Already famous for its incredible network of underground tunnels, Củ Chi is using its rustic ambience to attract more visitors keen to get away from urban bustle, Sơn Hà finds.

Arguably, no visitor to HCM City, or Việt Nam, even, will miss a trip to the Guerilla Warfare Tunnels.

They are a dark reminder of dark days, and a fantastic reminder of incredible bravery, ingenuity and indomitable spirit.

The underground network of tunnels that will never cease to amaze, with its sheer length and facilities like trenches, docks, dining spaces, bedrooms and warehouses, has come out of hiding to become a living museum of the Resistance.

The earliest tunnel appeared in 1948 in two communes of Tân Phú Trung and Phước Vĩnh An. At first, there were just short and simple complexes for hiding documents, weapons and some guerillas.

Later, more tunnels were dug and wound their way to neighbouring communes. Between 1961 and 1965, six communes in the north of Củ Chi had completed the “backbone” tunnel. Branch tunnels connected with the backbone to form a network that could be expanded, if needed. They were needed. The Củ Chi Tunnels expanded rapidly, especially in the beginning of 1966, as the fight against American intensified.

Reliving history: Tourists take a seat at what used to be a meeting room during the war in the Củ Chi Tunnels. Photo Lê Minh

By 1967, the tunnel system had a total length of 250 kilometres, a man-made wonder.

The “iron land” of guerilla forces has now transformed itself, from an area most devastated by war in the southern region into a popular tourist destination and now, a “new rural area”.

The world’s top underground tourist attraction welcomed around 1.5 million visitors last year, 650,000 of them foreigners, says Colonel Trần Văn Tâm, director of Historic Relics & Củ Chi Tunnel Complex. Tiếp tục đọc “Củ Chi farms its way to post-war charms” →