Enjoying the Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnel Tour.
Just a little bit further… Ahh, Made it!
100 metres of cramped, dark and dingy tunnels.. Hard to believe these are the conditions that the locals lived in.
There is just something about the Vietnamese jungle that is fascinating!
If you add booby traps, cramped tunnels, plenty of propaganda and a history lesson from some of Vietnam’s darkest days, then you have the perfect dark tourism destination in Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnel Tour was my favourite day in Vietnam!
This blog details my experience in the jungle and the different Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnel tours available to you.
The very informative experience is well organised, which makes it one of the best things to do in Saigon.
Let’s head to the tunnels!
Example of a Vietnamese soldier during Guerrilla warfare.
How can you enjoy the Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnel Tour?
Cu Chi tunnels is probably the number one visited attraction from Ho Chi Minh City, therefore, there are plenty of different travel options when planning your unforgettable day as a dark tourist.
As you can see on the map, the standard journey via road is around 44km and an hour long (in theory). Which method of transport you choose can have a significant impact on your journey time and comfort levels, so plan accordingly!
See the different options below.
Map showing directions from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi tunnels (on a good day!).
By bus:
Taking a bus to the Cu Chi tunnels is a great way for budget travellers to save a few quid, however, it isn’t as convenient and can take longer. There are two options; Ben Dinh (widened tunnels for tourists) & Ben Duoc (original tunnels). Both journeys take approximately just over 2 hours each way. Backpacker Street (Pham Ngu Lao) in District 1 is the starting point for both destinations.
Ben Dinh - Take bus number 13 from Ho Chi Minh bus station until Cu Chi station, then take bus 13 to Ben Dinh.
Ben Duoc - Again, take bus number 13 from Ho Chi Minh bus station until Cu Chi station, but take bus number 79 to Ben Duoc.
Tip - At Cu Chi tunnels station you will be approached by many taxi drivers, but stay strong and look out for the correct bus number (if you want to keep the costs down).
Costs are around 40.000 VND / £1.40 each way, which covers both parts of the journey to either tunnels. You can purchase the tickets from inside the bus off the driver.
By taxi:
Grabbing a taxi is definitely a quicker option but at a higher cost at around 700.000 VND / £24 each way. You can either whistle a street taxi down or use the Grab (Vietnam’s answer to Uber) app.
Family on scooter spotted on way to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
By boat:
If the beautiful Vietnamese rural landscapes are on your planned itinerary, then travelling by boat is a great way to enjoy it. You are looking at around an hour journey each way and a cost of 1.999.000 VND / £68 per adult each way. You definitely avoid the traffic and Saigon chaos this way, so a great option for visitors in a hurry?
From Hanoi:
If you want to visit the tunnels from the Vietnamese capital then you will have to plan your journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in advance, before booking your tunnels tour. Vietnam is a huge country, but does have plenty of good transport options.
Cu Chi tunnels opening times.
Both Cu Chi tunnels sites are open everyday from 8am until 5pm.
Cu Chi tunnels admission costs.
Ben Dinh: VND 110,000 per person.
Ben Duoc: VND 90,000 per person.
Experiencing Vietnamese guerrilla war traps.
Walking through one of the main Cu Chi Tunnels.
When is the best time to visit the Cu Chi tunnels?
The main attraction of the Cu Chi tunnels is entering the small tunnels, so you can imagine how hot and crowded it can get down there in peak times.
To get the best experience and really feel dark tourism at its most authentic, it’s best to get there early so you have clear tunnels for your wander and photos.
You will also avoid the hottest time of the day in the afternoon, as it can get uncomfortably hot in the jungle environment, before you even venture underground!
Even in low season, the jungle is packed with tours, so there is no benefit to picking a certain season just to avoid crowds.
Entrance to one of the main tunnels at the Cu Chi Jungle.
The best tour company for the Cu Chi tunnels tour.
To get the best experience and a day of dark tourism you will never forget, you just have to get a tour guide - you won’t regret it!
I found Get Your Guide to be very professional and our guide made our day special.
They are highly skilled and knowledgeable to make your day in Southern Vietnam one you will never forget.
Just meeting the down to earth Vietnamese people who will have fought in the war themselves, or have family who most likely will have done it, is worth the money in itself.
Hearing different perspectives and stories is one of the best things about travel!
You can book the majority of tours in person in popular tourist places such as Bui Vien Sreet.
Here are some of the best tour options for you to have an unforgettable day trip:
Cu Chi Tunnels and VIP Speedboat Tour.
Arrive in style on a speedboat racing up the Saigon river - perfect for the visitors wanting a scenic stress free journey.
Full-Day Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Tour.
Hotel pick up and return travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan. Enjoy both the Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong Delta to really feel southern Vietnam in its purest form.
You will also get a traditional Vietnamese lunch and some entertainment.
Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour with a War Veteran.
Really get in the zone during your tour as you wander around the jungle with a Vietnamese war veteran. You are guaranteed to have a different perspective after your day learning all the gory details from a soldier who lived through the war.
Cu Chi Tunnels: less-touristy Tour to Ben Duoc from HCM city.
Perfect for a true Vietnam dark tourism experience. On this tour you will stay away from the tourists and wander the smaller original tunnels in Ben Duoc to give you an eye opening afternoon.
Tank at the Cu Chi tunnels.
A brief Vietnamese history lesson.
In 1965 during the Vietnam war, Ho Chi Minh as the leader of Northern Vietnam ordered an expansion of an existing tunnel complex to shelter the Vietcong (southern communist rebels) and the North Vietnamese army. The impressive Cu Chi tunnel complex (and beyond) is multi-layered and spans 300km - a secret weapon against the Americans!
Significant developments ensured the underground networks felt more like underground cities with troops living, sleeping and ultimately fighting from the tunnels. Weapons factories and hospitals were just two examples of impressive structures within the underground network.
Although the nimble tunnels gave the Vietnamese a stealth advantage and eventually contributed towards the end of the war, they came at a cost with some serious health problems due to lack of sunlight and clean air, along with overall poor living conditions.
The Iconic Vietnamese tourist attraction only shows a glimpse of the actual full tunnel network, but it is enough to help form some horror images in visitors minds as they ponder about the vast history in this area of the world.
Example war camp exhibition.
What to expect in the Cu Chi jungle?
The Cu Chi Jungle is one of many interesting things to do in a country with many highlights, however, if you are backpacking Vietnam for the first time, you should make sure you plan accordingly.
The first thing to know is that you can expect a lengthy journey before you arrive in the Vietnamese jungle.
Traffic entering and leaving Ho Chi Minh city is the one of the worst I have experienced (even though it is only 46km from the city to the Cu Chi jungle).
It can take up to 2 1/2 hours each way on a bad day, however, you will see some sights out of the window to keep you entertained, as it is one hell of a city of chaos.
An attack on your senses is assured! You will also hear a very informative history lesson from your chosen tour guide which helps break up the journey and takes your mind off the heat.
There is also a pit stop at a lacquer painting factory disguised as a service station. This is the mandatory sales pitch you expect when taking a popular day excursion anywhere in the world.
You can get refreshments here and stretch your legs here, but you will be asked to buy some crafts. (I don’t mind these situations as it always puts me in a place of gratitude when I see good people in worse situations).
A boobie trap example.
After your tour commences, the first stop is the first bit of propaganda through an old black and white video which is narrated in Vietnamese so difficult to understand but it certainly kick-starts the dark theme which surrounds the tourist attraction throughout the visit - You wanted the Vietnamese side of the story, right?
If the old war propaganda doesn’t get you in the dark tourism spirit, a guided walk through the mine forests will, especially when the rapid gunfire knocks you a bit disoriented. If you are a fan of Rambo then you are in luck as the booby traps and weapons on display will make you feel like you are in that movie!
Traditional Vietnamese war snacks then await you at the tasting stations - not quite at the levels of the sensational cuisine which filled the rest of my Vietnam trip (to say the least).
The tour ends with a visit to the museum and a shooting range where you can practice shooting for a price (more of that soon).
Key tip - wear good walking shoes and plenty of mosquito repellent!
Traffic in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
Underground in the Guerrilla zone.
Undoubtedly the biggest draw at the Cu Chi tunnels are the actual tunnels, as they have to be seen to be believed!
The different stories you hear throughout your time in Vietnam just leave that scratch that needs itching, and you get the opportunity to put yourself at the scene in the 1960’s, as you walk through the exact tunnels almost 2 metres down that the Vietnamese soldiers used during combat.
You can expect humid, hot and darkness in abundance - and that is with some of the tunnels being increased in size for western tourists. You can still go through some original tunnels but expect to crawl on your knees, which is all good fun and ensures you make the most of your time underground and get the full travel experience.
The network of tunnels is so vast in southern Vietnam, you might just end up in Cambodia - if you aren’t careful! :)
Entrance into a tunnel.
Posing in the jungle.
You can expect to spend around 30 minutes of your tour in and around the tunnels, but the exact time inside the tunnels varies depending on size of group, time of visit and tourists willingness to wander into pure darkness.
The tour guides give everyone the opportunity to walk the tunnels in small increments to begin with for claustrophobic or anxious visitors, which gives them the feel of the tunnels and the chance to grab souvenir photos.
Our guide Phu gave us all the choice of how far we wanted to walk. I chose to do the full 100 metres to get the full dark tourism experience I wanted - that’s what travelling is all about!
Cu Chi Jungle.
If you are planning on visiting the Chu Chi tunnels soon, then I would recommend booking a tour in advance here. The local knowledge adds a layer of depth to your day and really helps to keep your day informed and efficient.
Make sure you get the famous photo of you popping your head through the hidden tunnel entrance in the ground!
Trying Vietnamese war snacks.
Learning about the war time food regime.
The shooting range.
Operating a shooting range within the Cu Chi jungle complex fits into the portrayed image of dark tourism - that’s for sure! Although a relatively expensive extra on your tour, the shooting range provides most tourists with a first time opportunity of firing a real gun.
You get the chance to fire a real M16, M60 and AK47 - another moment of time travelling back to the wartime to try and feel yourself in the unfathomable situation.
You won’t be able to hear yourself think at times though, be warned! However, you do get noise cancelling headphones when actually stepping in the booths. The chaps in charge of the shooting range are actual soldiers from the Vietnamese army, just to add a further layer of dark tourism.
Be aware that the shooting range is right next to the visitors shop and café, so don’t expect a quiet refreshment stop.
Aiming at a target in the shooting range.
The balls are sold in sets, so you can expect to have to purchase a minimum of ten bullets per gun experience. See a prices below:
M16: 35,000 VND / 1 bullet (~ $ 1.6 USD)
AK 47: 40,000 VND / 1 bullet (~ $ 1.8 USD)
M60: 40,000 VND / 1 bullet (~ $ 1.8 USD)
Garand: 30,000 VND / 1 bullet (~ $ 1.4 USD)
M30: 30,000 VND / 1 bullet (~ $ 1.4 USD)
CARBIN: 25,000 VND / 1 bullet (~ $ 1.1 USD)
So there you have it, a real life experience using a deadly weapon and an assault on your wallet!
Cu Chi tunnels map.
Map showing the Cu Ch Jungle location.
Map of the Cu Chi tunnel system.
Two other interesting day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are one of many top day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.
Within a couple of hours of the southern Vietnamese city there is an abundance of different kinds of activities.
Here are two interesting day trips for you to consider:
Vung Tu Statue.
The Christ of Vung Tu statue is Asia’s version of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.
Unlike in Rio De Janeiro, you can actually climb the Vietnamese Jesus statue and get amazing views of the nearby town and South China Sea from the 32 metres high vantage point.
The beautiful views don’t come easy though, as there is a trek up around 800 steps to reach the platform.
Mekong Delta.
The Mekong Delta needs no introduction as it is a true natural wonder of Vietnam.
A day trip to the famous Delta will allow you to fully immerse in Vietnamese culture, as you uncover the beautiful nature through making your way down the maze of canals via motor boat.
You will also spend time with locals and try some beautiful local cuisine in a local home.
Statue of Ho Chi Minh.
Close up of statue of Ho Chi Minh.
What did I learn on my Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnel Tour?
Ho Chi Minh needs its planned Metro system finished ASAP!
The traffic in Saigon is a total joke and can get very frustrating.
There are two sides to every story!
The Vietnamese perspective on the war is totally different to the side that most of the world hear, so, it is important to be open minded and consider both sides of any story.
The Vietnamese are making the most of the dark tourism image that clouds the Cu Chi jungle.
The experience is designed to create the war feeling, which is proven by the added extra of the shooting range, which doesn’t really need to be there to tell the story.
Automatic guns are scarily loud!
An afternoon next to the shooting range is enough to make you realise just how loud and dangerous automatic weapons really are.
Further reading and learning is required!
After dipping my foot in the Cu Chi tunnels tale, it made me realise how much of the world’s history I still have to learn - I will never complain at realising how much I have to learn in life.
The scene of atrocities just mere decades ago is still preserved very well to tell the story that needs to be shown to the world. The informative local guides do their best at making tourists understand the deep impact the war had on the Vietnamese people. The jungle and tunnels experience is certainly a one of a kind experience in South East Asia that just cannot be missed.
A great blend of history exhibitions, Vietcong propaganda and real life guerrilla warfare examples creates an eye-opening experience that every person should get.
What more would a dark tourist want?
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