Cu Chi: Historic tunnel network near Ho Chi Minh City.

Cu Chi is a district northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, best known for its historic underground tunnel network. From central Ho Chi Minh City, you can reach Cu Chi by private car, taxi, motorbike, or organized tour, with the journey usually taking around 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on traffic and your destination. Joining a guided tour is a convenient option, as many tours include transportation, an English-speaking guide, and visits to the main historical sites.

Cu Chi offers a fascinating combination of wartime history, local culture, and countryside experiences. You can explore the famous underground tunnels, learn about Vietnam’s history, discover traditional food-making activities, and enjoy the peaceful rural scenery outside Ho Chi Minh City.

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network used during the Vietnam War. Learn how the tunnels served as living quarters, communication routes, storage areas, and shelters. Visitors can also explore selected tunnel sections to gain a better understanding of the challenging conditions faced by people living underground.

Watch historical demonstrations

Discover displays and demonstrations explaining how the tunnel network was constructed and used during wartime. Exhibitions, reconstructed facilities, and historical explanations help visitors understand the ingenuity and resilience associated with this important site.

Learn about wartime life

Explore exhibits featuring kitchens, meeting rooms, medical areas, and other reconstructed underground facilities. These displays provide insight into daily life in the tunnels and the strategies people used to survive during the conflict.

Try traditional tapioca and tea

Sample boiled tapioca served with tea, a simple food associated with the historical tunnel experience. This small tasting offers visitors a glimpse into the basic foods eaten by people living and working in the area during wartime.

Visit local craft workshops

Depending on your itinerary, visit local workshops or traditional craft-making areas around Cu Chi. These stops offer an opportunity to learn about local livelihoods and see a different side of the region beyond its wartime history.

Enjoy the countryside

Explore the rural surroundings of Cu Chi, where green fields, gardens, and quiet roads create a contrast with the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Some tours combine the tunnels with countryside stops or local experiences.

Most travelers can explore Cu Chi on a half-day or full-day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. A half-day visit is usually enough to explore the main tunnel site, while a full-day itinerary allows more time for historical exhibits, local workshops, and countryside experiences. If you are short on time, a guided half-day tour is a convenient way to discover the highlights.

• Visit in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day and allow enough time to explore.
• Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes, as the site involves walking on uneven paths.
• Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent, especially during hot or rainy weather.
• If you plan to enter the tunnels, be aware that some sections are narrow, low, and dark. You can skip this activity if you feel uncomfortable in enclosed spaces.
• Follow your guide’s instructions and respect the historical site and its exhibits.
• Allow extra travel time for traffic between central Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi.