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When one thinks of Saigon, a modern and bustling city often comes to mind, but few remember that Saigon also carries many historical imprints of its own. The Củ Chi Tunnels are a clear testament to that. Only by visiting the Củ Chi Tunnels can one truly grasp the magnificence of Vietnamese history.
A Saigon tourist spot (Photo by ST)
Location of the tourist site
The Củ Chi Tunnels are located approximately 70 km from the center of Saigon. This is a condensed representation of the incredible transformation of the Củ Chi people and soldiers during the 30-year resistance war, securing independence for the homeland.
The tourist area consists of two parts separated by 13 km:
- Bến Dược Tunnels are situated in Phú Hiệp hamlet, Phú Mỹ Hưng commune, Củ Chi district, and Bến Bình Tunnels are located in Nhuận Đức commune.
- The main tunnel complex
The tranquil scenery of Củ Chi Tunnels (Photo by ST)
There are various ways to reach the Củ Chi Tunnels. If you opt for the bus, simply catch bus number 13 to Củ Chi bus station and then transfer to bus 79 to reach the tunnels.
For those traveling by motorbike or taxi, the route is equally straightforward.
Historical site of Củ Chi Tunnels
The Củ Chi Tunnels stretch approximately 250 km, forming an intricate network beneath the earth's surface. This network includes various structures such as tunnels, trenches, fighting bunkers, living quarters, meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, and storage depots. These interconnected structures adapt to the terrain, with some tunnel branches extending to the Saigon River as a precautionary measure, providing a potential river crossing to the Bến Cát base (Bình Dương) in critical situations.
Entrance to the Củ Chi Tunnels (Photo by ST)
Before the tour, visitors will receive an introduction to the tunnels (Photo by ST)
A simulated diagram of a section of the Củ Chi Tunnels (Photo by ST)
Recreating some activities under the Củ Chi Tunnels (Photo by ST)
Inside the Củ Chi Tunnels, it's dark and lacks air; in some sections, visitors must crouch to move around. Depending on the tunnel's terrain, there may be up to 2-3 levels.
The underground tunnels have low passages where visitors need to crouch to pass through (Photo by ST)
Recreation of the interior of the Củ Chi Tunnels (Photo by ST)
Exploring the military uniform workshop tunnels (Photo by ST)
The topmost layer of the tunnels, about 3m below the surface, can withstand the weight of tanks and armored vehicles. Some deeper areas can resist small bombs. Certain tunnel entrances are designed as combat hideouts and sniper nests, offering great flexibility. Surrounding the entrances, anti-tunnel structures and mine pits are strategically placed.
A tunnel entrance connecting with the surface, delighting curious visitors (Photo by ST)
An image of a trap within the Củ Chi Tunnels (Photo by ST)
Thanks to its sturdy and flexible architecture, this place provided refuge for countless officers and people of Saigon during the resistance against the enemy. Despite the enemy's numerous attempts to destroy the tunnels using methods like flooding, deploying the 'tunnel rat' teams, using attack dogs, and more, all efforts were in vain.
Other activities at the Củ Chi Tunnels
In addition to the unique historical site of the Củ Chi Tunnels, there are various exciting activities here such as military sports shooting, paintball, swimming, boating on the lake, or renting bikes to explore the tunnels.
Military sports shooting at Củ Chi (Photo by ST)
Paintballing at Củ Chi (Photo by ST)
Visitors can also participate in swimming activities here (Photo by ST)
Cycling around the Củ Chi Tunnels tourist area is a worthwhile experience. The air is fresh, and it's quiet compared to downtown Saigon, providing a relaxing atmosphere for anyone who comes here.
Cycling around the tunnels (Photo by ST)
