The Cu Chi Tunnels: The Extraordinary History of an Underground World

Tiny trapdoors hidden under the foliage, dark and narrow passages, and dangerous traps concealed on every side to ensnare the enemy—these are the defining features of the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast underground labyrinth, known as the Cu Chi Tunnels, is filled with astonishing stories about the Vietnam War (1954-1975) that most travelers are unaware of.

This "underground village," complete with kitchens, dormitories, meeting rooms, and hospitals, was never destroyed despite numerous bombings. Join us as we explore the narrow passages and cavities of the Cu Chi Tunnels and discover this legendary underground complex, showcasing the ingenuity and heroism of the Vietnamese during the war.

Written by Nhu PHAM (local expert)Updated on 16-08-2024

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1. The Construction of the Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi is a district located northwest of Saigon (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City). In the 1940s, Vietnamese guerrillas and villagers fighting against French colonial domination began constructing a network of tunnels in Cu Chi. This is an ingenious system of underground fortifications, carefully camouflaged in the tropical jungle. The Cu Chi Tunnels were dug by hand using rudimentary tools by the resistance fighters for over 20 years.

In the early 1960s, the United States intensified its military presence in Vietnam to support the non-communist regime in South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese troops and the Viet Cong (the communist forces of South Vietnam) gradually expanded the Cu Chi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels network connected the bases of the Vietnamese forces over a distance of approximately 250 kilometers. The Cu Chi Tunnels stretch from the outskirts of Saigon to the Cambodian border.

The Cu Chi Tunnels became essential infrastructure for the resistance acts of the Vietnamese troops. Their strategic location near Saigon, the capital of the south at the time, allowed the North Vietnamese army and the Viet Cong to launch attacks against the American army and then hide underground in the tropical jungle. The Cu Chi Tunnels also served as a primary base for coordinating military operations during the Tet Offensive in 1968. This event was symbolic as it helped turn the tide of the war.

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2. A True Underground City

The entrances to the Cu Chi Tunnels are so small and well camouflaged that the Americans often passed over them without knowing they existed. Of course, it wasn't always easy to hide the existence of these tunnels and all the activities happening inside. Despite the complexity of the situation, the guerrillas found ingenious ways to hide their presence and deceive the Americans and their intervention dogs.

One of the surprising features of the Cu Chi Tunnels is the tiny entrance holes camouflaged by foliage. Some of these holes are so small that they resemble animal burrows more than human habitation. Once the door is closed, the tunnel trapdoor is almost imperceptible under the leaves and soil. There are also entrance trapdoors in pigsties or village houses.

A problem arose: American soldiers could identify the tunnel entrances with the help of their dogs. To mask their scent, the Viet Cong used pieces of uniforms, soaps, or aftershave from American soldiers to deceive the dogs' sense of smell. The Vietnamese also devised other ingenious ways to trick the enemy.

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The flat rubber soles of the sandals worn by the Viet Cong had a unique feature. They could be worn both right side up and upside down. Thus, they could be worn upside down to deceive the enemy, making them think the Viet Cong were heading in one direction when, in reality, the resistance fighters were walking in the opposite direction.

Inside the Cu Chi Tunnels, the passages are very narrow, allowing only one person to squeeze through by bending their back or climbing laboriously to move. This underground labyrinth and the military bases are buried 3 to 12 meters deep underground. The Cu Chi Tunnels consist of three levels that can withstand the destructive power of bombings.

This complex network, built in a zigzag pattern, extends in all directions. There are several small tunnels branching off from the main tunnels, providing access to various places such as hospitals, residential areas, kitchens, bomb shelters, theaters, and weapons factories.

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The smoke from the kitchens and weapons factories was evacuated through long vents and exited hundreds of meters away, under a pile of undulating leaves. The ground-level ventilation outlets were also disguised as termite mounds or camouflaged in the same way as the small tunnel entrances.

These secret tunnels, which connected the villages and could even pass under American military bases, were not only fortifications for the Vietnamese guerrillas but also a living space for a community.

Buried underground, sometimes just beneath bloody battles, were schools and public spaces like hospitals, where children were born and war victims were operated on. There were even theaters where propaganda films were shown to boost the combat spirit and patriotism of the soldiers. There were also artists who entertained the inhabitants with songs, dances, and traditional stories.

During the war, the life of the Vietnamese refugees living in these tunnels was very difficult. They hid inside for several months. Air, food, and water were scarce, and the tunnels were often overrun by "unwanted guests" such as ants, cockroaches, spiders, rats, and snakes. Disease was rampant, particularly malaria, which, after war wounds, was the second leading cause of death among the refugees.

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The rice fields and fruit crops were destroyed by the bombings. Consequently, while waiting for essential supplies, the diet of the inhabitants of this "underground village" could consist only of tapioca, leaves, roots, and insects.

3. The Deadly Traps of the Cu Chi Tunnels

In addition to being used to house the inhabitants and Vietnamese troops, the Cu Chi Tunnels were also used to supply various products and facilitate communications. With such a vast underground network, this could be accomplished quite easily.

It was also very convenient for developing a whole range of dangerous and varied traps. Most of these were explosive traps triggered by wires: American soldiers were, for example, killed and injured by grenades or fell into traps filled with scorpions or venomous snakes when they stepped on the trap wires.

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The Vietnamese forces also used other, even more, deadly traps. They built trapdoors that, when stepped on, would drop the victim into a pit filled with sharp, pointed stakes. American soldiers were thus brutally impaled. Many traps were made using debris from American artillery, destroyed during clashes and bombings.

As intense bombings proved ineffective against the Cu Chi Tunnels, the American commandos changed their attack strategy. They requisitioned certain American troops, known as "tunnel rats," to inspect and "clear" these traps.

Since the Cu Chi Tunnels are very narrow, the "tunnel rats" were usually small, armed men who spent hours in these tunnels to reach the enemy and destroy the traps, relying on their sense of smell and hearing.

Some men managed to carry out dozens of incursions, becoming comfortable crawling underground, while others discovered that they had major phobias and could not continue their missions. These tiny, dark tunnels became a nightmare for the Americans.

Today, some parts of the Cu Chi Tunnels are open to the public. They have been enlarged so that foreign visitors can visit them. These tunnels are regularly cleaned and treated so that visitors can discover them more comfortably.

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4. Opening Hours and Entrance Fees

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Entrance fees: For foreign visitors: approximately 5 euros (Ben Duoc Tunnels: 90,000 VND/person, Ben Dinh Tunnels 110,000 VND/person)

5. How to Get to the Cu Chi Tunnels?

The journey between downtown Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the Cu Chi Tunnels is about 70 km, which takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Here are some options we suggest for getting there:

• Local Bus:

Take bus number 04, 65, or 27 from downtown, at the SAI GON Le Lai bus station, Pham Ngu Lao ward, District 1, to An Suong bus station. From An Suong bus station, take bus number 122 to Tan Quy bus station. Then, take bus number 70 to the Ben Dinh Tunnels. Please note that buses generally operate from 4:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

However, it is important to note that this option can be difficult due to multiple transfers and can take a lot of time. If you are short on time, it is better to explore more convenient options, such as booking a private car, which will offer you more flexibility and convenience when visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels.

• Private Car:

You can consider booking a car by contacting a travel agency to assist you in planning your visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. These agencies offer complete packages, including round-trip transportation, which is convenient and recommended.

Final Words,

If you are interested in the history of the Vietnam War, we recommend visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels. This site is listed among the world's best underground attractions by CNN. A one-day Cu Chi tour from Saigon offers a fascinating historical insight into the guerrilla warfare waged by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong against the American army. It is undoubtedly an unmissable experience to explore these mythical Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the soldiers and inhabitants who lived during the war.

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