Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting?

Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting? is one of the most frequently asked questions from visitors coming to Ho Chi Minh City. Some people suppose this famous underground city – the 250-km long multilayer tunnels are boring and have nothing to see. However, this tourist attractions attract millions of visitors every year thanks to the green spaces, its historical and architectural values. Let me share with you some must know and hidden information about Cu Chi Tunnels.

*Note: The length of Cu Chi Tunnels is approximately 250 km, tourists can see the tunnels and learn more about the history at 2 sites Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Ben Duoc is 10 km further but larger than Ben Dinh. Ben Dinh attracts more international tourists because some tunnel sections have been made to be wider and fit tall and big people.

Please contact Tracy Do & Bill Bui at +84938314386 (Whatsapp/iMessage/Viber/SMS) for detailed information about Ho Chi Minh City tours and the best prices for your group

Highlights of Cu Chi Tunnels

• The complex 250-km long network tunnels, dug by villagers and Vietcong soldiers for hiding from enemies and storing weapons.
• Documentary films about Vietnam’s history and recent wars.
• Weapons used in the war against French colonials, the U.S. troops and Republic of Vietnam’s soldiers: tanks, bullets, airplanes,…
• Bamboo and metal traps invented and used by Vietcong to threaten, injure, and kill the enemies.
• Tunnels sections made wider and lighter to make opportunities for visitors to try crawling through dark and narrow Cu Chi Tunnels. In fact, the original tunnels are rather dark and narrow, only fit small and thin Vietnamese people.
• Function rooms such as meeting rooms, sleeping quarters, commanding rooms, hospitals, social rooms, kitchen.
• Smokeless stoves invented by Hoang Cam cook and soldier.
• Beautiful green jungle landscape in Cu Chi.
• Beautiful sights on the way from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Dinh/Ben Duoc: quiet villages, rice paper workshops, rubber tree plantations.
• Staff in traditional Ao Ba Ba in Cu Chi style.
• Shooting range where visitors can try to fire guns like Vietcong soldiers.

From the long list of highlights of Cu Chi Tunnels, we can see that it is worth visiting. You will learn so much in Cu Chi District and at a Cu Chi Tunnels site. Walking under the large shades of green old trees is relaxing and a great way to immerse in nature. Vietnam’s history, wars, heroes, patriotic villagers, mysterious and hidden stories are pluses of this tourist attractions.

Is Cu Chi Tunnels too far from the city center/my hotel?

Cu Chi Tunnels are about 75 km from District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. In Vietnam and Saigon, it is not a long distance, we can move between the two places by car, public bus, and motorbike easily. We just go from District 1 – the central district of Ho Chi Minh to an suburban district in the countryside.

Does it take long time to reach Cu Chi Tunnels from my hotel?

Tourists must be transferred from your hotel or meeting point in the center of Saigon to Cu Chi suburban district for about 1.5 hours. In addition, you will enjoy the beautiful and peaceful sights on the way, and find that it takes no long time to get to the tunnels.

How long does it take to explore Cu Chi Tunnels?

A few tourists spend a whole day at a Cu Chi Tunnels site (Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc) because they would like to see all corners. Most tourists spend 1 – 3 hours at Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc. Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour is one of the most popular tours in Ho Chi Minh City. Other choices include Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta tour or Cu Chi Tunnels and cooking class tour. So you do not need to worry about that you must spend so much time at this tourist attraction.

Is it dangerous to crawl through tunnel sections?

No, it is not dangerous. Being in tunnel sections in Cu Chi is very safe. They have modified some sections of tunnels to make them wider and easily fit large-sized people, especially American and Western tourists. In the past, natural light (sun lights) and artificial lights (lamps, candles,…) are limited inside Cu Chi tunnels. However, they have installed a systems of dim lights in the sections for tourists to crawl easily and comfortably. The lights are not too bright because the operator of Cu Chi Tunnels sites would like to make the experience of crawling through tunnels as real as possible. The tunnels sections are checked carefully everyday to make sure they are clean and dry. They also make sure that there is enough air in the tunnels for tourists.

A large number of children and old tourists challenge themselves at Cu Chi Tunnels by crawling through some sections of tunnels. You can try the shortest section at first. If you feel good, you can continue with the next section which is longer. If you have problems with your legs or back, you can explore other parts of Cu Chi Tunnels sites.

Please contact Tracy Do & Bill Bui at +84938314386 (Whatsapp/iMessage/Viber/SMS) for detailed information about Ho Chi Minh City tours and the best prices for your group

Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting? You should not miss a chance to enter the tunnels through a small entrance and crawl through some sections of tunnels which are a little dark and narrow.

Must things to do in Cu Chi Tunnels (Ben Dinh)

• Watch the documentary film about the recent wars and Cu Chi Tunnels.
• Learn more about the structure of the multilayer underground city.
• Walk around the forests, see bomb craters, function rooms.
• Try to enter the secret wooden entrance to tunnels.
• Try to fire a gun at the shooting range.
• Try to crawl through some sections of Cu Chi Tunnels.
• Eat some foods which are popular to local people and Vietcong soldiers when there was shortage of food. Drink some jasmine/green tea and relax inside the green jungle.
• Take nice photos with old used weapons.
• Buy some great souvenirs at the shop at Cu Chi Tunnels.

Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting? There are many wooden tables where tourists can sit around, sip hot tea, and eat tapioca.

Tips on taking nice photos at Cu Chi Tunnels

• Take photos in function rooms (meeting room, hospital, sewing room,…)
• Take photos when being inside tunnels.
• Take photos when entering tunnels through a very small entrance.
• Take photos with old weapons (tanks, airplanes, bullets,…)

Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting? 

Is it dangerous to be at Cu Chi Tunnels and how to be safe at this tourist attraction?

Certainly, there are mosquitoes and insects in the jungle. So you should bring insect repellents and use them safely at a Cu Chi Tunnels site. Sun screens are useful to protect your skin from the strong sun although you almost walk under the tree shades and are in underground function rooms and tunnels.

It is the best to visit Cu Chi Tunnels in the dry season because the ground is solid and not slippery.

If you go with a tour guide, follow his instruction to make sure that you are safe totally. In case you visit one of the tunnels sites by yourself, you can follow a local guide and do not go out of the visiting area.

Shoes, sports shoes, sandals, hats (caps), small belt bags, backpack, T-shirts, pants, shorts are recommended. High heels, slippers, dresses and skirts are not recommended because tourists find it difficult to walk down and up stairs, crawl through tunnels sections. Although the ground is rather flat, it is still a little rough.

Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting?

Are Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting?

Cu Chi Tunnels have educational and historical values and it is one of the iconic sight of Ho Chi Minh City. Your trip to Saigon is not complete if you do not visit this must-see tourist attraction. It does not take you too long time to explore a site of Cu Chi Tunnels. Moreover, it is easy to book a tour or a transfer to the tunnels from your hotel in central districts of the city. Cu Chi Tunnels are a great place for children, the elderly, and adults to visit, open their mind, and relax in nature. Do not miss being in Cu Chi District and explore the interesting Cu Chi Tunnels.

Please contact Tracy Do & Bill Bui at +84938314386 (Whatsapp/iMessage/Viber/SMS) for detailed information about Ho Chi Minh City tours and the best prices for your group