Cu Chi Tunnels - one of the 7 most unusual destinations in Southeast Asia

The journey to explore Cu Chi tunnels is an opportunity for you to experience an impressive "underground maze", which is considered a prominent national historical relic in Ho Chi Minh City.

This will certainly be an ideal destination that brings many interesting things during your trip to the city bearing the mark of the father of the nation.

Cu Chi tunnels tourism is increasingly developing because it is not only a destination with historical and cultural value but also an attractive tourist destination associated with famous military works in Vietnam.

The Cu Chi Tunnels historical site is one of the six famous man-made structures in the world. In addition, this place is also in the top seven most unusual destinations in Southeast Asia, attracting a large number of tourists.

1. Learn about the history of Cu Chi tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels is a special historical relic, associated with the resistance war against French colonialism from 1946 to 1948. Built by the army and people of Tan Phu Trung commune and Phuoc Vinh An commune, this project initially served as a shelter, storing weapons and tools and waiting for the opportunity to counterattack.

At first, each village dug a separate tunnel. However, to optimize movement and transportation of supplies, the tunnels were later connected, forming a continuous system.

During the war against the US, the Cu Chi tunnels were further expanded by the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. The structure was further reinforced and the design became increasingly complex, demonstrating the technical creativity and indomitable fighting spirit of the people.

At this time, Cu Chi tunnels not only played the role of a safe fortress protecting the leaders of the Saigon-Gia Dinh war zone but also marked many resounding victories, contributing significantly to the effort to unify the country.

The Cu Chi tunnel system has a total length of up to 250km, divided into three different depths: the upper level is 3m below ground, the middle level is 6m deep, and the bottom level is 12m below ground.

Besides the areas for soldiers' activities and weapons storage, the tunnels also included many other branches containing nail holes, spike pits and minefields to enhance defense and counterattack capabilities.

2, How to get to Cu Chi tunnels tourist area?

Cu Chi Tunnels are considered one of the most prominent historical sites in Ho Chi Minh City. To reach this destination, you will have to travel about 70km from the city center.

The most popular means of transportation is private car, however you can also choose to take the bus or taxi for more convenience.

Tourists at the Cu Chi Tunnels Relic Site. (Photo: Hong Giang/VNA)

3. What time does the Cu Chi Tunnels historical site open and how much is the ticket price?

- Opening hours: 7am-5pm daily including Sundays and holidays.

- Entrance fee:

+ Adults: 35,000 VND/person (for Vietnamese guests), 125,000 VND/person (for foreign guests).

+ Children from 7 to 16 years old, students: 50% discount compared to adult ticket price.

+ People with disabilities, children under 7 years old, officers and soldiers of the armed forces, the elderly, people with revolutionary contributions, poor households: Free entrance ticket.

- Ticket to visit the Cu Chi liberated zone: 85,000 VND/person.

The ticket prices here are clearly listed so there will be no overcharging or charging higher prices than the actual price. You can buy directly at the entrance to Cu Chi Tunnels or through travel websites and online travel agents.

4. What can you discover at the Cu Chi tunnels relic site?

Cu Chi Tunnels is not only an interesting stop for sightseeing and sightseeing. It is also a place where you can immerse yourself in exciting activities, taking you deeper into the culture and history of Vietnam through the unique experiences below.

Visit the tunnels

The tunnel system is 250km long with a 3-storey structure. Visitors can experience each short tunnel section in the tunnel. The tunnels are reinforced from tunnel sections from the war.

The ventilation system is extremely cleverly designed, with the exit points raised above ground and cleverly camouflaged, ensuring maximum safety for visitors. However, due to the tight space inside, you may have to bend over or move on your knees. Therefore, carefully consider your health and physical condition before starting the journey.

In addition, another interesting point here is that you have the opportunity to enjoy rustic dishes with strong local flavors. These are the dishes that people in the past often used when living in the tunnels such as potatoes, cassava, and yams with sesame salt - all will create a unique and unforgettable experience.

A way down to Cu Chi tunnels. (Photo: Hong Giang/VNA)

Explore the Liberated Zone reenactment area

On an area of ​​38.5 hectares, the area vividly recreates the landscape and life of Cu Chi during the period 1961-1972, a time when this place experienced years of resilient fighting.

Visitors can explore history and experience unique documentary footage through three main spaces:

+ The first space recreates the period 1961-1964, simulating the fighting, living and working life of people and soldiers in the liberated zone.

+ The next space is a picture of a severely devastated village and the pain of the people during the period 1965-1968, when war with bombs raged everywhere.

+ The final space takes visitors back to the period 1969-1972, recalling the fierce destruction when the land had to endure hundreds of tons of toxic chemicals and bombs, causing life to only exist underground.

In addition, you can also admire many models of famous historical relics of Vietnam recreated at this tourist destination such as Long Bien Bridge, One Pillar Pagoda, Nha Rong Wharf, Saigon Bridge...

Visitors to the tunnels. (Photo: Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site)

Shooting range inside the tunnel

Tourists coming to Cu Chi tunnels are also quite interested in the activities of disassembling and assembling guns and testing their shooting skills. You will be enthusiastically guided by the staff of this tourist area. Normally, this place also attracts a lot of tourists, especially foreign tourists.

If you choose to play defense sports shooting, you will be able to use many types of guns such as AK47, K54, AR15..., with staff to guide you in disassembling and practicing shooting. You can play this game individually, with staff closely supervising to ensure safety.

For large groups of friends, paintball shooting will be more interesting. This is a team game, not only training physical strength but also enhancing teamwork skills as well as training quick reaction ability. The price of bullets for shooting target is 4,000 VND/bullet.

Team battle costs 250,000 VND/person; equipped with clothes, protective helmets, field and referee.

Entertainment services at the East Sea simulation landscape lake

Cu Chi Tunnels, a famous tourist destination in the Cu Chi area, attracts visitors not only by its historical tunnel system but also by its variety of recreational activities.

After exploring the tunnels and experiencing the unique military activities, visitors can relax and immerse themselves in the cool water here.

In addition, Cu Chi tunnels also offer many exciting entertainment options such as cycling, swimming, or kayaking - exciting experiences for the whole family.

Tickets to these activities start at only 40,000 VND/person, making it a great place to enjoy a full day of fun here.

Enjoy Trung An fruit garden

Besides exploring famous historical destinations, you also have the unique opportunity to pick and enjoy fresh fruits at Trung An fruit garden - one of the typical landmarks in Cu Chi.

This is a place that attracts many tourists because of its close garden space and rich, attractive fruits. Here, you can not only admire the peaceful natural scenery but also enjoy the wonderful flavors of fruits such as rambutan, plum, jackfruit, durian and many others right in the garden.

Visit the wildlife rescue station

The animal rescue station is located near the Cu Chi tunnels, only a few kilometers away but not on the premises of the relic site. This place has become an interesting destination, especially suitable for groups of primary and secondary school students when visiting. This is considered the largest wildlife hospital in the southern region, currently treating and preserving about 3,600 rare individuals, including many species recorded in the Red Book.

With a large designed area, the rescue station creates conditions for animals to have the closest living environment to nature. Seeing rare animals with your own eyes will certainly leave an unforgettable mark on your journey of sightseeing and discovery.

5. What to eat when visiting Cu Chi tunnels?

Many tourists who have visited Cu Chi Tunnels share their delight in the rich and unique dishes on their journey to this tourist destination. Here are some typical dishes that you should not miss:

+ Minh Quy pork leg vermicelli: A perfect choice for breakfast, creating energy to start the day exploring Cu Chi tunnels. In particular, the restaurant serves all day so you can enjoy it at any convenient time.

+ Boiled cassava with salt: A simple, familiar dish, once associated with the lives of local people and the Vietnamese army during the time of fighting in the tunnels. Tourists often enjoy it to feel part of the real life here.

+ Cu Chi veal: A famous specialty of this land, veal is processed into many diverse and attractive dishes. You can easily find restaurants serving this dish along the way to the tunnels.

+ Desserts: After an exciting journey of discovery, this is the perfect choice for you and your friends and family to enjoy desserts with a strong Southern flavor, both sweet and cool.

+ Sugarcane and durian juice: A special drink with a unique flavor, ideal for quenching thirst after a trip. Sugarcane juice shops in Cu Chi are open from 6am to 8pm and for only 10,000 VND/cup, you can enjoy this famous drink./.

Tourists visit Cu Chi tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: My Phuong/VNA)

Experience when visiting Cu Chi tunnels:

- Here you can find special souvenirs made from bullet shells: lighters, pens, ... or hand-woven bamboo and rattan products.

- The tunnels in the tunnels are very small, dark, hot, and lack air, so be careful, leave some luggage behind, and follow the instructions of the management board or tour guide at the site to ensure safety.

- You should avoid visiting during the rainy season, the ideal time is from May to December.

- When visiting the tunnel, you should wear neat, dark clothes and sneakers for easy movement.

- The tunnel is dark and has a lot of mosquitoes, you should prepare insect repellent.

Author

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dia-dao-cu-chi-mot-trong-7-diem-den-ky-la-nhat-tai-khu-vuc-dong-nam-a-post1025319.vnp