After having spent a couple of days in the busy Ho Chi Minh City, we went to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, what an experience guys. It’s even better when you are accompanied by a guide whose knowledge is so profound of his country’s history. Our guide Hai had been a communications officer for the American army during the Vietnamese war in 1972. His views are that of a man who spent 2 and half years in a Communist orientation camp after the Americans left Vietnam. His views are excellent and his history even better.
The Origins of the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi tunnels are simply a work of art
in my opinion. After having seen many
films on television related to Vietnam, I can now personally say that the
Americans were simply outplayed in every sense of the word. Jungle warfare was something the allies were
not prepared for.
Nevertheless, the
level of ingenuity to construct districts within tunnels is unique and
magnificent engineering. The name derives
from the Cu Chi trees that surround the area.
As communists commanded in Cu Chi at the time, over 75% of the population
in Cu Chi decided they simply had to find a way to hide and at the same time
inhabit a tunnel network that would be blind to the allies. Over 42 square kilometres of tunnels were
constructed simply by using their shovels and bare hands. They dug an astonishing 10 meters deep and
not more as this would result in water retraction making the tunnels weak.
It took the allies a very long time to
realise this and it was then that they bombed over 500 thousand tons of bombs
in Cu Chi. The result of such
devastation after the war was incredible.
Over 16,000 communists used the tunnels as a hiding place only 5,000
were alive by the end of the war.
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| Entrance to the Tunnels |
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| Start of the Tunnel Network (made bigger for tourists, but back in the day was a third this size) |
I crawled through 100 meters in the tunnels!
I only experienced 100 meters of these
tunnels the result was just as I had imagined it. Even though part of the tunnels have been
made bigger for westerners such as myself, the level of heat and to a certain
point claustrophobia is tremendous, it was a long 100 meters considering you
have to crawl your way through.
Not just a tunnel network, but home to many men, women and children.
Cu Chi tunnels also houses different
exhibitions relating to the war, the firing exhibition allows you to fire
different rifles from the era! The best part was that you could fire real
bullets! I chose the AK47 and fired 10 bullets for 10 dollars. It really looked like certain scenes in
Platoon the movie when you roam through the jungle listening to sound of
bullets being fired.
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| Huts like these used for kitchens and lodgings |
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| Bombs and Shells from the US Army left over |
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| Different types of traps set up around the area. Cu Chi soldiers always had to carry a map in order to not fall into one! |
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| Making Rice Paper |
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| Original tunnel left open for viewing |
So as an update I would like to let you
know that the CU Chi tunnels is a must when in the capital, even though it is
nearly 2 hours away in coach, you will enjoy this remarkable piece of
history.
Next time on The Travelling Postcard...
Watch this space as Shereen will be posting
about the Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh, she just loved the colours!
Safe Travels
Dylan
We could not have survived our trip without having this to guide us through. It is a fantastic collection of trip itineraries, attractions to see, restaurants to visit and places to sleep! Well worth the money and not as heavy as I thought it would be carrying it. Enjoy your South East Adventure!
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