Day 10 - Cu Chi Tunnels

Woke a little before 6am this morning to get ready for today's trip. James and I headed off to the Cu Chi Tunnels to get an idea of what life was like underground for the VC (Viet Cong) as they evaded the GI (General Infantry) during the Vietnam War.

We left a little after 8am from our hotel where our guide Justin picked us up and we made our way towards the tunnels. On the way we stopped at a workshop where they make items out of rosewood, covered in lacquer and inlaid with shells like seashells or duck egg shells. They put a huge amount of work into them, applying coat after coat of lacquer, sanding and polishing each time until the surface feels completely smooth.

We got to the Cu Chi site around 10:30am and had a look at some of the old military vehicles from the war before starting the tour.

The tunnels are pretty incredible. At their peak they stretched for about 250 kilometres, running under villages and all the way towards Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. They were first started in the late 1940s against the French invasion and then massively expanded during the 1960s in the war against the Americans. Down there they had kitchens, meeting rooms, weapons stores, and even underground hospitals. They also had different levels, trapdoors, and ventilation systems that made it almost impossible for the enemy to find or destroy them.

The kitchens were a clever part of the design. As smoke from cooking would have given their location away, they built long, winding chimneys that let the smoke out far from where they were cooking. By the time it came out at ground level it was so thin it just looked like morning mist. That way they could still prepare food without being spotted.

James and I crawled through the tunnels a few times. They were hot, dark and very tight. On the longest section James exited at the first opportunity, which was probably a good move as it got smaller the further along we went. I carried on and got to a part where I had to slide down on my butt, not the most comfortable part. Despite the fact these tunnels have been increased in size by about 15 percent for tourists, they still give you a good idea of how tough it would have been to live down there.

Before going into the tunnels we were shown how well hidden the entrances were. They were tiny and covered with leaves and dirt, you’d never notice them if you were just walking past. I tried to lower myself into one but with my shoulders it was way too tight, so I ended up using a slightly larger hole nearby.

We also got to see some of the traps the VC used around the area. They were simple but very effective, often made with sharpened bamboo or metal spikes hidden in pits, or hidden under swinging doors. They weren’t designed to kill, but more to injure so they would the slow soldiers down and make them cautious with every step.

A lot of the tunnels have collapsed now or been filled in. There are still enough that remain open to give visitors a taste of what it was like. Going through them really makes you appreciate how smart and tough the people were who relied on them.

Once we had finished there, we headed off to the gun range but James and I decided not to partake, I didn't see the point really. Then it was off for lunch, it was pretty basic, I wasn't overly hungry so it was enough for me. After that it was back onto the bus for the 2 hour drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Our driver was going to drop us off at our hotel, however with all the traffic it was faster for us to walk, so we jumped off and took a quick 5 minute walk in the rain back to our hotel.

We caught up with our parents and headed to dinner at a restaurant just down the road, we all picked an option each to share, and once again, the meal didn't dissapoint. After the meal the rest went back to the hotel while I decided to browse the streets, little did I know I would soon come across a free concert called the BIDV Music Festival "Emerald X", a concert by K-pop star Hyolyn... Now I have no idea who Hyolyn is, but people were pretty excited when her picture popped up on the screen of performances. They had fireworks and big flames popping up as well. I continued to browse the streets for a little and then headed back to the hotel.