by MythMin

Pahang, Malaysia

April 9, 2005

The tunnels are well hidden in the forest, but there are safe pathways for the tourists. All around the forests, small holes in the ground that could only fit one person were dug. These holes were used by the Vietcong to hide from enemies during the times of war. Visitors are given permission to try squeeze into the small hole, which was easy to get in, but hard to get out from!

Along the pathways, visitors can observe many other small holes leading to the tunnels and workshops of self-made weapons, sandals, arms, flour-making, and clothes. Huge bomb craters and a real-life old tank that got bombed during the war can also be found in the vicinity. There is also a gun range in the area for tourists to take turns on an AK47. This area is not for the faint-hearted, as the sounds from the guns are simply awful and horrible, making the place sound like a battlefield.

The highlight here is the famous Cu Chi Tunnel Network, an original architectural monument deep in earth's womb with many stories and a lot of narrow and winding ways like a cobweb. Deep inside the earth, the tunnel has its own meeting rooms, guard rooms, dining rooms, health rooms, and fighting rooms, which were recently dug up and opened for display. Visitors are given the opportunity to crawl through two levels of twisting tunnels. The first tunnel is about 30m long and is deliberately widened so that it is large enough for the larger visitors to enter. The second tunnel is about 50m long and is its original size, which is much narrower than the first. It is harder for the larger-sized tourists to cram into this tunnel. (The tunnel was made to fit the tiny frame of the Vietnamese). Both the tunnels are sandy, with small yellow bulbs along it to light up the path. Visitors had to either crouch or crawl through the tunnels, and sometimes there will be a rather huge step that they will have to climb onto or jump into. Take note that it is extremely dark, hot, and stuffy inside, but a visit through the tunnels will be an unforgettable experience.

The Cu Chi Tunnels represents the undaunted will, revolutionary heroism, and intelligence of the people who created it. A visit to the tunnels will definitely cause tourists to realize and understand the arduous struggle of the Vietnamese people during those times of war.

by Missis

Plymouth, United Kingdom

November 6, 2004

We booked our trip via our hotel and were delighted to find that we had a guide (Hung), driver, and an air-conditioned car all to ourselves.

At the Cu Chi tunnels, we watched a very biased film before Hung demonstrated how the Viet Cong lived underground on a cut-out model. It started to rain heavily, so after waiting for 10 minutes or so with no let up, Hung provided us with plastic rain items. During the process of donning this very embarrassing garb, three Australians asked if were going on the tour now. "No," says Paul, "we are going to a fancy dress party dressed as condoms."

The Cu Chi tunnels are original tunnels that were used during the war. The entrances are very small and have air holes nearby; otherwise, they would have suffocated. We went through a small part of tunnel, which had been widened slightly for tourists, although Hung did try to convince us that some were larger to accommodate supplies. The craters from the B52 bombers were huge. Hung said that the Americans could be quite useful, not only for weapons, but clothes, food, medicine, and other things. If the Viet Cong needed a new well, they created smoke on the ground and the Americans would drop a bomb, thinking it was an enemy camp, and bingo, one new well. The also did this with the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Americans placed movement mines when they flew over, and when movement registered, they would bomb the area, so the Viet Cong moved the mines (when there was no aircraft) to the area of the trail they wanted cleared and waited. This saved digging and clearing jungle themselves. An exhibition showed the type of traps that the Viet Cong used on the Americans-very painful and death or amputation would shortly follow.

We had a chance to shoot at their range for $1 per bullet. Paul shot an AK47 while I used an M16. We kept two bullets from each gun as a souvenir.

Hung explained that Buddhists (which is most of Vietnam) believe that they will go to hell if they eat cats or dogs, which was very reassuring. On the way back, we stopped at a place that helps disabled people off the street and teaches them the trade of lacquer-making. The guide spoke very fast, and he had a very strong accent, but we watched the lacquer pieces being made.

by Orl

Dublin, Ireland

January 26, 2004

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dundee, United Kingdom

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Singapore, Singapore

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Moss Beach, California

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