① Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Travel Destination
Vietnam is a popular travel destination for tourists. Ho Chi Minh is known as the economic center of Vietnam and is the largest city.
Ho Chi Minh captivates travelers with delicious food that suits travelers’ tastes and exotic landscapes. You will visit attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, Pink Church, Saigon Central Post Office, and Ho Chi Minh Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh. Among them, the Củ Chi Tunnel is a place known as a dark tourism spot in Ho Chi Minh.
This place is a tunnel people made by hand to resist French colonial rule in the 1940s. At that time, it was only about one floor underground, but as the war with the United States began, they completed a deep tunnel up to three floors underground to attack American troops.
From 1946 to 1968, Ho Chi Minh City residents dug this intricate network of tunnels, serving as a refuge and communication base for the Vietnamese. It is estimated that over 40,000 Vietnamese perished during the war while protecting these handcrafted tunnels, showcasing remarkable architectural and engineering prowess.
In September 2021, Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee announced plans to nominate the Củ Chi Tunnel for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list. This recognition highlights the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people, who created this underground marvel using nothing more than hoes and pickaxes.
The Củ Chi Tunnel was officially designated as a national cultural heritage site in December 2015, acknowledging its historical significance and cultural and scientific value.
② What is the Interior of the Củ Chi Tunnels Like?
During the Vietnam War, unpredictability and surprise attacks posed significant challenges for American forces. The Củ Chi Tunnel played a pivotal role in this regard. Comprising three underground levels, it features depths of approximately 3 meters for the first, 6 meters for the second, and 8 to 12 meters for the final level. Inside, you’ll find distinct sections, including dining areas, smokeless kitchens, wells, and emergency rooms, each tailored to its specific function.
Spanning about 250 kilometers, the tunnel network is a maze-like structure, with passages measuring approximately 80 centimeters in width and height, making it difficult for Americans with larger physiques compared to the Vietnamese to navigate.
To infiltrate the Củ Chi Tunnel, American soldiers created specialized units of smaller soldiers. However, entry was further complicated by venomous snakes, spiders carrying diseases, and scorpions at the tunnel entrances. Once inside, the humid environment and restrictions on using weapons made it challenging for them to achieve any substantial success.
③ Ho Chi Minh Dark Tourism Spot
Today, the historically significant Củ Chi Tunnel has become one of Ho Chi Minh City’s premier tourist attractions. It has gained particular recognition as a destination for “dark tourism.” This site holds a deep historical and cultural significance for the city, and tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City often include a Củ Chi Tunnel tour in their itineraries. The number of foreign visitors has been steadily increasing.
Visitors to the Củ Chi Tunnel are often taken aback by its size and the facilities hidden beneath the ground. Despite the narrow tunnels, it offers diverse amenities, resembling an underground city. Guided tours in English allow visitors to explore the living spaces of that era, providing an immersive historical experience.
One foreign tourist even shared a TikTok video on navigating the entrance of the Củ Chi Tunnel, garnering over a million views.
Tourists can experience the challenge of entering the narrow Củ Chi Tunnel, gaining a newfound appreciation for the site’s educational role for Vietnamese students and its role in instilling national pride. For foreign tourists, it serves as a poignant reminder of the grim realities of the Vietnam War. The cost for a day tour to the Củ Chi Tunnel, including admission and transportation, is around $20.
Travelers who have visited this site have left glowing reviews, with comments like “Highly recommended. Exploring various tunnels and learning basic information about Vietnam’s history made the visit even more enjoyable” and “The tunnels were very intriguing, and crawling around below ground was a unique experience.” Another visitor suggested, “Before the tour, visit the Ho Chi Minh War Remnants Museum to understand the Vietnam War era better.”
The Củ Chi Tunnel undoubtedly offers an eye-opening journey through history, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s past.
By. Kim Min Jae (minjaaie33@mememedia.co.kr)
Most Commented