Cu Chi tunnels?

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MojaveDan

I have been to the Cu Chi Tunnels like the others who answered before me. However, I will have a much different opinion than others about the place, due to the source of my knowledge. I have three uncles who served in ARVN, two who served in the NVA and numerous American Vietnam Veterans friends that have different stories than what the history books depict about the tunnels at Cu Chi and other locations in South Vietnam.

The Cu Chi Tunnels are so close to Saigon that they are within Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, there are regular city bus routes to Cu Chi from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. This should be a good indicator for how close major Viet Cong forces were to Saigon. It is true that the Viet Cong developed an enormous and complex expanse of tunnels throughout South Vietnam. It is also true that such tunnels were instrumental in the Viet Cong’s success with infiltrating and antagonizing their enemies. However, the reason for building the tunnels was not solely for fighting and defeating the Americans.

Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Military and ARVN knew where the Cu Chi Tunnels were. Ironically, the U.S. Army had a division camp right on top of them. Also contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Military always knew how to destroy the tunnels at will and at any time. What most do not know is why they were not destroyed until almost the end of the Vietnam War.

A 500-pound bomb has an effective surface damage radius of 400 meters. It can leave a ten to fifteen foot deep crater and can crush anything 50 feet below the surface. One Vietnam era B-52 can carry in excess of 100 of these bombs. Putting it simply - B-52 carpet-bombing was effective in destroying much of the tunnels at Cu Chi, Khe San and in other areas of South Vietnam. This is still evident by visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels today, because you can see huge bomb craters just about every twenty feet.

Just standing in the area (and not listening to the tour guide) will tell you a different story of why the tunnels were used and how effective they actually were. Something the tour guides will not tell you is the bomb percussions during carpet-bombing was enough to kill anyone or anything on the surface, which left Viets in the area no choice but to be underground and hope there wouldn’t be a direct hit. However, too many of these bombs hit close enough to their mark. Something else the tour guides will not readily tell you are the tens of thousands of Viets who died in and around the Cu Chi tunnels.

I enjoyed visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, but not as much as I thought I would. Perhaps it’s because I see the place as a massive grave instead of a major tourist attraction. The anti-American communist propaganda film seen at the beginning of the tour was rather comical to me, because I see it as trying to cover up what really happened to make sure more tourists come. The tour guide continued with the propaganda because he didn’t know any better. After all, he was born after the War ended and knows only what he was told. The guide pointed out where it is visible that three tunnels connected. What he didn’t point out was the massive bomb crater, which was why the intersection was exposed, and how many may have died there.

Some interesting things at Cu Chi, aside from climbing through the tunnels, are the numerous War artifacts displays, which I think blows away the Vietnam War Museum in District 1. There is the AK-47 rifle range, where you can shoot a real AK-47 for $1/shot (or you can buy the whole rifle for about $15 on the black market). The Viet Cong memorial is at Cu Chi as well, with the names of tens of thousands who died while fighting for the NLF. I almost got arrested for taking pictures of it.

Although I believe the Cu Chi Tunnels are worth visiting, I don’t believe it is a must see tourist attraction, and I also believe it is way overrated.

Now you probably know more than you want to know about the Cu Chi tunnels.

msufiany

The district of Củ Chi is located 70 kilometers to the northwest of Saigon near the so-called "Iron Triangle". Both the Saigon River and Route 1 pass through the region which served as major supply routes in and out of Saigon during the war. This area was also the termination of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Because of this, the Củ Chi and the nearby Ben Cat districts had immense strategic value for the NLF (National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam). Mai Chi Tho, a political commissar stationed in Củ Chi describes the region as a “springboard for attacking Saigon.” He goes on to say: “We used the area for infiltrating Saigon-intelligence agents, part cadres, sabotage teams. The Tết Offensive of 1968 was preparedthe necessary troops and supplies assembled in the Củ Chi tunnels.”

In the beginning, there was never a direct order to build the tunnels; instead, they developed in response to a number of different circumstances, most importantly the military tactics of the French and U.S. The tunnels began in 1948 so that the Viet Minh could hide from French air and ground sweeps. Each hamlet built their own underground communications route through the hard clay, and over the years, the separate tunnels were slowly and meticulously connected and fortified. By 1965, there were over 200 kilometers of connected tunnel. As the tunnel system grew, so did its complexity. Sleeping chambers, kitchens and wells were built to house and feed the growing number of residents and rudimentary hospitals created to treat the wounded. Most of the supplies used to build and maintain the tunnels were stolen or scavenged from U.S. bases or troops.

An above ground air vent disguised as a termite mound.The medical system serves as a good example of Vietnamese ingenuity in overcoming a lack of basic resources. Stolen motorcycle engines created light and electricity and scrap metal from downed aircraft were fashioned into surgical tools. Doctors even came up with new ways of performing sophisticated surgery. Faced with large numbers of casualties and a considerable lack of available blood, one man, Dr. Vo Hoang Le came up with a resourceful solution. "We managed to do blood transfusion," Vo said, "by returning his own blood to the patient. If a comrade had a belly wound and was bleeding, but his intestines were not punctured, we collected his blood, filtered it, put it in a bottle and returned it to his veins.”

By the early 1960’s, the NLF had created a relatively self-sufficient community that was able to house hundreds of people and for the most part, go undetected by large numbers of American troops based, literally, right on top of the tunnels.

Pagan Dan

The tunnel complex is not far from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). They are a network of tunnels, running for miles, complete with underground barracks, hospitals, mess halls, air vent disguised as termite hills, fire stations that cannot be seen until you trip over them, and the most diabolical non-explosive anti-personnel devices.

Viet Cong lived in the places for years, never coming out other than to bushwhack GI's and Marines.

The tour of the tunnels is very intersting, but be prepared (if you are American) for the anti-US slant of the tour guides. According to them, the Americans were nothing more than rampaging, barbarian brutes who got what was coming.

If you can get past that (it was so bad that I spoke to our tour guide about it--and I'm not even American) you will find the the tunnel complex is a must-see on your Viet Nam trip.

Copy/paste the link to my blog, for all my comments on the place.

Kand1nsk1

I went to see them recently... simply amazing. It is no wonder that the Americans didn't have a clue where the Vietnamese disappeared to all the time. An entire population lived underground... schools, hospitals... everything they needed was built with connecting tunnels. The Vietnamese could disappear at a moments notice. If the Americans decided to follow they had traps that were nothing short of vicious (trap doors falling into water, spikes, etc)... These tunnels usually went down as far as four levels with air holes that came up to the surface and disguised as ant hills (who wants to kick an anthill!!!) hence the Americans never thought about kicking the anthill closed.

The other cunning aspect of these tunnels... they were 'so' small... if the Americans wanted to follow... they couldn't. The Vietnamese are simply smaller people. They could scurry through these tunnels without a problem. I tried to get through a tunnel myself. It was a tourist tunnel they had made a little wider for Europeans and Americans... I didn't stand a chance of getting round the corners! (although I am 2 meters tall).

If you get the opportunity... go and have a look. (However, if you are American, don't get upset at the video they make you watch at the entrance to the tunnels... it is the usual 'we Vietnamese kicked your *** and you went home tail between your legs kind of thing).

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