Crawling Through History: The Cu Chi Tunnels

The Secret Underground

In Vietnam, there are many secret underground tunnels. These were originally built by Vietnamese forces to oppose the French colonists in the mid-20th century, then more were built and expanded to fight US forces during the Vietnam War. Today tourists come from all over to see these tunnels.

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an example of a fascinating location where you can see and explore the history of the war. It’s a very popular attraction for visitors—which you know when you see the swarm of buses parked out front.

Into the Jungle

After entry, you march along a dirt path through the jungle (which gives you a vivid picture of what moving across the forest would have been like for soldiers).

The next thing you see is a damaged US tank placed near the path, and then an exhibit showing the traps set up by the Viet Cong. You also see life-sized replicas of soldiers in the workshop, kitchen, bunkers, and trenches. One famous photo-op is the entryway where you slide down and pull a disguised hatch down behind you as you slip into the dark, narrow tunnels. There was also a range where you could fire a machine gun, but it was for 18 years plus only. The sound of bullets firing added to the overall feel of our tour.

Life Underground

The actual tunnels were fascinating. We walked through the legendary underground passage where tourists can safely try being ‘tunnel rats’ and imagine what life would have been like for soldiers during the Vietnam War. The tunnel is one hundred meters long but has exits every ten to twenty meters. It was very crowded and slow-moving as we first entered, but most people head out at the first ten-meter exit, which left the rest of the tunnel for us to explore on our own.

Despite the many lights set up along the walls, the tunnel was still shockingly dim. It was also narrow—you have to crawl and even slide on your back in some places. My legs were sore the next day from inching along in a squatting position. If you’re under 5 feet tall, the tunnels are the right place for you. I was surprised by the narrowness of the passage, so I was startled to learn that the tunnel we were in was 2.5 times larger than the original ones!

The Cu Chi tunnels are the perfect place for adventure-seekers and history lovers alike!