Ben Dinh War Tunnels — Attraction in Ho Chi Minh City

Real highlight of the Vietnam trip. There are two locations of the cu chi tunnels....I chose the one at Binh Dinh, but both locations offer similar experiences. I went in summer and the temperature down in the tunnels must've been 40 degrees Celsius…..with 100% humidity. The whole place is one big communist propaganda show. Take everything they say with a pinch of salt. Some of the guides were friendly, some were total A-holes. Shooting range was great. Son and I chose to shoot Ak's. However, the price of 600,000 VND for 10 bullets was a bit steep. And the commies running the shooting range look as though they'd rather be off using the guns to fight a revolution than catering to tourists. Don't even think of asking for a photo of you holding the firearm...even without bullets. Tip: dont buy any souvenir at cu chi, or anywere else for that matter, that remortely looks like a bullet (key ring, lighter etc). On our departure from Saigon Airport we were held up by security because x-ray discovered these souvenirs and confiscated them...and they were in our CHECKED IN luggage.....my guess is they confiscate the souvenirs and ship them back to Cu Chi to be sold to unsuspecting tourists over again....

Although the day we went it was terribly hot, it gave us another feeling of how the poor people would of felt in this place. It is tastfully set up in a way for you to get a good experience. well worth visiting

Our visit to the Cu Chi tunnels was the most interesting experience that we had in the Saigon area. There were many informative exhibits and lots to do and experience. We had a helpful guide, but could have managed poor display

Beware! theres 2 sites often referred to as 'Cu Chi Tunnels' Beware! Theres two separate sites both named loosely as the 'Cu Chi Tunnels' and confused by visitors. The 'proper site' is here at Ben Dinh, some way out of town, but many people (including me alas) left reviews for the other site which is titled Cu Chi Tunnels. So check you're heading to the right one! Crawl through a genuine tunnel, there's over 100 metres but dont worry there's 'escapes' every 20...

The Ben Dinh War Tunnels, a part of the Cu Chi Tunnels network, is famous for its part in the victory of the Indochina Wars. Built during the resistance war against French colonizers in 1948, it provides an ideal safe base covering more than 100 hectares under an eucalyptus forest. From here, Vietnamese soldiers could withdraw safely towards Saigon River whenever the enemy made sweeps.

Following the narrow pathways in the tunnels, visitors can see all sorts of war facilities, including surgery rooms, meeting rooms, small kitchens, etc. Notably, there is a system of deep tunnels used as a place to live, take shelter, store weapons, etc.

On the ground, there is an M41 tank of the US Army that was entangled by Vietnamese guerrillas in 1970. Visitors can also watch documentary films to understand more about the history of establishment and development of the whole Cu Chi Tunnels system.

There is a shooting range that offers visitors a chance to shoot real guns. A variety of guns such as AK47 or M16 are available to try under supervision.

There is also a souvenir shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs made from bullet casings, oil lamps, lighters, ballpoint pens, straps, or sandals made from old tires. There are also many handmade products from the craft villages in Cu Chi.

• A Word of Advice * If you plan on checking out a section of the tunnels where you get in at one end and exit at another point, please be advised that the activity is not for the claustrophobic. The tunnels get pretty narrow and tight in some stretches and you will have to move on your haunches or by crawling on all fours. Also, please try and avoid when any large tour groups are at such exhibits - folks have been known to go in enthusiastically but eventually decide to back out, causing a fair amount of confusion and chaos. Also, avoid going in with any baggage that might hinder...

We had a great tour of Bin Dinh Tunnels. We learned a lot on l9cation and had a wonderful, fun tour guide with us who made it both relevant but interesting for adults and teenagers alike. The focus was a lot more on the ingenuity and creativity of the design and working/living conditions, with historic relevancy but less of the gruesome elents of the war which we appreciated given we had a teenager with us. Highly recommend. When kids get older, they can choose to learn more, but we got the right mix, and it kept it interesting. Delighted, we did it. Staff are wonderful, engaging, and incredibly helpful to tourists. The new entrance is l8ght years from the old route, so it also makes if more accessible to older tourists and has pathways a wheelchair can navigate so still inclusive for all without needing to go into the tunnels. My niece and I did do the tunnel walk. It was roasting hot, and truly, you do need good knees to navigate through. I was in a lather of sweat at the end and was glad I did it. Not for the claustrophobic, so if you have bad knees or don't l8ght tight spaces, don't go through as once you go in, you can't get back if others behind you!! Right as we were entering, a German tourist flew back out after realizing how tight it was going to get. I didn't have to go on my knees but had to shuffle in a bent position to walk through and I'm only 5ft 5 inches so make a wise decision or wait till the end of your group so you can go in to test your comfort level and come out if your not loving it!!! I encourage you to try at least. It really does get you into the true reality and you can see the navigation, depth and intensity of it. Can't even imagine doing it with military gear, guns,...