May 4, 2015

On another day in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) we arranged for a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels. These are situated about an hour from HCMC. Like many tours, it took longer to get there because we made a stop at a factory. This was where some amazing art was produced by disabled Vietnamese people. It was fantastic to see them at work. We could follow the process of how some of the pieces were produced. It was a group effort, like an assembly line. There were many pieces inside the shop, especially vases and some furniture. It is difficult for disabled people to earn an income in Vietnam and this place was a source of pride for them.

Shortly after our factory visit, we arrived at the The Cu Chi tunnels and got ready for our tour. It was another HOT day so spending it outside would be a challenge.

The Cu Chi tunnels are part of an elaborate network of underground tunnels. The tunnels were started and dug by hand in the late 1940s during the Vietnamese war of independence from the French colonial authorities. They began expanding the tunnels in the 1960s as the U.S. presence in Vietnam increased.

The tunnels were used as hideouts, living quarters, and supply and communication routes. In all, they would cover 250 kilometers (about 120 miles) from the outskirts of Saigon (HCMC) all the way to the Cambodian border.

Tunnel entrances varied. Our first stop was a very small entrance to a tunnel. It was well hidden. Maeve and Liam enjoyed jumping in for the experience. I figured if I got in, I wasn't getting out...not easily anyway. Best to stay back and take some pictures.

We looked at a few more entrances. We saw how a ventilation system was added and camouflaged by creating air holes within handmade termite mounds.

Fake termite hill with ventilation hole on left

Eventually we were shown a tunnel with a more feasible entrance. I went through, but it quickly became more narrow and dark. The guide gave verbal directions on where to turn so we could find a quick exit.

I have no idea how anyone spent so much time in these tunnels. They housed entire underground villages. Those who remained here also battled dangers like flooding, disease, poor ventilation, snakes and insects.

The Northern Vietnamese had set booby traps and planned surprise attacks from the tunnels. Their booby traps were a variety of holes dug and filled with surprise metal spikes. Sometimes the spikes or traps didn't have the power to kill, so they would cover the spikes with poison. Other traps included trip wires that would set off grenades or turn over boxes of scorpions or poisonous snakes.

In order to defend themselves from the traps in and near the tunnels, the U.S. and Southern Vietnamese forces trained smaller soldiers known as 'tunnel rats'. They had to navigate the tunnels and detect booby traps as well as any enemy presence.

Spikes would be released when pressure was put on bottom of the hole

We saw some tanks and then took a break by a snack shop. At this point, we were given the opportunity to shoot weapons at the shooting range next to the snack shop. Most people chose AK-47s but you could pay more and try something more powerful. Uh, no thanks.

After our break we saw a few more tunnels. The children in our group chose to go through one more. Liam led the way with his head lamp. There are many turns inside the tunnels, so it can be confusing. Liam found his way out and was yielded a 'hero' by the young girl on our tour. She told her mother this and then they needed to get pictures with her hero.

Liam and one of the children he led out of the tunnels....mannequins in the background.

The Vietnamese knew they were outnumbered by the U.S. These tunnels provided some protection from the heavy aerial bombing by the U.S. Over the course of the war, about 45,000 Vietnamese men and women died defending the tunnels.