Most visitors to Vietnam do not know that there are 2 different Cu Chi Tunnels sites; one unaltered for locals (Ben Duoc), and the very touristy tunnels (Ben Dinh), where most other tour companies take their guests to. Drive Vietnam’s “Ultimate Cu Chi Tunnels” tour is designed to take in a different direction to the typical tourist route, as we divert from the crowds and specially constructed tunnels of Ben Dinh, and visit the unchanged site preferred by the locals. Part of a complex system of underground passageways built for daily-life as well as military strategy, the Cu Chi tunnels celebrate the skill and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people in overcoming incredible odds.
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Our day begins at 8:00am with a two hour drive through the modern mayhem of hectic Saigon, into the rustic rurality of Cu Chi. Don’t let the long drive scare you though, as along the way we’ll keep you entertained with tales about the area’s turbulent history, about the lives and grinds of its people, and even the music they listened to. Just 30 minutes further from the typically-visited tunnels will find us in Ben Duoc; the site other tour companies tend to avoid on account of the extra distance. Here, you’ll learn what life was truly like in these enemy-named ‘black echo’ mazes, as we guide you through the historic grounds – and into the ground, if you dare! Model-homes and display areas not seen at the Ben Dinh tunnels teach of daily lives and survival means, and an ornate memorial temple commemorating those who died make this site particularly enlightening.
Our Cu Chi journey would not be complete without a narrated tour into the country’s cuisine. Relax by the riverside and enjoy a scenic lunch of the kind eaten in the area for centuries, as your native, English-speaking guide explains the cultural significance of each particular dish. Learn too about how modern-day Cu Chi is affected by its complicated past; how the rural lives of the region’s people have changed since the days of the American War. With all the insight you could hope for on the area, we’ll make our way back to Saigon on a different route to which we came, arriving at your hotel at around 4:30pm.
At Drive Vietnam, we believe the Cu Chi tunnels to be one of the most historically interesting sites in the country, and deserving of a more in-depth, authentic look than the type usually offered to tourists. This is why our full-day, private tour guides you through the better resourced, alternative site of Ben Duoc where, unlike the tourist-packed Ben Dinh, the tunnels are not re-sized for foreigners. With plenty of time to stop and take in the history, we’ll show you the many and varied reasons the Cu Chi tunnels are an important symbol of human resilience, and Vietnamese courage in the face of adversity.