The Cu Chi Tunnels are located in Cu Chi District, about 70km northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The historical site currently has two main areas open: Ben Duoc (in Phu My Hung Commune) and Ben Dinh (Nhuan Duc Commune). I chose Ben Duoc because of its spacious grounds, memorial temple, and the tranquil rubber forest landscape.

Stepping down into the tunnel entrance, which is only about 50cm wide, the first feeling is… dark and narrow. But once your eyes adjust, you begin to imagine a three-level system: the Hoang Cam kitchen with a large smoke vent spreading evenly under the leaves, meeting rooms, a military medical station, bomb shelters, and food storage. The total length of the tunnels is estimated to be over 250km — an extraordinary construction made from just hand shovels.

Besides the section dug for visitors to crawl through, the tourist area also features a 20-minute documentary screening room, a souvenir shop made from bullet shells, a sports shooting range (separate fee of 40k – 60k/shot), and especially a station offering "boiled cassava with salt and peanuts" for free — a wartime meal of the Cu Chi guerrillas.

Travel tips: adult ticket price is 35,000 VND (Ben Duoc), travel by motorbike along QL22 turning onto Provincial Road 15, or take bus 13 from Ben Thanh. Arrive early between 8am – 9am to avoid the sun. Wear long clothes, sports shoes, and bring water. Allocate at least 3 hours for the journey; if combining with the Ben Duoc temple and the nearby Saigon River, you can spend the whole day.

When I returned to the surface, the sunlight filtering through the rubber tree canopy made the sky seem even bluer. It was an experience that was not simply "going out," but a gentle yet profound lesson.

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