Visiting Cu Chi Tunnels, the Viet Cong's Military Base
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The tunnels of Cu Chi are an immense network of connecting tunnels located in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Cu Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tet Offensive in 1968.
The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped to counter the growing American military effort.
It takes few hours from Saigon to reach Cu Chi tunnels complex. The 75-mile (121 km)-long complex of tunnels at Cu Chi has been preserved by the government of Vietnam and turned into a war memorial park with two different tunnel display sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. It is one of important landmarks in Saigon which attracts many foreign and local tourists.
Visitors are guided through the jungle complex and they are allowed to experience the real life of the Viet Cong by entering the assigned tunnels which has been made wider and taller to accommodate tourists. They may also try the camouflaged trap door. The tunnels were often rigged with explosive booby traps or punji stick pits which are now displayed for tourists to see. They can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a general-purpose machine gun like the M60. Visitors need to pay for each bullets they are used.
It is worth visiting the tunnels especially for those who read the history of Vietnam War.
It takes few hours from Saigon to reach Cu Chi tunnels complex. The 75-mile (121 km)-long complex of tunnels at Cu Chi has been preserved by the government of Vietnam and turned into a war memorial park with two different tunnel display sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. It is one of important landmarks in Saigon which attracts many foreign and local tourists.
Visitors are guided through the jungle complex and they are allowed to experience the real life of the Viet Cong by entering the assigned tunnels which has been made wider and taller to accommodate tourists. They may also try the camouflaged trap door. The tunnels were often rigged with explosive booby traps or punji stick pits which are now displayed for tourists to see. They can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a general-purpose machine gun like the M60. Visitors need to pay for each bullets they are used.
It is worth visiting the tunnels especially for those who read the history of Vietnam War.
