My Sanctuary: Củ Chi Tunnels ...

On the second last day of our stay in HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City), we took a trip out to visit the famous Củ Chi Tunnels, which was an incredible network of tunnels that were build during the Vietnam War by the Viet Congs. What little knowledge I knew of the tunnels were based on the war movies I watched like NAM - Tour of Duty and such. So it this trip was something that I was looking forward to. Moving out of HCMC, we had the opportunity to enjoy the country side, which was less crowded compared to the city.

When we got to Củ Chi, we first viewed a video to explain about what happened during the Vietnam War, from the perspective of the Vietnamese.

From Wiki, here's a little more information about the tunnels. The photograph above shows an entrance of the tunnel. And these have been enlarged for the larger sized tourists who visit the tunnels these days.

'The tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. The role of the tunnel systems should not be underestimated in its importance to the Viet Cong in resisting American operations and protracting the war, eventually culminating in an American withdrawal.'

The photograph above is a cross-section of the tunnel system and it's quite amazing how they thought of everything. Some of the sections are super narrow that would only allow the Viet Congs who were small built to enter. There were sections that were traps where the unknowing visitor to the tunnel could fall into a bed of spikes. The tunnels were also built such that the covering of the tunnels could close shut to prevent water pumped in by the American soldiers from flooding the other levels. From the photograph, you can also see how they used the water table to build a well in the tunnel. And also provided an escape route through the river when they needed to use that. All this built by hand, no fancy machines that are available today. Amazing is the only word I can think of.

The above photograph shows how tiny the Viet Congs were based on the size of the entrance to the tunnel.

The Viet Congs were also skilled in building traps and these traps were not meant to kill immediately but to buy time before the Viet Congs came around to finish off the job. The photograph above shows how harmless that patch of grass looks like but below, you will see how the grass patch area will swing around and whoever walks on it will fall and only to be welcomed by bamboo spikes with the tips covered with poison.

First look at the photograph below and you will probably think ANTS or TERMITES. But this is actually an air vent that has been disguised to look like an ant hill.The air vent allows the tunnels to be well ventilated and right at the base you can see opening and during the war, the guns would be sticking out of those holes, aimed at the American soldiers.

There are tunnels which have been enlarged if you're game to go in. Though not obvious from the photograph below, there's actually a depression or crater left by a bomb that exploded there.

Below is an interesting looking water tap which was made by bamboo and water from the ground. Clever huh!

It was a good visit to the tunnels and I have to say that the Vietnamese who were fighting back then were truly brave and they persisted in their war to save their beloved country. Everyone - ordinary farmers, daughters of farmers came forward in that fight to save their country. Very admirable the determination to keep what belonged to them.