The following day I booked for a Chu Chi Tunnel tour for half day for $6.00. I say that when in Vietnam you should not fail to try this because its a fascinating and a learning experience about the Vietnam war on how they beat America during the battle. Although the tour is very cheap, you have to pay extra around VN100,000 dong to get inside the park.
As usual, we were picked up at Pham Ngu Lao just infront of my hostel. We were transported through a coach to Chu Chi tunnel. I can really say that you can skip Mekong river for this tour if you dont have time in Saigon.
First in the tour, we had a short video presentation about the Vietnam War and the tunnels. It was a very clever way for Vietnamese forces to build a long stretch of tunnel away from American sight. Guerrilla tactics were new to the Americans during this time and they really nailed at it. Vietnamese used different ingenious traps killing American soldiers.
But the most amazing thing during the war was building of a long stretch of tunnel. The tunnels were so long that it hosts a whole community of locals. They eat, sleep and give birth in the tunnel. They have develop clever ways on how to provide ventilation away from American sight. The tunnels’ entrance were so small as you can see at the top but luckily I was able to fit.
So I ventured inside the tunnel, it was dark and very narrow. I was scared because once you get inside, there’s no turning back and you have to go out at some exit points made in the tunnel. Originally, the tunnel was so narrow they just modified or widened it for the tourist to move along. It was hard experience, I used my camera flash to create a light. There was a part in the tunnel where it was so narrow, you have to slide your whole body feet first for you to get out. The tunnel experience was 100 meters. After I got out of the tunnel, I was so dirty, exhausted and soaked in sweat.
Bring extra tshirt and lots of water on this trip.
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kasya kaya ako jan!? hahaha
saya naman ng trip mu! I cnt wait to visit Vietnam. Pinag-isipan ko pa kung gagawin ko xa ths year, wala pa ako ticket eh. sana my sale pa sa dec. hehe
Posted by thepinaysolobackpacker at September 11, 2010, 6:57 am