooms, kitchens, medical amenities, dormitories and armouries.
It was doable to construct such a posh tunnel community due to the clay-like soil right here. It was so dense and steady that the tunnels have been capable of stretch 250km from the Cambodian border to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
Some cafes within the metropolis nonetheless have hidden entrances as a result of the house owners’ grandparents have been linked to the resistance.
It’s unbelievable to assume a lot of this was carried out with solely very fundamental instruments.
The tunnels have been inbuilt three ranges. The best was three meters underground. This was the place folks lived and met as a result of there was extra oxygen from the floor.
The bottom degree was 10 to 12 meters down. That is the place the fighters retreated after they have been beneath assault. It’s additionally the place there have been traps to seize ‘tunnel rats’ – the few enemy troopers sufficiently small to navigate the passages.
The Cu Chi tunnels you may go to at Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc have been made a minimum of two instances bigger for vacationers so you may crouch your means by them.
Which is healthier, Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc tunnels?
We solely visited the Ben Dinh tunnels I so can’t offer you a full comparability with Ben Duoc.
Nevertheless, from our analysis earlier than the journey I do know that Ben Duoc is a bit additional away from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis so there are fewer tour teams. I additionally know that each customer centres provide numerous the identical experiences.
At Ben Duoc additionally, you will discover:
A memorial temple
A lake
A captured C130 airplane
A bigger community of tunnels open to guests.
Handily Jenny and Jay from Travelynn Household may give you a full run down on the Cu Chu Tunnels at Den Duoc and tips on how to go to them independently.
Learn on to search out out extra in regards to the tunnels at Ben Dinh.
What are you able to see on the Cu Chi Tunnels at Ben Dinh?
There weren’t numerous different indicators across the website so we have been glad we had our information, Khôi, who defined what we have been seeing.
Throughout the two hour journey from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis to Ben Dinh, Khôi had already begun to set the scene with insights into life in Vietnam now, the awkwardness that continues to be between the North and South, and the way we could have been slipping up with the language.
It seems that our poor grasp of the lingo meant that slightly than saying ‘thanks’ we’d been telling folks to ‘shut up’. Inflection is every little thing when you find yourself talking Vietnamese. Fortunately they’re beautiful folks and aren’t offended when guests slip up.
Weapons museum
If you arrive at Ben Dinh the primary place you may go searching is an exhibition of weapons and bomb shells used within the conflict.
We had arrived at 8.30am, forward of nearly all of the excursions from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, so shortly moved on to the jungle above the tunnels earlier than it received busy.
Hid entrances and man traps
Khôi invited us to search for a tunnel entrance – a problem which our ladies shortly jumped on. They knew it might be hidden and kicked up leaves till they discovered one within the clearing in entrance of us.
Khôi demonstrated how the hatches have been camouflaged and the place to search for markings on the timber that identified hidden entrances to pleasant forces.
The Viet Cong have been consultants in hiding their presence, concealing air shafts and smoke from their cooking fires.
It’s also possible to see a staggering array of man traps on the tunnels. They have been fairly ingenious.
Some have been designed to kill or seize enemies whereas others have been designed to injure one enemy soldier and lure extra in. Frog and snake venom was used on steel stakes to make traps even deadlier.
Assets and recycling
One thing else we learnt about was the resourcefulness of the Vietnamese fighters. They’d disarm unexplored bombs in juggle workshops and recycle the shells in addition to different discarded American tools.
Previous tyres have been used to make the ‘Ho Chi Minh sandal’ that tricked enemies into considering you have been strolling in the wrong way.
Are you able to go contained in the Cu Chi Tunnels at Ben Dinh?
Sure. There’s a 100 meter size of tunnel that you could stoop by with a ‘soldier’ to information you. The doorway is inside a bunker and down just a few steep steps.
For those who resolve you wish to flip again at this level that’s no downside. You’ll be able to have a look and climb again out.
This tunnel has been enlarged for the reason that twentieth Century. Khôi defined to us that vacationers stored getting caught. So what you expertise as we speak is a sanitised model of the passages that may have been utilized in wartime.
There are shafts to the floor each 20 meters from the 40 meter level. so in case you’re feeling hemmed in you may return to the floor early.
I’m 5ft 7 and needed to crouch all the way down to get by the tunnels to the 60m level. Mr Tin Field, who’s 5ft 11 made all of it the best way to the top however needed to get on his arms and knees at one level.
Are the Cu Chi Tunnels claustrophobic?
Sure. For those who get claustrophobic don’t try and enter the tunnel. You is perhaps OK climbing into the bunker and having a look into the tunnel however as soon as you might be inside it you can’t flip round.
There are lights within the tunnel however not at common sufficient intervals that the entire size is properly illuminated. There are darkish areas between the electrical lights and the exit shafts.
The primary exit to the floor is at 40 meters.
The capturing vary
An exercise which prices further is the Cu Chi Tunnels capturing vary. The bullets price 60,000 VND every (about £1.85) and the minimal you should buy is 10.
We determined to not have a go at this. However as a substitute grabbed a chilly drink from the cafe subsequent to the vary for a 3rd of the worth of a bullet.
Feeding the Viet Cong
In addition to seeing how the Viet Cong and Cu Chi locals fought in the course of the conflict we received an perception into how they lived.
Subsequent to the capturing vary there’s a kitchen the place you could possibly have a go a milling rice flour and see the way it was made into rice paper for spring rolls.
Our final cease was a area kitchen the place we tried tapioca constituted of the Cassava root. This carbohydrate-rich tuber was a staple for the troopers because it was straightforward to reap underground.
It appears to be like bland however is definitely fairly tasty when dipped in sugar and chilli.
What do you have to put on to go to the Cu Chi Tunnels?
We visited in August and regardless of it being properly earlier than lunch time and having loads of shade we have been nonetheless highly regarded. So put on comfy, unfastened clothes that you just’re not anxious about getting soiled.
It wasn’t muddy once we have been on the tunnels but it surely rained later within the day and I can think about the bottom getting sticky.
You want footwear which might be comfy for strolling in. You’ll stroll round 2km across the website.
We wore strolling sandals and Crocs. I’d forgotten to purchase the nine-year-old new KEEN sandals* earlier than our journey – doh! – however these are often my go-to journey shoe.
Hats and solar glasses are additionally a good suggestion. Additionally apply some mosquito spray.
do the Cu Chi Tunnels
We booked a guided tour from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis that included visiting the Ben Dinh Cu Chi Tunnels and a half day journey across the Mykong Delta. Check out my Ho Chi Minh Metropolis itinerary for extra details about the Delta a part of our day.
I discussed earlier that we don’t all the time do guided excursions. We’ve had dangerous experiences up to now as a result of households can typically get left behind.
Nevertheless, after doing a very enjoyable personal avenue meals tour in Hanoi we requested the identical firm if they may discover us a small Cu Chi Tunnels tour.
Our journey was organized by TNK Journey. We had a good time with them and actually rated Khôi for his data, humour and the tempo at which he led us. We have been picked up from our resort in a luxurious mini bus, supplied water and lunch as a part of our full day tour.
There was a cease at a craft store and cafe on the best way to the tunnels. However there was no obligation to purchase something. We fortunately purchased a drink and a few snacks as breakfast had been early.
Related excursions for big and small teams can be found by Get Your Information*. I’d advocate reserving one which arrives on the tunnels at about 8am. Positively get there earlier than 9am to see them at their least busy.
We felt that we received much more data from Khôi than we might have if we’d visited solo. There have been only a few data indicators and the tunnels workers weren’t very chatty.
We managed to remain forward of the wave of individuals all through our two hour go to. By the point we left at 10.40am the automotive park was full.
Are you able to go to and not using a information?
Sure! You’ll be able to journey to the tunnels independently by taxi and even public transport and purchase an entrance ticket if you arrive. At Ben Dinh this prices 90,000 VND per individual (about £2.75).
I’ve learn elsewhere that you’re not allowed to wander across the Cu Chi tunnels and not using a information or member of workers. It was laborious to inform if the opposite guests we noticed have been with a tour information like us or a member of the tunnels workforce.
Nevertheless at Ben Dinh there have been workers on the man traps, the capturing vary and the 100 meter part of tunnel. They have been there extra to make sure security slightly than to clarify the place.
The place are the Cu Chi Tunnels?
The tunnel customer centres are a few hours outdoors Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
Right here’s a map of the place to search out the Ben Dinh tunnels and the Ben Duoc Tunnels:
Summing up our go to to the Cu Chi Tunnels at Ben Dinh
This journey was a shock hit with our children. They cherished seeing the person traps and having the ability to step contained in the tunnels. It helped that we have been in a small group and our information pitched data at a family-friendly degree.
There was much more to see than I had anticipated. The tunnels aren’t simply tunnels. They’re a dwelling historical past museum with actions and experiences that enable you to to get a greater understanding of the folks concerned within the conflict.
In case you are staying in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis we’d undoubtedly advocate including the Cu Chi Tunnels to your itinerary. And you probably have greater than half a day to spare additionally take into account visiting the Mykong Delta as a part of a full day tour*.
Extra studying about Vietnam journey
Ho Chi Minh Metropolis was the fourth cease throughout our 14 day Vietnam itinerary which began in Hanoi, together with an tour to the well-known Practice Avenue, after which moved on to Ha Lengthy Bay for a two evening cruise and on to Hoi An for 3 nights.
You’ll be able to meet up with the remainder of our journey by trying out my Instagram account the place there are three Tales about our two weeks in Vietnam.
Normally I’d additionally advocate the Lonely Planet’s vacation spot information that can assist you plan your journey, however I purchased the Vietnam 2023 version and was a bit upset. Loads of the data was generic and I noticed a number of errors.
I’d recommend attempting the Tough Information* or Eyewitness journey information* as a substitute.
Disclosure: this publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. For those who click on on one among these and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.