For all you war history buffs out there, check out the Cu Chi Tunnels. Used during the French-Vietnamese and more exclusively during the American-Vietnamese Wars, the tunnel network is still in good shape and is now a war memorial park. Coming over here will really give you an idea of how life was like during times of war.

True to its name, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense and complicated underground network located in the Cu Chi Province. They were used as hiding spots as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for the Vietnamese guerrilla fighters, otherwise known as the Vietcong. The tunnels were a source of frustration for American, Australian and New Zealand troops. Not only were they heavily booby trapped, dangerous animals such as snakes and scorpions lurked around. The tunnels were also small, making it hard for generally larger Western soldiers to enter. The clever design along with the strategic placement of traps and air filtration systems rendered American technology ineffective.

Sounds grim, doesn’t it? War is never a good time for any party involved. At least it leaves us with interesting sites like this one. Hopefully it can be used as an educational tool and as a way for us to learn our mistakes from the past.

If you decide to come here to check out the tunnels, don’t worry about the booby traps and creepy crawlies that were mentioned before. The sections of the tunnel you will be visiting are cleared of all of those nasty things. Start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel and imagine what it was like to be a guerrilla complete with Russian Carbine rifles and AK 47’s. In the late afternoon journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.

As an added extra, you can extend the tour with a visit to Wildlife at Risk (WAR) rescue center. The centre is the first multi-species wildlife hospital and holding facility in southern Vietnam and its main purpose is to help stop the endangered wildlife trade in Vietnam. Learn about these animals and the efforts people are persuing in preserving their survival.

Learn about Vietnam by visiting our tours page and day trip page. Discover a truly magical country and conjure up unforgettable experiences in Vietnam.

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