The tunnels of Cu Chi, Vietnam, are a haunting memory of past conflicts. The extensive underground system 20 mi/30 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City was begun by the Viet Minh, who dug the first tunnels in 1948. They came to include housing and tactical quarters for the Viet Cong as well as storage rooms, kitchens, a school and even an underground hospital.
Most entrances were so well-disguised that only a small portion of the system was ever discovered during the American-Vietnamese war, despite the fact that some 125 mi/200 km ran under U.S. military bases.
There are two sets of tunnels open to visitors. The Ben Dinh tunnels were actually used during the war, though they have been slightly widened and cleaned up since; the Ben Duoc tunnels are reconstructions built for tourism. Some people find the tunnels overwhelmingly sad, but we were fascinated by the experience. Claustrophobic or tall visitors may find the tunnels to be a tight squeeze. More authentic and less tourist-oriented tunnels are found at Vinh Moc, northwest of Hue near the former Demilitarized Zone.
After visiting the tunnels, visitors are offered the chance to shoot at targets with a wide selection of high-powered weaponry. M1 rifles, Kalashnikovs, AK-47s and Lugers are all popular choices—and hand grenades expand the list of options.
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