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Two metres below the jungle floor, the war is still visible.
Trip duration: 4 hours
Cu Chi Tunnels: Half-Day Tour from Ho Chi Minh City
Trip duration: 4 hours
Seventy-five kilometres northwest of Saigon, under the jungle floor of Ben Dinh, lie 250 kilometres of hand-dug tunnels. Built during the Vietnam War and used for two decades, they served as command posts, field hospitals, kitchens, and sleeping quarters — an entire community living underground.
On this half-day tour you see how the network worked: hidden trapdoors flush with the soil, ventilation shafts disguised as termite mounds, and the crater-marked ground above. A short film explains the tunnels' history before you go underground. You can crawl through an enlarged section of the original passageway if you want to.
Pick-up from your District 1 hotel, the drive out and back, guide, entrance fees: all in. Back in Saigon by early afternoon.
Guided tour southern-vietnam ho-chi-minh-city cu-chi history half-day war-history
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What you'll experience
🕳️
Cu Chi tunnel network
250 km of hand-dug passageways built during the Vietnam War, still largely intact below the Ben Dinh jungle floor.
🚪
Hidden trapdoors
Camouflaged entry hatches barely large enough for one person, invisible from above even when you know they're there.
💣
Bomb craters and surface terrain
Walk the jungle above the tunnel network, where B-52 bomb craters have permanently reshaped the ground.
🎬
Historical film
A short documentary on the tunnels' construction and wartime use, shown at the site before you go underground.
🔦
Tunnel crawl
Crawl through an enlarged section of the original tunnel: low, narrow, and dark for about 20 metres.
🍠
Tapioca and local tea
The staple food eaten by the tunnel dwellers, served at the site the same way it was eaten underground.
What to expect
-
Hotel pick-up in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Your guide and driver collect you from your hotel. The drive northwest through the city fringes and into Binh Duong province takes about 75 minutes.
-
Arrive Ben Dinh: short historical film on the tunnel network
A documentary on how the tunnels were built, who lived in them, and how they functioned during the war. About 15 minutes, shown in a covered outdoor theatre at the site.
-
Surface walk: bomb craters, trapdoors, and jungle terrain above the tunnels
Walk the ground above the network with your guide. See the camouflaged trapdoors, the ventilation shafts hidden as termite mounds, and the B-52 craters that still mark the landscape.
-
Underground: crawl through an enlarged section of the original tunnel
The crawl section has been widened slightly for visitors but remains low and dark. About 20 metres. Entirely optional — you can wait at the exit if you prefer.
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Tapioca and local tea at the site
The food the tunnel dwellers ate, served the same way: plain cassava with sesame salt and peanuts, with hot tea. A small but memorable stop before the drive back.
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Return to Ho Chi Minh City, back by early afternoon
The drive back reaches your District 1 hotel by around 13:00, leaving the rest of the day free.
What's included
All essential services for a comfortable and memorable trip.
- AC minivan — hotel pick-up and drop-off in District 1
- English-speaking guide for the full half-day
- All entrance fees (Ben Dinh tunnel site)
- Tapioca and local tea at the site
- 1 bottle of water per person
Not included
Items and services that are not part of the package price.
- Shooting range (available on-site, charged separately)
- Personal drinks and snacks
- Tips (appreciated)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Pick-up runs between 07:30 and 08:00 from hotels in District 1. Your exact time is confirmed the day before. Staying outside District 1? We'll give you the nearest collection point when you book.
1/5
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Why travel with Banh Mi Escape Travel
Trips with English-speaking guide
Our experienced guides speak fluent English and know Vietnam inside out. They share local insights and ensure you have an authentic experience.
Group or individual travel
Choose between small group tours with like-minded travelers or customize a private journey just for you and your companions.
Vietnam specialists for 8+ years
With nearly a decade of experience in Vietnam, we've built trusted relationships and deep local knowledge.
We've tried everything ourselves
Every hotel, restaurant, and activity we recommend has been personally tested by our team. We only offer what we love.
We plan your ideal trip A to Z
From the moment you land to your departure, every detail is arranged. Just relax and enjoy the journey.
Guaranteed customer satisfaction
Our 4.9 rating speaks for itself. We go above and beyond to ensure every traveler returns home with amazing memories.
Weather
Best months to visit this destination
Best
Good
Off-peak
Weather in Ho Chi Minh City in July
Vietnam can be visited year-round. The north is cooler in winter (January, February), sometimes with snow in the mountains. Autumn (September, October) in central Vietnam can be rainy. The south is warm year-round, with minimal rainfall from March to the end of September except for some islands. Best time to visit: February-June and September-December.
Air temperature
30 °C
Water temperature
27 °C
Frequently asked questions about this trip
From hotels in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Your guide confirms the exact time and address the evening before. Staying outside District 1? We'll sort out the nearest collection point when you book.
About 75 minutes each way from central Saigon, depending on traffic. The tour runs in the morning to avoid the worst of the midday heat.
No. The crawl is entirely optional. The tunnel section is about 20 metres, low and narrow. If you'd rather skip it, you wait at the exit — the rest of the tour is fully above ground.
Yes, the Ben Dinh site has a shooting range where you can fire period weapons for an additional fee. It is not included and not required — your guide can take you there if you want to go.
Yes, with one note: the tunnel crawl requires reasonable mobility and is not suitable for anyone with claustrophobia or limited flexibility. The surface tour works for all ages.
Light, comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty. Closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended for the surface walk. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent.
The site is open year-round. The dry season (December to April) is more comfortable for the surface walk. During the wet season (May to November) the jungle is greener but the ground can be muddy.
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