Picture Stories - Historical Places - Visit Cu Chi Tunnels

In the period 1965-1975, civil war between North and South Vietnam intensified. It became known as the Vietnam War as the South gained foreign military participation from the USA and its allies. The Northern Communist coalition extended a complex system of underground tunnels to many strategic parts of the country for launching guerrilla warfare against their opponents who had much more fire power. One of the most battles in history – the Tet Offensive of 1968 inflicted heavy casualties to both sides. Though the Americans won eventually, it led to much soul-searching in their leaders and ordinary citizens as to the relevance of their involvement in Vietnam.

The northern communist Viet Minhs led by Ho Chi Minh’s party started digging tunnels as early as the 1940s. The networks were widely expanded by their Vietcong allies in South Vietnam where ‘liberation from foreign invaders’ was targeted. The Cu Chi Tunnels are only a section of the tunnel system existing in the district of Cu Chi in present day greater Ho Chi Minh City. They total 121 km in length and stretch all the way to the Cambodian border.

Throughout the course of the Vietnam War, these enduring tunnels successfully frustrated the Americans. They provided Vietcong guerrillas advantages of quick escape routes and staging battles at locations and times that completely surprised their opponents. The Americans withdrew from Vietnam in 1972 and war eventually ended with the South defeated in 1975. Today, the tunnels are being preserved as a war memorial park.

Booby trap with bamboo spikes to slow down the enemy in the jungle. Many of the methods and weapons used by the Vietcongs were inferior to those of the Americans but the tunnels provided a ‘brilliant’ edge.

The opening to the booby trap has been ‘enhanced’ and barriers added for the sake of safety for tourists. Since 1988, two sections of the war memorial park have been opened to visitors.

A tour guide of slim-fit in ‘military uniform’ emerging from a hole to the tunnels. The Vietcongs live underground by day and come out at night to scavenge for food, tend their crops or engage the enemy in battle. Sometimes they have to stay hidden in the tunnels for many days.

The lid to the hole would be covered with dried leaves and jungle undergrowth. Searching for these openings was a difficult and extremely dangerous task. The Americans trained elite groups of volunteers specially for combat in these dark enemy spaces and called them ‘tunnel rats’.

Access hole enlarged for the benefit of larger-size tourists into a section of the tunnel complex. American soldiers termed the conditions inside them ‘Black echo’. Life was extremely harsh for the Vietcongs. Food, water and air were scarce but there were plenty of ants, poisonous centipedes, spiders and mosquitoes. Many suffer from malaria – the 2nd biggest cause of death after battle wounds.

Entrance enlarged and with added steps for the tourists into the underground world of the highly spirited Vietcongs. Their operation bases included command centres, conference rooms, weapon factories, field hospitals, stores, kitchens and living areas.

The greeneries seen today are fairly young trees and shrubs, they grew after the war. Cu Chi was so heavily bombed and devastated by ground combat that hardly any vegetation was left. It was noted that one could even see the Cambodian border 40 km to the west because the view across was unimpeded.

American army vehicle on display. Their ground and aerial assault vehicles were superior to most in the world at the time of the war.

Exhibition of Vietcongs assembling weapons. Documents recovered by American and Australian soldiers revealed that Russia and China had provided some forms of military support to the North Vietnamese.

‘Sandals’ worn by the Vietcongs. The warriors’ outfits were extremely modest which hardly provided the extra protection during combat. It was quoted of one Col. Pham Tan Thanh who had spent an estimated 25 years in the tunnels of this declaration: ‘All we had was patriotism which allowed us to suffer anything’.