β Updated on 02.07.2026
What Are the Cu Chi Tunnels?
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a vast network of underground passages located just outside Ho Chi Minh City.
Construction of the first tunnels began in 1948 during Vietnam’s war for independence against French colonial forces. At the time, they were used by Viet Minh fighters and local villagers as shelters and hiding places from the French.
Between 1960 and 1968, during the Vietnam War, the tunnel network expanded to roughly 250 km (155 miles). It evolved into a massive underground complex with kitchens, hospitals, workshops, and command centers. During this period, the tunnels were used by the Viet Cong — communist guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam who were supported by North Vietnam.
Where Are the Cu Chi Tunnels and How to Get There?
There are two sites where you can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels:
- Ben Duoc — the more popular location and the one I visited.
- Ben Dinh — very similar to Ben Duoc, but about 8 miles (13 km) closer to Ho Chi Minh City.
There are several ways to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels:
- Join a guided bus tour — this is the most convenient option and the one I recommend. It’s also how I visited the tunnels. You can book the same tour here.
- Rent a car or motorbike — a great choice if you prefer to explore at your own pace and have more flexibility. I usually use Local Rent to rent a car.
- Take a public bus — first, get to An Suong Bus Station, then buy a ticket for bus No. 70 or No. 79. Since several operators serve the route, it’s easiest to ask the station staff which bus goes to the tunnels.
- Travel by speedboat — head to BαΊ‘ch ΔαΊ±ng Pier, where you can purchase tickets for the boat service to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Entrance Fee and Tour Prices
If you’re visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own, the entrance fee is 135,000 VND (about $5).
If you join a guided tour, the price depends on the group size and the type of tour.
| Tour | Group Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Day Tour: Cu Chi Tunnels + Mekong Delta | 16–42 people | $28 |
| 10–15 people | $32.50 | |
| Up to 9 people | $51.50 | |
| Private | $220 | |
| Half-Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour | Up to 35 people | $16 |
| Up to 15 people | $24 | |
| Up to 9 people | $40.50 | |
| Private | $167 | |
| Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Speedboat Tour | Up to 16 people | $72 |
I recommend choosing the full-day tour. I also visited the Mekong Delta and found it well worth the extra time, especially since the price difference is relatively small.
As for group size, I’d go with a tour of 15 people or fewer. Smaller groups are less hectic, making it much easier to hear the guide and enjoy the experience.
β You can book a tour online through GetYourGuide or Trip.com. That’s how I booked mine, and everything went smoothly.
Things to See and Do
A visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels is much more than a sightseeing trip. In addition to exploring the site, you can crawl through the tunnels, see the ingenious traps used during the war, try the shooting range, and take part in several other activities.
Shooting Range
The shooting range is usually the first stop on the tour. It’s located just a couple of minutes from the Cu Chi Tunnels. (Location)
Shooting is optional, and prices are as follows:
- AK-47 and Degtyaryov light machine gun — 75,000 VND (about $3) per round
- M1 Carbine — 60,000 VND (about $2.40) per round
You can buy as many rounds as you like, with a minimum purchase of 10 rounds. Hearing protection is provided.
Vietnam War Military Equipment
Near the entrance to the Cu Chi Tunnels, you’ll find a display of military equipment from the Vietnam War, including artillery pieces, tanks, and even an aircraft. Inside the plane is a small theater where visitors can watch a short documentary about the war.
Inside the Cu Chi Tunnels
Some sections of the Cu Chi Tunnels had three underground levels and reached depths of 8–10 meters (26–33 feet), helping protect them from aerial bombardment.
Beneath the surface were hospitals, meeting rooms, barracks, and even kitchens. The kitchen chimneys were routed far away from the tunnels and carefully concealed so that rising smoke wouldn’t reveal their location to the enemy.
During relatively quiet periods, fighters often lived underground for several days or even weeks at a time. In the most intense stages of the war, some remained inside the tunnels for months without returning to the surface.
The tunnel network also included fortified firing positions. These bunkers protruded only a few inches above the ground and featured narrow firing slits facing in four directions. From there, soldiers could engage the enemy while remaining protected by a thick layer of earth. If a position was overrun, they could retreat through the tunnels — although some didn’t manage to escape before incoming shells struck.
Crawl Through the Tunnels
Several sections of the Cu Chi Tunnels, ranging from 10–30 meters (30 to 100 feet) in length, are open to visitors, giving you the chance to experience what it was actually like to move through them.
The tunnels are extremely narrow and low, so we had to crouch almost the entire time. This was intentional: Vietnamese fighters were generally smaller in stature, making the tunnels much more difficult for American soldiers to navigate.
One of the most memorable parts of the visit was seeing the hidden tunnel entrance used by Viet Cong fighters when they needed to disappear in seconds. The opening is narrower than the length of my foot—small enough that only a child or a very slim adult could fit through it.
π‘ Tip: If you plan to go inside the tunnels, avoid wearing white clothes or shoes — they’ll get dirty quickly. I also recommend wearing a hat or cap to protect your head from the low ceiling, lightweight dark-colored clothing, and, if possible, bringing a small handheld fan. The tunnels are hot, humid, and surprisingly stuffy.
How Ventilation Worked
One of the most interesting things to see was how ventilation worked inside the Cu Chi Tunnels. Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of winding air shafts connected the tunnels to the surface. This design helped protect the people inside from flamethrowers, smoke, and shock waves.
The ventilation openings were disguised as termite mounds, which are common in the jungle, making them difficult to detect.
Booby Traps
Near the tunnels, you can also see the traps the Viet Cong used against their enemies.
The basic tactic was to drop a beehive onto a column of enemy soldiers. As the soldiers scattered and became less cautious, they were more likely to fall into traps. Most of these booby traps were designed not to kill, but to wound — so the injured soldier would scream and call for help. When others came to assist, they could be shot from hidden positions.
β Ready to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels? You can book your tour online through GetYourGuide or Trip.com. That’s how I booked mine, and I had a great experience.
