Cu Chi Tunnel Ben Duoc — Attraction in Ho Chi Minh City

Fantastic experience and very educational.

The entire tour takes an hour and a half. There is a restaurant and restroom facilities available. It’s a good idea to wear insect repellent. If you’re going to crawl the tunnels you might want to hydrate beforehand.

We left feeling pretty amazed at the ingenuity, determination and perseverance of the Vietnamese people. If you want to explore the tunnels makes sure you wear clothes (long pants and long sleeves are recommended) that you can wash the next day. Also, it’s a dusty experience and you’ll have to give your hair a deep wash at the end of the day.

First off, guests are given some time to explore the American military equipment that was downed, destroyed and captured during the war. The rough state of each object gives you a unique view into how they are put together since missing pieces of wall and such let you get a glance at the workings.

Next, while walking through the forest the guide explains how the Vietnamese soldiers created a system of ventilation while remaining hidden from the enemy.

There are three opportunities to explore the tunnels. If you aren’t comfortable going in there are larger spaces where you see things like the medical facilities, cooking areas and barracks, with mannequins in uniform creating tableaus. There’s a lot of practical information shared and the guides are fully capable of answering questions.

Everyone is invited into a widened and short tunnel to give guests of all kinds a chance to get a sense of the tunnels. In a second opportunity you get to enter through a small camouflaged original entrance. This is a bit tighter and not suitable for people with claustrophobia. It involves crawling for larger people, but if you’re small you can crab walk.

The third opportunity to explore the tunnels is a tighter and longer journey (60 meters). Almost everyone has to crawl here. They don’t give tourists access to the smallest of the tunnels. You always have a guide in front of you and the longer tunnels have an option to exit early if you start to feel uncomfortable.

They also provide examples of some of the traps camouflaged into the jungle and used to injure enemy soldiers as part of the Viet Cong’s psychological warfare. There are incredible photos and incredible details about the subterfuge employed.

There is a short rest break where you are given a snack - food eaten by the soldiers. It is boiled cassava, with a mix of ground peanuts, salt and sugar for dipping.

Truly...

DIY day trip from Saigon city to Cu Chi tunnel Ben Duoc - not suitable for elderly (longer walks)

PRO: cheaper, own pace, able to add in 3D Cinema & Operation Model of Cedar Falls which is not in the usual tour package but recommended as the 3D show (after toy simulation) gives a clearer perspective of guerilla warfare after your tunnel experience.

CON: longer travel time by local bus, change bus once

COST: VND 244k per pax as of Dec 2022 To Cu Chi Ben Duoc from District 1 -bus 13 VND 20k -bus 79 VND 7k -tunnel admission VDN 125k -3D Cinema admission VDN 65k Back to City -bus 79 VND 7k -bus 13 VND 20k

HOW? In district 1, go to Ben Xe Buýt Sai Gon station (big bus interchange located near a Little Hanoi Egg Coffee cafe), take bus 13 (10-20mins frequency, appx 1hr 30mins journey) to Ben Xe Cu Chi station (final stop), toilet available at VND 3k, change to bus 79 (appx 30mins journey), inform bus conductor on your destination as Google's stop is not accurate, I stopped one stop after it as there is only one entrance/exit and ticketing booth - Gateway near to Motorcycle parking #1

Return bus stop (bus 79) is at a local shop with stone chairs where you can sit. Located slightly nearer to the road junction than actual Google bus stop marker.

TIPS Buy all admission tickets in one go as the counter is away from the tunnel entrance and 3D Cinema if you are on foot.

Recommended order: Ticket counter, Tunnel (2hrs), lunch, 3D Cinema (1.5hrs), Temple (30mins, if time permits) back to entrance (take bus without crossing the road). Staff says last bus 79 at 5pm. I took the 4pm bus just in case.

Bring packed lunch like Banh Mi, fruit and water bottle. There are eateries and outdoor sitting area as you exit the tunnel.

For first timers taking a bus in Vietnam, board bus, take a seat, then the bus conductor will approach you for payment and issue you the ticket. Use Google maps for bus services and routes.

Interestingly, I experienced locals boarding bus to sell clothes to passengers. If the bus is full, there may be space near the driver however you need to remove your shoes to sit there.

If you carry a haversack, I recommend holding the bag with your hands when going thru the tunnels instead of wearing them on your back which will be scratched and you have to bend your back lower and walk which is challenging.

Stretch your thighs before entering the...

The Cu Chi Tunnels are truly a place you should visit at least once in your lifetime because of the fascinating experiences they offer, as well as a way to understand the spirit of Vietnam.

We visited Cu Chi on the weekend, and although the weather was quite hot, there are plenty of trees providing shade, so walking through the tunnel area wasn't overly sweltering.

You should explore both sections: one is the recreated model area, with a documentary film house to help you understand how the Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese army fought with American army in Cu Chi; while the other is the actual site where the battle took place over 50 years ago, and you can see how the people of Cu Chi lived and survived underground. It's truly impressive and moving.

Although I wasn't a big fan of the introduction to the traps, most of the time was spent on interesting experiences.

You should try crawling down into the tunnels and moving around there for a short distance to understand how the people of Cu Chi had to live like that for decades, especially during the war with the United States.

If you're afraid of tight spaces, you should only choose to enter the larger tunnels and avoid the narrow spaces.

The guides at the model area may not speak English, but the documentary films have English subtitles, and there are directions at each point.

The guides at the actual site speak English very well, are humorous, and professional; we were really impressed with our male Vietnamese guide with family name Trịnh, who spoke English and a bit of Thai. This guide deserves a 5-star rating.

The entrance fee is not expensive, and the guide's fee is included in the ticket.

Usually, people go on group tours, mostly in the morning, and this tour activity usually takes up either a morning or an afternoon.

We rented a private car and set off at lunchtime. The tour takes about 3 hours.

Bring mosquito and insect repellent spray and wear long, breathable clothing, as you'll be walking a lot in the forest and underground.

After visiting Cu Chi, if you want to experience shooting real AK47 and M16 rifles, you can buy tickets and travel to the shooting range not far away using the tourist area's electric cars or your...