Symbolizing a strong will, persistent and indomitable fighting spirit, Cu Chi Tunnels are an important part of the heroic historical flow of the nation.
From the center of Ho Chi Minh City, crossing the sunny Provincial Road 15 in the days of March 2025, reporters of the Lao Dong Newspaper visited the Cu Chi Tunnels - a place that in the 20th century was mentioned by the whole world for its unique military construction.
Magical "Underground Village"
Established in 1948, Cu Chi Tunnels started out as short tunnels used to hide documents, weapons and shelter. During the anti-American war, especially in 1966, when the US used the 1st Infantry Division "Red Big Brother" to carry out a major operation called Crimp to sweep and fiercely attack revolutionary forces and base areas, the tunnels developed strongly.
Facing this sweep, cadres and soldiers and civilians steadfastly held their ground, dug tunnels, built trenches, established an "American-killing belt", determined to protect the revolutionary base with the slogan "Not an inch gone, not a millimeter left". From that steadfastness, underground, next to the rows of small and narrow tunnels, a field hospital, food warehouses, trenches, living quarters, meeting rooms for the command headquarters, Hoang Cam kitchen... All blended into a miraculous "underground village", demonstrating the indomitable will and creative intelligence of our soldiers and civilians.
Through visual images, visitors can clearly feel the difficult but resilient life inside the Cu Chi Tunnels. Photo: HOANG TRIEU
After the Crimp sweep, in January 1967, the US launched the large-scale Cedar Falls operation with 30,000 troops, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and air support to "peel the earth" to destroy the tunnels. The enemy's ambition was to neutralize the Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh Military Region Command, the leadership of the Regional Party Committee, the main units of the Military Region, and destroy the base area. However, the tunnel system with its intelligent and brave individuals turned that ambition into a disaster. In the Ben Duoc area alone, a guerrilla team of only 9 people clung to the tunnels for many days, destroying hundreds of enemies and burning many tanks.
At this time, the tunnel system had reached a total length of about 250 km, consisting of many layers and branches like a giant spider web underground. American General A. Nasen had to admit: "It is impossible to destroy the tunnel because it is not only too deep but also extremely winding... Attacking with engineers is ineffective... and it is very difficult to find the tunnel entrance to get down to the tunnel".
Memories of an old soldier
Meeting veteran Huynh Van Chia, or Nam Chia, the reporter admired the memory of this 79-year-old guerrilla from Trung Lap Ha commune, Cu Chi district, during the resistance war against the US.
Recalling the heroic years of resistance, Mr. Nam Chia not only fondly recalled the fierce battles but also the difficult days of digging tunnels but no one was discouraged. He said that at that time, the guerrillas fought with guns, dug tunnels and planted rice and potatoes to maintain their forces.
Every time he visits Cu Chi Tunnels, Mr. Nam Chia cannot contain his emotions. Photo: PHAN ANH
With only rudimentary tools such as hoes and bamboo shovels, the army and people of Cu Chi quietly created a magnificent, unimaginable work, a testament to the intelligence and resilience of the Vietnamese people. Each tunnel digging team usually consisted of 5 people, each with a task such as digging, scooping soil into the shovel, and bringing the soil to a place where the enemy could not detect it.
The work began by digging test wells 1 meter wide and about 4 meters deep. From the bottom of the test well, they continued digging to the side to create a path. There were many digging teams, each team 7-10 meters apart; as they dug, someone followed behind to scoop up the soil, without a moment of rest. While digging, everyone constantly pressed their ears close to the tunnel wall to listen to their teammates' movements, adjusting each hoe stroke so that the tunnels connected accurately.
"Every 7 - 10 meters, a test well was dug to pull up the soil, then filled it up, creating a sophisticated ventilation system. Before filling it up, we placed a bamboo tree in the test well to create a vent, ensuring air could circulate. Each meter of the tunnel was gradually expanded in that way" - the former commune guerrilla said.
Answers to all questions
According to historical documents, after the 1968 Tet Offensive and Uprising, the battlefield's form changed a lot. The enemy implemented the "sweep and hold" tactic, continuously launching operations aimed at the Cu Chi liberated area in order to push the revolutionary forces away, creating a safe belt to protect Saigon.
The tunnels were consolidated and developed to create a solid foothold for the forces approaching the suburban areas, holding the area, establishing a new battle formation to prepare for the opportunity to liberate Saigon later. Until the spring of 1975, many large troops of the 3rd Corps and main and local units gathered from here to liberate Cu Chi town and the last stronghold of the enemy in Saigon, ending the complete victory of the resistance war against the US on the historic noon of April 30, 1975.
After the liberation day, Cu Chi - the land of steel and copper - "changed its skin" day by day and Cu Chi Tunnels became a special National Monument, a red address attracting millions of domestic and foreign tourists.
Ms. Vuong Thanh Phuong, international tour guide of TST Tourist Company, said that many international tourists could not understand why a small nation like Vietnam could defeat two superpowers, France and the United States, but when visiting Cu Chi Tunnels, they had the answer.
Coming to Cu Chi Tunnels, visitors not only learn about history through books or exhibits but also hear tragic stories. In particular, the experience of crawling down the tunnels helps visitors clearly feel the difficult but resilient life of the army and people of Cu Chi during the fierce years of resistance.
"Many tourists who have experienced it say that the Vietnamese fighting style is truly unique," said Ms. Phuong.
Cu Chi Tunnels were ranked as a special national monument in December 2015. The dossier to submit to UNESCO to recognize Cu Chi Tunnels as a world heritage site is being completed by Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with central agencies.
Live forever
Standing in the middle of the land that was once a fierce battlefield, Mr. Nam Chia could not help but be moved. Feeling moved by the tangled tunnels, he said that the evidences reminding him of the heroic time of war and bullets of the nation have now become a heritage. He believes that the younger generation will never forget the great sacrifices of their fathers and brothers.
"We went through those difficult days with our will and patriotism. Now, Cu Chi is peaceful, but the stories about the tunnels will live forever, like an immortal epic" - Mr. Nam Chia proudly said.
National wisdom ensures final victory
In October 2022, while visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz expressed his admiration. He said the Vietnamese people were not prepared to confront the modern means of the United States, but the wisdom of the Vietnamese people ensured the final victory.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba Manuel Marrero Cruz and a high-ranking delegation of the Cuban Government visited the Cu Chi Tunnels. Photo: HOANG TRIEU
"Although the US dropped bombs and toxic chemicals to destroy everything on the ground, our Vietnamese brothers wrote a heroic history for all of humanity. No architect in the world could design a unique tunnel system like the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Vietnamese people created a very unique tunnel project and created many weapons from primitive tools. In the hearts of the Cu Chi guerrillas, there was an absolute belief that the footprints of American soldiers could not trample this land" - Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz said.
(To be continued)
(*) See Lao Dong Newspaper from issue dated March 17
Source: https://nld.com.vn/dia-chi-do-lam-nen-dai-thang-mua-xuan-1975-ban-hung-ca-cua-tinh-than-bat-khuat-196250317220756137.htm
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