November 19, 2013

Vietnam : Must-visit Cu Chi Tunnels

Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been travelling so much that whatever times I have left from not travelling were taken up with work and family. So what's up with me? After my long 2 and a half weeks in the US, I was back home for about 2 weeks before heading to Japan. Now I'm back home again and will be here for a bit until the travel bug hits me again. Enough of travelling for this year at least. I lost track of how many cities I've been just this year. But I'm thankful for all the opportunities that many do not get.

One of the thing on my to-do list during my trip to Vietnam was to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. If you haven't heard of it, go read it here. It's really amazing.

Since it was located on the outskirts of the city, we signed up with a tour agent for a half a day tour. A bus ride brought us to this site where we started the tour with a briefing at the guns room.



Then we had to walk through a big tunnel, passed some immigration officers, given tiny stickers to stick on our clothes, and we arrived in the jungle. 



A long huge worm to greet us. It's fatter than my thumb *eeks* Thank God for zoom lense. 


Our tour guide did a very good job of explaining all the different areas and holes, and various traps to us. And he jumped in and out the holes without even stopping to catch his breath. 






And then he showed us how the soldiers hid undetected in the jungle - in tiny holes just enough to fit a body. Before the trip, I told myself I must get into one of these but almost chicken out when I saw how dark and small the holes are. 



But I did. All the way in, it was pitch dark inside and it smells like dirt. And just the few seconds inside the tiny hole made me admire all the Cu Chi soldiers who survived so long being in such tiny space. Weird thoughs were going through my head in just that few seconds. Had to struggle to climb out as I wasn't tall enough to push myself out. -_-


Our tour guide also showed us how they fought, how their disguise their air ventilations and how the soldiers and their family survived so many years living underground, giving birth, studying, cooking, etc. They are very clever. On of their inventions were the 'multi front back slippers' (for lack of better words). The slippers can be worn either way and the soldiers switch sides to confuse the enemy who were tracking them. So clever right? 




There is also a firing range where you can pick your choice of guns and pay for the bullets. 


And finally, the highlight of the trip, we were taken to the entrance of a tunnel. It was about 30 meters long and there were exits along the way for those who couldn't take it. Out of our group of about 40 people, less than 10 decided to try it. And I glad to say I made it. Being short and small really helps :p There was a section of tunnel where I had to sit on my butt and slide my way into the hole. It was dimly lighted in the tunnel too. Not for the claustrophobic and those who are afraid of the dark. 


It's quite an interesting trip and I would say its a must not missed if you are ever in Ho Chi Minh City. This is where you'll learn and understand more about this country and its resilient people. The 240 kilometers of tunnels are what's left of its legacy and history and its a reminder to everyone that it's not what life throws at you that keeps you down, its what you do with it that makes you live. 


The Sinh Tourist

The Sinh Tourist Head Office
246-248 De Tham St., Dist 1, HCMC
Tel : +84.8.38389597
Email : info@thesinhtourist.vn
Website : http://www.thesinhtourust.vn

The Sinh Toursit Office 2
24-26 Pho Duc Chinh St., Dist 1, HCMC
Tel : +84.8.38222892

1 comment:

iran tours said...

great tips, i would really really love to visit this underground tunnels for my next vn trip