If you want to get to know more about Vietnamese history, visiting Cu Chi Tunnels is a great activity, and also one of the most rewarding things to do in Ho Chi Minh. It is 100% worth your short trip from the center of Ho Chi Minh City.
Located about 60 kilometers to the northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, it is an extensive labyrinth of underground tunnels that stretch all the way to the Cambodian border. The Cu Chi Tunnels network was built within 25 years from 1948 during the war against the French. It served as a means of communication between villages and helped the Vietnamese to avoid scouting French soldiers.
The tunnel network was extended over an area of 250 kilometers during the Vietnam War. Therefore, it became one of the important parts of the Viet Cong fighting troops’ strategy and also the home for thousands of soldiers.
Currently, about 120 km of the tunnels are preserved and work as a captivating attraction in Ho Chi Minh City.
Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, you have a chance to witness its unique architecture and structure as well as understand why it plays an important role in Vietnam’s history.
Believe it or not, there were hospitals, schools, theatres, and kitchens, all built into this extraordinary tunnel network. The entrances to these tunnels were covered with a secret wooden door and camouflage leaves above. Its size is so small that only the Vietnamese could fit in.
