Southern Vietnam – Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels, located in greater Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), is a network of tunnels built by the Communist guerrillas during the Vietnam War. The tunnels served as the living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens for the insurgents. (Source: Lonely Planet)

I was on a business trip to HCMC a few years ago. After completed my duty, I took the opportunity to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. According to the tour guides, America sent ground troops to search for the Communists in Cu Chi area, but the narrow tunnels proved too tough for the taller Western soldiers.

Note that Vietnam War is known as American War in the country it was fought. Apparently, Hanoi wants to emphasize that the War was fought NOT between North and South Vietnam. Rather, it was a war between (all) Vietnamese and the American intruders.

Here is a tank abandoned by the Americans. The guy in blue shirt is the tour guide…

This is a booby trap constructed by the Communists. It is difficult to imagine that the guerrillas used such old-fashioned method to deal with the American troops, who possessed advanced weaponries.

And here is the entrance to one of the tunnels…

This is me emerging from the tunnel …

Coming up next: Mekong Delta