The Tunnels of Củ Chi, Vietnam

Cu Chi Tunnel, one of the most important history of Vietnam.

The tunnels of Củ Chi are a relatively modern, man-made phenomenon, but their fame, deservedly, is worldwide. They are the outstanding symbol of the dogged determination of the Vietnamese desire to be free of Western colonists the tunnels Located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.

The tunnels were first thought of in the late 1940s, when the Viet Minh (the League for the Independence of Vietnam) were trying to remove the French from their country. Originally thought of as hiding places for arms and ammunition, they soon became hiding places for the Viet Minh fighters. By the mid-1965, 250 km (155 mi) of tunnels threaded their way under Cu Chi and the areas around it. One even ran under the American army base situated there. These tunnels allowed the many groups of Viet Cong fighters in the area to liaise with one another at will and even to infiltrate Saigon itself.

Signboard to the tunnel.

Tourist entering the tunnel.

The tunnels were dug to as many as four levels. The building work was incredibly hard - not only were there poisonous snakes, scorpions and insects, but these tunnels had to be made sufficiently solid not to collapse. People lived below ground for weeks on end, and there were not only living quarters but also functioning hospitals, kitchens, classrooms and even operating theatres and a small cinema.

More than 12,000 people died here during the Vietnam War, but the Tet offensive, which was dreamed up in these tunnels, probably turned the tide of opinion and made the Americans begin to realize that this was a war they would not win.

When the door closed, it almost undetected.

The network of Cu Chi Tunnel.