Table Of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Location Of Cu Chi Tunnels Complex
- 3 How To Get To Cu Chi Tunnels Vietnam?
- 4 Cu Chi Tunnels Entrance Fee & Opening Hours
- 5 Cu Chi Tunnels History
- 6 Things To Do In Cu Chi Tunnels Ho Chi Minh
- 7 Note When Visiting The Cu Chi Tunnels
- 8 Conclusion
Introduction
If you are a history lover and like to explore and challenge your limits, the Cu Chi tunnel system is a great place to visit. The Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh city are a unique “wonder”, known as the “underground city”. Remarkably, it is one of the 6 most special man-made structures in the world, and also one of the 7 most unusual destinations in Southeast Asia.
Most prominently, with a 250km long tunnel system, inside the tunnels are full of structures such as trenches, food storage, kitchens, wells, rooms, offices, infirmaries, etc. Therefore, all connected like a spider web, turning Cu Chi into a solid base for the Vietnamese army and people in the resistance war against the Americans.
Today, the tunnels have been ranked as a special national historical relic. This fabulous site attracts many domestic and international tourists to visit and learn about the war history of the Vietnamese people. Let’s Saigon Locals Travel to learn more about this special historical relic – this precious heritage from the past!
Location Of Cu Chi Tunnels Complex
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground defense system in Cu Chi District, 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. This tunnel system was dug by the Viet Minh resistance army and the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam during the Indochina War and the Vietnam War. For more specific, you can see the Cu Chi tunnels map below:
The Cu Chi Tunnels are preserved in two locations:
- Ben Duoc Tunnels in Phu Hiep Hamlet, Phu My Hung Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Ben Dinh Tunnels are in Ben Dinh Hamlet, Nhuan Duc Commune, Cu Chi District, and Ho Chi Minh City.
How To Get To Cu Chi Tunnels Vietnam?
To be able to travel to Cu Chi tunnels, you can choose from many different means of transportation, specifically:
Motorbike Or Private Car
From the center of Ho Chi Minh City, you can go from Ben Thanh via Cach Mang Thang 8 Street. Then continue on Truong Chinh Street, An Suong Bridge, National Highway 22, Ba Trieu, Trung Nu Vuong, etc.
Then, visitors continue straight to go straight through Hoc Mon town, go through Sang Bridge, and follow Provincial Road 15. After reaching the Sang Bridge, go through the Tan Quy intersection, Ben Nay Bridge, and Phu Hoa Dong market to reach the historical site of the Cu Chi tunnels complex.
We recommend renting a private car for comfortable and flexible travel to save time and have the most comfort. Traveling by private car, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking driver and a flexible schedule. Thus, you can refer to our high-quality Saigon private car, Saigon limousine, and Saigon tours, such as
- Phu My Port To Cu Chi Tunnels By Car – 157 USD/sedan.
- Ho Chi Minh To Cu Chi Tunnels Private Car – 65 USD/sedan.
- Saigon To Cu Chi Tunnels Limousine – 195 USD/limousine.
- Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour – from 27 USD/person.
- Cu Chi Tunnels And Mekong Delta 1 Day – 65 USD/person.
Take A Taxi
If you have a lot of luggage and want a comfortable, convenient trip, a taxi is also a means of transport that you can choose. However, you also need to consider this carefully because the taxi fare will be quite high, with a distance of 70km from the city center. Moreover, the schedule is not flexible and you have to wait.
Take A Bus
If you have a lot of time on your trip and want to save money, the bus is also considered a suitable means of transport. Visitors can go to Ben Thanh bus station to take a bus to Cu Chi bus station, then continue on the bus to Cu Chi tunnels. The bus travel time is about 2 and a half hours. Thus, if you have time, you can choose this means of transport. However, this vehicle has a fixed schedule and is crowded. It is not a door-to-door transfer service like the private car.
Cu Chi Tunnels Entrance Fee & Opening Hours
- Below are the Cu Chi tunnel price tickets that you need to know:
+ Entrance ticket: Adults: 35,000 VND/Ticket (Vietnamese visitors) and 90,000 VND/Ticket (foreign visitors); Children: 10,000 VND/person.
+ Ben Duoc tunnel ticket: Adults: 35,000 VND/Ticket (Vietnamese visitors) and 90,000 VND/person (foreign visitors); Children: 10,000 VND/Ticket.
+ Ben Dinh tunnel ticket: Adults: 35,000 VND/Ticket (Vietnamese visitors) and 100,000 VND/Ticket (foreign visitors); Children: 10,000 VND/Ticket.
+ Ticket to visit the recreate the liberated zone: Adults: 40,000 VND/Ticket; Children: 10,000 VND/Ticket.
+ Night tour with the theme “Moon In The War Zone” takes place from 6:00 pm to 8:40 pm. Ticket price: 399,000 VND/person.
Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. Therefore, you should balance your schedule to have a convenient trip and fully explore this tourist attraction. The best time to explore Cu Chi tunnels is the summer.
Cu Chi Tunnels History
The history of Cu Chi tunnels is closely linked to the resistance war against the French, the period of 1946 – 1948. The army with Tan Phu Trung commune and Phuoc Vinh An commune people dug tunnels to hide and store weapons and military equipment.
Initially, each village here had its own base. Later, due to the need to travel between the villages’ tunnels, Cu Chi people connected to create a complete system. The Cu Chi tunnel connects 6 communes north of the Cu Chi tunnels. Hence, the military can easily communicate, hide forces, and discuss revolutionary plans inside the tunnel.
From 1961 to 1965, this project was developed into many interconnected branches that were very complicated. The top of the Cu chi tunnels system was also equipped with many nail holes, spike pits, minefields, etc. All to serve in the fight for the Americans of Vietnam’s army and people.
By 1965, about 200 km of tunnels had been dug. In terms of scale, the tunnel system had a total length of over 250 km, with 3 different depths, the first level was about 3 m above ground, the middle level was about 5-8 m above ground, and the last level was more than 12 m deep. At this time, the tunnel system was no longer just shelters but had become places for living, first aid, meeting, and storing weapons.
Things To Do In Cu Chi Tunnels Ho Chi Minh
Visitors will discover the wonderful tunnel system when they visit the Cu Chi tunnels. You will see how resilient and tenacious the Vietnamese army and people lived and fought during such years of fierce war. Plus, participate in many entertainment activities, enjoy ancient rustic dishes, and visit many places near the tunnels. Keep reading to get more details about the Cu Chi tunnel facts.
Visit The War Life Simulation Zone
As one of the famous historical sites, the significance of the Cu Chi tunnels is also closely linked to history and war. Coming here, you should experience exploring the area that recreates the Cu Chi liberated zone (1961-1972).
Watching Documentaries Movies
The warlife recreation area is built in a small basement near the ground. Inside is a large projection screen and simple chairs. Here, visitors will be able to watch valuable war footage, recording all the daily life and fighting scenes of Vietnam’s army and people. Some scenes are actual documentaries, others are reenactments. Especially, the defeat of the Cedar Falls operation in the Iron Triangle area.
Explore 3 Spaces Of The War Life Simulation Zone
Here, you will see slow-motion footage of the life and fighting of the army and people of Cu Chi. In addition, you can also admire many models of famous historical sites of Vietnam built with 1/4 of the real relics such as Long Bien Bridge, One Pillar Pagoda, Nha Rong Wharf, etc.
When coming to Cu Chi tunnels, visitors can also visit the area recreating the liberated zone of Cu Chi to learn about the architecture of houses, life, activities, and fighting of the army and people of Cu Chi from 1961 to 1972.
The idea of building the area recreating the liberated zone of Cu Chi has been implemented since 1998 on an area of 38.5 hectares. In 2001, the project officially started construction of space 1 and space 2 and was inaugurated and put into operation in 2003. Up to now, the Cu Chi war life simulation zone is divided into the following 3 spaces:
Space 1: Recreates the special war period in 1961 – 1964, introducing the lives of people in the newly liberated area.
Space 2: Re-enacting the local war period in 1965 – 1968, when the enemy’s fierce war raided the liberated area of Cu Chi. Coming here, we will see the devastated countryside and the painful lives of the people during the war.
Space 3: Recreating the white area in Cu Chi from 1969 to 1972, reflecting the war at its peak of ferocity. This place recreates the image of Cu Chi land becoming a free-fire zone of the enemy.
The enemy dropped hundreds of tons of toxic chemicals, hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs, and artillery to destroy this land, turning it into a desolate white land with no houses and no life on the ground. Only the remains of tanks, planes, bulldozers. Thus, the Cu Chi guerrillas and armed forces units moved underground to live and fight.
All life was destroyed by bombs and bullets, houses and pagodas burned down. Then, everyone was even more impressed by the indomitable spirit of the Cu Chi army and people in the fight to protect their homeland with an optimistic spirit in the inevitable victory of the revolution.
Besides, visitors can experience a new yet familiar feeling when participating in the rice planting and fishing model at the War Life Simulation Zone.
Conquer The Cu Chi Tunnels Maze
The Cu Chi tunnels network is a unique wonder for fighting French and Americans during the Vietnam War. It has a total length of about 250 km of tunnels spreading like a spider web underground, including the Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh tunnels.
The Cu Chi tunnels system has many trenches, emplacements, concealed trapdoors, meeting rooms, food warerooms, weapons warehouses, water wells, Hoang Cam kitchens, booby traps, etc.
Just go down a part of the tunnel, and you will understand why a small country like Vietnam could defeat America – the strongest military and the most modern weapons enemy at that time. Furthermore, you will learn more about the ingenious camouflage techniques and gain insight into guerrilla warfare tactics.
When you come to Ben Duoc, you will visit the tunnel system and the basements of the leaders of the Saigon – Cho Lon – Gia Dinh Military Region and Party Committee who lived and fought during the war against America.
Before entering the ticket gate at the edge of the forest, visitors will visit the display of bombs and artillery used by the US Army on the Cu Chi battlefield and the weapons used by the Cu Chi guerrillas to fight against the US Army and the Republic of Vietnam soldiers.
Through the ticket gate, the tour guide will take visitors deep into the forest to the melodious music of resistance songs, mixed with the chirping of forest birds to the hall area to watch the documentary and listen to female narrators in black Ao Ba Ba costumes, wearing sandals, conical hats, and scarves around their necks introducing the history of the formation and development of the Cu Chi tunnel system.
After that, visitors will explore the deep underground tunnels such as the living and working bunker of the leaders of the Regional Party Committee, the Saigon – Cho Lon – Gia Dinh Military Region Command. Meeting rooms, surgical bunkers, food and weapon warehouse, secret entrances, vents, booby traps, water wells, Hoang Cam kitchen, etc.
Interestingly, you can conquer the tunnels by climbing inside the small sub entrances that are only about 40-50 cm wide. This is the most exciting experience for almost all visitors.
In particular, visitors will witness with their own eyes a very creative invention in hiding smoke from Hoang Cam kitchen and enjoy the dishes of the guerrillas in the past that have now become specialties: Rice balls, and cassava with bean salt.
Join In Cu Chi Tunnels Shooting Range
The shooting area is extremely popular with many tourists because it brings a strong feeling of excitement and bonding with friends. Tourists can shoot defense sports guns and shoot paintball guns.
National Defense Shooting
This is a military shooting that many tourists participate in. You will be able to use a rifle, with staff instructing you on how to disassemble and practice shooting. Hence, you can play this game individually under staff closely supervising to ensure safety.
Visitors will enjoy testing their marksmanship at the defense sport shooting range. You can choose for yourself suitable guns used during the war, after being fully instructed, you can try your shooting skills with animal-shaped targets.
Paintball Shooting
This is a game that is both a sport and a military game. In addition to the purpose of relaxation, it also helps players to make judgments, coordinate with teammates, and improve their health. When participating, visitors will truly be soldiers fighting in the natural forest.
Each person will be fully equipped with masks, uniforms, armor, and weapons such as AR15 or AK47 guns. Importantly, the guns in Cu Chi Tunnels are the most modern compared to other places. Paintball shooting is a form of entertainment that visitors cannot miss when coming to Cu Chi Tunnels, which is highly attractive and safe. In addition, visitors can also test their marksmanship when participating in military standard target shooting (fixed targets, mobile targets, hidden targets).
Here is the price list for shooting at Cu Chi Tunnels:
1. National defense sports shooting price:
a. Ben Dinh:
- K54: 20,000 VND/bullet
- Colt 45, K59, Rulo: 25,000 VND/bullet
- AK(1), Carbin: 30,000 VND/bullet
- AK, M16 (1): 35,000 VND/bullet
- M16: 40,000 VND/bullet
b. Ben Duoc:
- K54: 20,000 VND/bullet
- Colt 45, K59, Rulo: 23,000 VND/bullet
- AK(1), Carbin: 30,000 VND/bullet
- AK, M16(1), : 30,000 VND/bullet
- M16: 40,000 VND/bullet
2. Paintbullet shooting:
- Unit price: 3,000 VND/bullet
- For AK guns: 25 bullets / 1 magazine
- For M16 guns: 20 bullets / 1 magazine
- For pistols: 07 bullets / 1 magazine
- Service fee (armor, mask, battlefield, referee, etc.): 50,000 VND/person/turn/60 minutes.
Swimming Pool & Lake Simulating The East Sea
After visiting the tunnels and military activities, visitors can immerse themselves in the swimming pool with a water surface area of 150 m2 for children and 500 m2 for adults. Most significantly the swimming pool has a circulating water filtration system using new technology to ensure hygiene and safety.
Further, it also has changing rooms, bathrooms, and toilets. Therefore, after hours of exciting sightseeing, visitors can soak in the clear blue water of the pool to enjoy the fresh, airy space. The ticket price for this activity is 20,000 VND/person.
In addition, visitors can also pedal swans and kayak to cruise on the lake simulating the East Sea to see the whole view of the lake and forest. Besides, visitors can also ride single or double bicycles.
Additionally, after hours of sightseeing and fun, visitors can canoe on the upstream of the peaceful Saigon River. Thus, visitors can enjoy the fresh, cool countryside breeze, while admiring the natural scenery around the river area here.
Otherwise, visitors can try thrilling games such as skywalking, zipline, and Tarzan jumping. Surely, these games will bring new feelings, making you stronger than ever and helping you overcome your fears.
In addition to the impressive stops, the Cu Chi tunnels historical site also has souvenir stalls with more than 1,300 items. These will be souvenirs for visitors to always have an impression of this land. Moreover, visitors can enjoy North Vietnam’s cuisine at the Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh restaurants.
Enjoy Delicious Fruit At Trung An Fruit Garden
At this tourist destination, visitors are extremely excited to visit the gardens and enjoy many delicious fruits. Trung An fruit garden is quite famous here. Hence, visitors can pick and enjoy many delicious fruits right in the garden such as rambutan, plum, jackfruit, durian, etc.
Visit Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station
The Cu Chi Tunnels map will guide you to visit the wildlife rescue station, which is only about 1km from the tourist center. It is located between Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh. Notably, this is also the largest rescue station in the southern region with more than 3,600 rare animals.
Many species are listed in the Vietnam’s Red Book. Visitors to this tourist destination can listen to stories told by staff about the animals here. Hence, seeing rare animals with your own eyes will certainly be a memorable memory in your journey to explore Cu Chi Tunnels.
Note When Visiting The Cu Chi Tunnels
- Wear neat clothes that are convenient for tunneling activities and dark colors to avoid stains. Besides, you should wear sports shoes to be more comfortable when moving.
- Moreover, remember to prepare some necessary cosmetics to avoid the sun and prevent insects.
- Most importantly, tourists who are afraid of tight spaces or have low blood pressure should not go into small tunnels.
Conclusion
Above is the information and experience from the Saigon Locals Travel & Transport travel guide. We hope you have a great visit to Cu Chi Tunnels Saigon with many interesting and memorable experiences. This relic site will help you gain more understanding of an important period of Vietnam’s liberation history. Thank you for reading.