Cu Chi Tunnels
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port
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
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activityLevel
Strenuous Activity
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excursionType
All
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$110
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 6½ hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals included
The Vietnam War, or the American War as it is known in Vietnam, pitched modern American technology against fierce Vietcong resistance fighters waging a guerilla war. On this half-day tour, you'll experience a local perspective on wartime memories and see the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels.
Traveling into the countryside, you'll pass small villages, rice paddies and rubber plantations. Along the way, stop at a local village to observe the process of making fragile rice paper -- a booming home-industry in this area.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant located on the Saigon River, before continuing on to the tunnels. Arriving at Cu Chi, you'll discover the ingenuity and resilience of the Vietnamese people during a walk around this underground complex built by the Viet Cong. Work on the tunnels began in 1948 during the war against the French, and greatly expanded throughout the 1960s. Averaging 31 inches wide and five feet tall, the maze of tunnels was extensive, covering over 120 miles and included storerooms, sleeping quarters, kitchens, medical facilities and classrooms. At one time, more than 16,000 people lived in the tunnels. Return to Saigon after exploring the tunnels and surrounding area.
Please note: The information at the tunnels is presented from a Vietnamese perspective. While the portrayal of their story may be at odds with American sentiment, it is nonetheless an interesting visit. It is important to note that, after the fall of Saigon, the guerrilla fighters were considered heroes, and still are by many older Vietnamese people. Wear sturdy shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent. Guests visiting lower levels of the tunnels may get dirty. Participants can choose not to enter the tunnels. Approximately one hour is spent on site.
Travel time to the Cu Chi Tunnels is approximately two hours each way, or longer depending on traffic conditions.