If you have only a few days in Ho Chi Minh City and still want to gain a deeper understanding of the culture, history, and national spirit of the Vietnamese people, a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels is an activity not to be missed.

From the modern urban center of Ho Chi Minh City, it only takes a bit over 1 hour to be guided to a land that was once a symbol of resilient underground life—where there is a tunnel system of more than 200 km, which used to be a resistance base, infirmary, meeting bunker, kitchen, and even an “underground village” during decades of war.

Introduction to Cu Chi Tunnel – “underground city”

The Cu Chi Tunnels are located in An Nhon Tay Commune (formerly Cu Chi District), about 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City’s center. The tunnel system began construction in the 1940s, expanding through the stages of resistance against France and the US, becoming a military and tactical symbol of the Vietnamese forces during wartime.

With more than 200 km of continuous tunnels, the tunnels are a living testament to:

• The survival and creativity of the Vietnamese people
• Unique underground guerrilla strategy
• The persistent will to fight for peace and independence

Why take a Cu Chi Tunnels tour from Saigon?

• 🚐 Only 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City’s center
  
• 🌿 See Vietnamese countryside & rubber plantations
  
• 📚 Understand the war from the local perspective
  
• 🕳️ Walk through actual tunnels used during the war
  
• 🎯 Optional shooting range experience
  
• 🍠 Try local wartime food (cassava, coconut water)
  
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Tour options available for solo travelers, couples, families & groups

Experience Cu Chi Tour – what to expect on the tour?

1. Go through the underground “maze”

You will have an opportunity to crawl through the narrow dark tunnels and to experience the feeling of claustrophobia like the soldiers who lived and fought here. There is a path several dozen meters long for visitors to test their endurance and spirit.

🧭 You can choose the length of the tunnel depending on your physical ability

2. Visit Hoang Cam kitchen, meeting room, and infirmary

These structures are still preserved in their original state or restored to real scale, helping visitors visualize more clearly the “underground village” during the war – a place for collective activities, cooking, organizing meetings, and caring for wounded soldiers in dark, deprived conditions.

3. Watch documentaries, artifacts, and simulated battlefields

You will start the tour with a short documentary, followed by an area displaying weapons, models of bombs, war traps, and historical documentary photos. This is where you will gain a deeper understanding of the fierce historical context in which the tunnels were born.

4. Shooting real guns (optional)

One of the unique experiences is to try shooting military rifles such as AK47, M16, or M30 at the simulated shooting range. (Fees apply. ID may be required)

5. Enjoy Cu Chi specialties

Don’t miss boiled cassava with sesame salt, fresh coconut water, or grilled rice paper – rustic dishes that were once “golden food” during wartime. The cuisine here is simple but has profound cultural value.

6. Experiencing folk culture

Many package tours also combine visiting craft villages, farming vegetables in the traditional way, or learning to make rice paper – a gentle way to learn more about rural life in Vietnam, past and present.

Tour options & prices (2025 update)

🎯 Tip: Always check if your tour includes hotel pickup/drop-off, lunch, and a licensed English-speaking guide.

When to go

☀️ Dry Season (Nov–April): Ideal for walking, clean trails, better conditions in the tunnels

🌧️ Rainy Season (May–Oct): Still possible but expect slippery paths and mud

What to pack

• Comfortable shoes & light clothes
  
• Water bottle
  
• Insect repellent
  
• Flashlight (optional but helpful in the tunnels)
  
• A hat or cap for outdoor portions
  
• ID/passport (if planning to shoot or book private services)

Should you hire a guide?

Yes, especially if you want context. A good guide can:

• Translate Vietnamese signage and stories
  
• Provide war anecdotes from local families
  
• Help you navigate complex exhibits
  
• Ensure safety in the tunnels, especially with kids or elders

Traveling with children?

• Recommended age: 6+ years old
  
• Avoid crawling tunnels with toddlers or kids afraid of dark/small spaces
  
• Use guides to offer kid-friendly explanations of war history
  
• Keep a close eye on children in open museum spaces and stairwells

Returning to Saigon – where to stay?

After a day of exploring the past, there is nothing better than returning to a warm, welcoming and aesthetic place – a place not only for resting but also a part of the Saigon experience:

The Myst Dong Khoi – a 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of Saigon

Tucked away on Ho Huan Nghiep Street, just steps from Nguyen Hue Walking Street, The Myst Dong Khoi invites you into a sanctuary of quiet charm – where old Saigon is thoughtfully preserved and reimagined in every detail.

Here, your stay becomes a cultural narrative:

🛏️ Heritage-inspired rooms with garden bathtubs on the balcony
🌇 Rooftop pool & sky bar for golden-hour views of the city
🍵 Complimentary daily afternoon tea & Saigon-style minibar
🚘 Personalized services including airport transfer & private tours
📚 Local artistry and cultural textures woven into the design and ambiance

Don’t just “visit” Saigon, touch each layer of its history

Cu Chi is not a tourist attraction. It is a living chapter of history. And to truly feel it, start at the heart of culture – from the heart of the city, where every church bell, every bougainvillea trellis, every alleyway still whispers the old story – The Myst Dong Khoi.

✨ Book your stay at The Myst Đồng Khởi

🛎️ Ask our concierge to arrange a personalized Cu Chi Tunnels tour tailored to your schedule, group size, and interests.