Cu Chi Tunnels – the alternative tour
An alternative look at the historic Vietnam War tunnels at Cu Chi
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For the best, most quiet experience, we start early. Please note that we do not visit the firing range. If your interest is history and discovering the amazing stories of the Viet-Cong tunnels at Cu Chi, join our small group experience.
Proximity to Saigon and the communist supply lines across the Cambodian border, gave the Cu Chi area great strategic importance from French colonial times through the American war.
The simplicity of the tunnels concept and the deadly determination of Viet Cong fighters, made this place a bitterly contested battleground.
The 200kms of tunnels were a key logistical and offensive network. Our visit remembers one of the most incredible accomplishments of the Vietnam War – a primitive logistical and offensive underground network that survived the superior weaponry of the French and then the US backed South Vietnamese government – including aerial bombardment. Many thousands of soldiers on all sides, and civilians, perished in conflict here.
The Cu Chi Tunnels tour has become a standard feature of a visit to Ho Chi Minh City. It’s gotten a bit cookie-cutter and at times the tunnels feel more like a Disneyesque reproduction than a real battleground. So we’ve decided to rethink a visit to this solemn, historic place.
We leave Saigon early in the morning to avoid crowds. We visit the more remote and less-visited tunnels for authenticity. We do not visit the firing range. If the firing range is a priority, we suggest you travel with another operator.
We also visit a memorial to Viet Cong fighters and the banks of the Saigon River, used during the war.
Pickup from downtown Ho Chi Minh City meeting point (Pasteur St, District 1 – details advised in booking) at 6.30AM and return around 2PM. Cu Chi is 2.5 hours from Saigon. The drive begins in Saigon’s urban sprawl before heading into rural scenery. We travel in quality, spacious vehicles suited to the long drive times.
Comfortable walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, modest attire for temple entry, mosquito protection, comprehensive travel insurance.
Expert guide, entrance fees, drinks, tablet presentation, lunch at The Old Compass Cafe, quality transport – (spacious car or D Car van depending on numbers).
There are firing ranges at the Cu Chi tunnel complexes. We have taken the decision that we do not believe this former battleground should be a place of frivolous firing of weapons. We discourage the firing of weapons on our tours and suggest if you wish to fire weapons at Cu Chi, you travel with one of the many other travel companies.