Excursion Cu chi tunnels tour at Ho Chi Minh

The Vietnam War, or the American War as it is known in Vietnam, pitched modern American technology against fierce Vietcong resistance waging a guerrilla war. On this full-day tour, experience a local perspective on wartime memories and the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels.

The two and half hour drive southwest from Saigon to the Cu Chi Tunnels is a pleasant foray into the surrounding countryside. It is hard to believe you are entering a former war zone of such strategic importance.  The busy road passes through tranquil rice paddies where entrepreneurial villagers use the hot roadside as a platform for drying all manner of produce. Hundreds of sheets of paper dot the countryside, drying on woven racks in the relentless sun. A short stop is made at a small village for photos of the countryside view and paddy fields.  

At Cu Chi, your guide explains the underground network, shows the displays of tools and weapons used by the guerrillas, and provides insight into the ingenious methods that the Vietnamese soldiers employed to remain undetected.  Work on the tunnels began in 1948 during the war against the French, and greatly expanded throughout the 1960s.

Measuring 31 inches (80 cm) wide and five feet (1.5 metres) tall, the maze of tunnels was extensive, extending over 120 miles (193 kilometres). They included storerooms, sleeping quarters, kitchens, medical facilities and classrooms, and at one time, over 16,000 people lived in the tunnels. Most only 2 or 2.5 feet wide by 5 feet high (60-72cm X1.5 metres), the tunnels had thick roofs capable of withstanding the weight of tanks or the impact of bombs weighing up to 200 pounds (91 kilograms).  Some have been enlarged to accommodate visitors at the site.

Following your visit to the tunnels, proceed for a traditional Vietnamese lunch at the local restaurant.

After lunchboard your coach for your return to the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Saigon, Rice Paddies, Farms, Cu Chi Tunnels

Note

Please note: This tour requires a moderate to extensive amount of walking. It is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or those who utilise a wheelchair.  Walking through the tunnels requires additional exertion. Guests participating on this portion of the tour should be fit and not prone to claustrophobia; guests may opt not to enter the tunnels. In the tunnels closest to the surface the actual rooms may be open to the sky above, with the tunnels in between fairly short. Approximately one hour is spent on site Cu Chi site.  In Cu Chi guests will see sensitive material, including graphic pictures and displays of the atrocities of war. Sturdy shoes, sun protection, and mosquito repellant are recommended. The duration of the drive between the pier and the tunnel are is approximately 2 hours in each direction.