Kuchitunnel

What is Kuchitunnel?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a group of underground tunnel camps built by the South Vietnam Liberation Front (Viet Cong) during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were built as a guerrilla base and stretched from the present-day Cu Chi District in Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border. The tunnels are huge, extending 200 km in length.
Today, part of the Cu Chi Tunnel is open to the public as a historic site under the management of the Vietnamese military. It has a long history as a tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City and is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, attracting many visitors.

Directions to Kuti Tunnel

Cu Chi Tunnels are usually visited by sightseeing tours, but this time we took a local bus to get there. Frankly speaking, considering the cosmetic cost of the transfer time and activities once you get there, I would recommend going on a sightseeing tour (laugh).
If you want to enjoy the journey to the Kuch Tunnel! If you want to enjoy the journey to the Kuch Tunnel, please take a local bus to get there. You may discover something new that you cannot find in the guidebooks.

Use the busmap app to get on the local buses!

Cu Chi Tunnel takes about two hours one way from central Ho Chi Minh City by bus. Local buses are often considered too challenging, but you can easily find the route by using "BUSMAP," a bus transfer information application. It is available in Japanese!
Simply enter the place you want to go, and the GPS will show you the nearest bus stop, connecting route, timetable, and bus number (buses in Vietnam are basically assigned a number for each route).

How to Ride Local Buses

Buses in Vietnam are pre-paid. When you get on the bus, an attendant will approach you and you should pay by hand. The fare is basically a flat rate of 5,000VND (about 25 yen) to 10,000VND (about 50 yen). When getting off the bus, press the buzzer as in Japan. When the bus stops, get off. However, the buzzer often does not work on older buses. In such cases, it is a good idea to let the attendant know where you are getting off. Be careful not to miss the bus, as internal announcements are not always appropriate. When you get close to your scheduled time of disembarkation, it is a good idea to check the GPS on the bus map.

Road to Kuch Tunnel

This time we will leave from the bus terminal (Bến Xe Buýt Sài Gòn Lê Lai) on Phạm Ngũ Lão street, where backpackers gather. Buses are plentiful and depart every 20 minutes starting around 5:00 AM. The first bus departs from this bus terminal. There are several routes to Cu Chi, but this time I took bus No. 13 to the Cu Chi bus terminal, then transferred to bus No. 79 and got off at the bus stop right in front of the Cu Chi Tunnel (Bến Đình). It takes about 2 hours one way.

Coochitunnel Tickets

When you arrive at the Kuti Tunnel, buy a ticket first. The entrance is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop. Tickets cost 65,000VND (about 325 yen). The ticket includes the basic program of the tunnel tour, a tour guide in the tunnel (in Vietnamese, active duty Vietnamese soldiers!) ), cassava baimo and bamboo grass tea tasting included. Surprisingly substantial!
A sticker will be given to you with your ticket and pamphlet, so put it in a conspicuous place.

Watch the history video of the Cu Chi Tunnel

Once you enter the tunnel exhibit area, you will be guided by a soldier who will act as your guide. Basically, you will be guided in groups of several people, so if you go individually, you will be in a group of about 10 people with other strangers (you can also leave the group and go sightseeing freely). (It is also possible to leave the group and go sightseeing at your own leisure. The first step is to watch a video about the history of the Cu Chi Tunnels (in English or Vietnamese).

Sneak into the Cooch Tunnel!

After watching the video, it's time to go inside the Kuch Tunnel! First, we will visit the semi-subterranean hospital and kitchen. Next, we will finally visit the inside of the tunnel. The inside of the tunnel is very cramped and large people cannot enter. It is really surprisingly narrow. It is surprising that the tunnel has been expanded for sightseeing. Since the tunnel is just dug out of the ground, it is quite dirty. Only about half of the people actually enter the tunnel, so those who are not comfortable with it can wait on the ground. Inside the tunnel, there is a first aid room, a bedroom, and an operation room.

Tapioca sweet potato and bamboo grass tea tasting

After exiting the tunnel, visitors can enjoy a cup of cassava and bamboo grass tea, which was one of the staple foods of the Vietcong at that time. Both have a rustic flavor and are a welcome respite. Water and juice are also available for purchase in the eating area. This is the end of the program. At the end of the program, we recommend that you give a small tip to the soldier who guided you around.

After leaving the Kuti Tunnel, go to the shooting range.

If you come to the Cu Chi Tunnels, we recommend that you stop by the attached shooting range operated by the Vietnamese Army! It is a 15-minute walk to the firing range. At the shooting range, you can try out some of the major heavy weapons of the Vietnamese and American armies of the time, including AK47s and M16s. The fee is 600,000VND for 10 rounds. Assault rifles have great recoil!

The way back from Kuch

The way back is by taking a bus in the opposite direction of the way you came. There are many buses to central Ho Chi Minh City, so you may be able to take several routes home. We recommend that you leave the area early, as the evening rush hour is very busy. If you leave early in the morning, you can be back in Ho Chi Minh City after noon.

Enjoy a local bus trip!

The Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the best tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. There are many activities, and because it is a quick day trip, even those who are not interested in war or history will enjoy this spot. Traveling by local bus is inexpensive, but the trip takes longer and connections are more time-consuming. However, you can enjoy the encounters and discoveries that only local buses can offer, so if you have the time, by all means, take a local bus.
Well then!

author (usu. of a particular book, etc.)