Cu Chi Tunnels

 

The Cu Chi tunnels are a 2 hour drive from Saigon. They are a lattice work of tunnels covering 250km used by the Vietcong during the Vietnam war. An incredible construction, they were first started in 1948 during the French war and then expanded during the American war. They extend out to the Cambodia border and cover three levels; 3 metres, 6 metres and 10 metres deep, containing kitchens, water wells, hospitals and a complex drainage system to avoid flooding. 

The tunnels were designed to be deliberately complex and very narrow, suitable only for the slim Vietnamese, thus preventing attacks directly at the tunnels. Thousands of air ducts were created, which became the primary targets for the American soldiers, which meant the Vietnamese needed to be very creative to hide them. The tunnels that still exist for tourists are narrow, but much bigger than they were originally, but small for the average well fed visitor.

 

The war here was tough for both sides, the Vietnamese having to spend years surviving underground in a difficult living area and extreme weather conditions, while the Americans having to defend against the Vietnamese deadly gorilla tactics. 

The Vietnamese weapon of choice was often traps with long lengths of sharpened bamboo to impale an unsuspecting solider jumping from a helicopter or falling into a 1.5 metres hole, cleverly camouflaged. It’s painful to think about it. 

The photo below on the right shows a wooden construction with 10 cm exposed nails that would swing onto a solider bursting through a village door. The photo on the left is a trap with vertical sharpen bamboo. 

  Our guide for the day was an enthusiatic veteran who fought for the South Vietnamese army. He fought against the Viet Cong and spent 8 years as a POW when the war finished. He is now 72 and stll carries shrapnal in his face, which he was keen to guide our fingers over to prove. From what we could determine, his only benefit of the war is he now has a full time job as a guide.

Our guide Tuan

Back to Saigon

There are an estimated eight million motorbikes in Saigon. When we returned from Cu Chi, we took two of them for an evening ride around Saigon City. These were vintage manual Vespas, which our drivers weaved through the mad streets, stopping for drinks, dinner and music at venues across all parts of the city. As normal, road rules are for guidance only which added a touch of adrenaline to the evening. A great evening and one which we will not forget.

       

I never thought I would see Janice on a motorbike, Saigons has been full of surprises. Thank you and good night Saigon.