Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City behind we journey 2 hours west towards the Cambodian border bound for the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi tunnels were built by local fighters during the Indochina conflict as a base from which the Viet Cong could operate close to the Southern Vietnamese capital.

The location proved of significant strategic importance at the end of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail and within striking distance of the southern Vietnam capital. Initial construction started in 1948 when the Viet Minh required somewhere to hide from French air attacks and by 1965 the tunnel complex was estimated to consist of 200 km of tunnels.

It included hospitals schools meeting rooms kitchens and sleeping quarters. Life was difficult for the inhabitants and to protect against outside intruders bobby traps were laid throughout the complex. Today the Vietnamese government has preserved approximately 75 kilometres of the tunnels as a memorial park in some areas tunnels have been widened and low-powered lights installed so that Western tourists can now fit through the complex.

Our local guide will take us on a fascinating trip around the Cu Chi Tunnels where we learn more about the conditions the people lived in the hardships they faced and the amazing ingenuity employed to maintain life in the tunnels. We walk past huge bomb craters evidence of the heavy bombing campaigns in the region during the Indochina conflict discover hidden entrances right beneath our feet and wander past tiny little chimneys in the ground that disperse smoke from the underground kitchens. The guide will show you some samples of the simple cuisines that local fighters would have relied upon. Afterwards you have an opportunity to venture into the tunnels and explore the complex.

Youll end this historical city tour with a greater understanding of the local impacts of the conflicts of the 20th century.