While Pat and I didn’t get to see these tunnels, I felt it was important to acknowledge them as a tribute to the tenacious spirit of the Vietnamese people.
The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located near Ho Chi Minh City, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Viet Nam War.
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 tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped achieve ultimate military success.
The 121 km long complex of tunnels at Củ Chi has been preserved by the government of Vietnam, and turned into a war memorial park. The tunnels are a popular tourist attraction, and visitors are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system. Some tunnels have been made larger to accommodate the larger size of Western tourists, while low-power lights have been installed in several of them to make travelling through them easier. Booby traps have been clearly marked.
Part of the tunnel complex at Củ Chi, this tunnel has been made wider and taller to accommodate tourists.
Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cu_Chi_tunnels
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