[Vietnam/Thailand Trip Diary Day 3-1] A Journey Tracing the Scars of History – Cu Chi Tunnels, Stories Beneath the Earth

1. Introduction

Actually, yesterday at the breakfast venue, an employee who recommended the pink church to me had another suggestion.

It was a so-called tour; I could have looked for one on Klook or similar sites, but I thought, why not just go with it? However, I wanted to keep some time free, so I booked a Cu Chi Tunnel tour (morning only).

And so, the morning of the third day of the trip arrived. I woke up a bit early, had breakfast, and waited for the car to arrive.

Today's destination is a place that touches upon another soul of Vietnam, hidden right beneath the face of this glamorous city. The Cu Chi Tunnels, which bear the deep memories of the Vietnam War. It is not merely a tourist spot, but a living testimony that tells the story of this country's history and the indomitable spirit of its people.

Stepping out of the comfortable silence of the hotel, the river of motorbikes is roaring and flowing again today. However, behind that everyday scene lies the story of people who survived unimaginably harsh battles. I am heading to a massive underground fortress built beneath the earth. What will I feel and think in that place, soaked with jungle soil, sweat, and an unyielding spirit? Now, let us begin a journey across time to the place where the testimony of history awaits.

2. Timeline

2.1. Pre-trip sustenance and the road to the suburbs <06:53–08:30>

Since the Cu Chi Tunnel tour started early, I woke up early for breakfast. I had already learned that the bread was delicious, so I chose a meal centered around it.

On the plate were vibrant pink dragon fruit, ripe papaya, and longan. There were chocolate-covered donuts, buttery croissants, and unique Vietnamese green jelly sweets and baked goods. With ham, salami, and cheese added, it was truly a multinational feast. This rich food culture might be a symbol of the peaceful Vietnam of today.

After finishing my meal, I returned to my room. The tour company's bus arrived on time to pick me up. Today, I am participating in the Cu Chi Tunnel half-day tour operated by "VN BIKE TOUR." The ease of being able to pay at the hotel was the deciding factor. When I boarded the van, there were already travelers from various countries with faces full of anticipation.

The bus left the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and gradually headed toward the suburbs. The scenery outside the window changed dramatically from high-rise buildings to low-rise houses, and then to lush, green rural areas. This is the real thrill of travel. The guide's fluent English began to explain the route ahead and an overview of the history of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

2.2. Craftsmanship and an unexpected encounter <08:30–10:00>

On the way to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the bus stopped at a large workshop. It was a workshop for lacquerware, a traditional Vietnamese craft. It is said that this place also serves as a support facility for people who were disabled in the war to work as artisans and become self-reliant.

Stepping inside, it was a flood of color and light. The massive lacquer paintings decorating the walls depicted the floating markets of the Mekong Delta and the elegant figures of women wearing Ao Dai beautifully. The technique of "raden" (mother-of-pearl inlay), where crushed eggshells and seashells are embedded, gave the paintings a three-dimensional brilliance. On the shelves, colorful cups, small bowls, and trays were lined up in an orderly fashion, and the careful handiwork of the artisans breathed life into each one. They were not just souvenirs, but works of art packed with Vietnamese culture, history, and the pride of the people.

Here, my eyes were captivated by a piece of clothing.

A deep navy shirt, carefully wrapped in plastic. The shopkeeper told me, "It's made of bamboo." The fabric, crafted from bamboo fibers, is as smooth as silk yet surprisingly light. While gaining global attention as a sustainable material, it is still rare in Japan. It is surely a masterpiece born from this country's rich nature and the wisdom of the people who utilize it. I bought it without hesitation. It was a moment of unexpected encounter with a new charm of modern Vietnam in the midst of a journey tracing history.

2.3. Stories beneath the earth, at the Cu Chi Tunnels <10:00–12:30>

Leaving the workshop behind, the bus starts moving again. And finally, we arrive at the Cu Chi forest, wrapped in deep green. The air is cool and humid, and the scent of soil and lush grass hangs thick.

First, we were guided to the outdoor exhibition area. There, the raw memories of the Vietnam War lay quietly.

Among the trees, a rusted American tank sits enthroned. Its massive body, which must have once trampled the jungle, now serves as a backdrop for visiting tourists to take commemorative photos. What does the long gun barrel, remaining silent, try to tell us? Various firearms used at the time were also displayed in glass cases.

Thinking that these were actually used, my heart tightens.

Guided by our guide, we head deeper into the jungle. And when we saw the spot he pointed to, everyone gasped.

On the ground, a small hole, just wide enough for one person to pass through, opens its mouth. This, they say, is the entrance to the tunnel used by guerrilla soldiers. If skillfully camouflaged with dead leaves, one would likely not notice it even if passing right by. It was hard to believe that an underground network spanning a total of 250 km was spread out like a maze beneath this earth.

Here, we were also able to see exhibits recreating life during the war.

In a dirt-floored hut, a woman is demonstrating how to make rice paper. She spreads a batter of rice flour and water thinly over a cloth on a steamer, and after it is steamed, she dries it on a bamboo rack. This was said to be one of the soldiers' precious food sources.

And finally, the time for the highlight, the tunnel exploration, arrived. We enter the tunnel, which has been slightly widened for tourists, one by one, hunching our bodies.

Inside, it is complete darkness. Cool, damp air clings to my skin, and the smell of soil stings my nose. I hunch over and move forward, placing my hands on the walls. Even though I only went a few dozen meters, I am out of breath and sweating profusely. An underground world with almost no light or sound. People lived and fought here for years. Their mental strength and endurance were far beyond my imagination. This dark, narrow, suffocating space is the other true face of the Vietnam War.

When I emerged above ground, I had never felt so strongly the gratitude for the sunlight that pours down as a matter of course and the air that I can breathe freely. The visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels made me strongly realize once again how precious a peaceful daily life is.

★Log Information

• Tour booking information:

  • Company name: VN BIKE TOUR CO.,LTD

  • Tour name: CU CHI TUNNELS

  • Date and time: August 14, 2025 08:00-08:30 AM

  • Price: 940,000 VND

  • Payment method: Pay at hotel

• Wise usage status: No individual Wise payment during this time as I was participating in the tour.

• Grab usage status: No Grab usage during this time as I was traveling by tour bus.

3. Summary of the trip

The morning of my third day in Ho Chi Minh City was not merely the passage of time, but a journey beyond space and time, descending from the modern, peaceful Vietnam into the harrowing past that lies at its foundation. From the world of 'light' symbolized by the hotel's sophisticated breakfast buffet, to the world of 'shadow' represented by the Cu Chi Tunnels spreading beneath the earth. The contrast was so vivid that it left a deep mark on my heart.

The lacquerware workshop we stopped at on the way might have been a bridge connecting those two worlds. People scarred by war use their own hands to create breathtakingly beautiful traditional crafts. It felt like witnessing the very spirit of the Vietnamese people, who rise powerfully even from adversity to create new value. The bamboo shirt I unexpectedly purchased is not just a souvenir, but has taken on a special weight in my travel luggage as a symbol of that indomitable spirit.

And then, the Cu Chi Tunnels. The experience in that dark, damp, suffocating space transformed my knowledge of the Vietnam War, learned from books, into a raw reality felt with all five senses. The small, camouflaged entrances, the ingenuity of the guerrilla soldiers' daily lives, and above all, the immeasurable mental strength of those who lived and fought beneath the earth. These form the core of this country's identity, and they are stories that must never be forgotten, lying behind the development of today's Vietnam and the smiles of its people.

This morning journey taught me something. The charm of Ho Chi Minh City is not just in its glittering skyscrapers or the flood of motorbikes. True brilliance lies within the souls of the people who, along with the memories sleeping beneath the earth, are moving powerfully toward the future.

4. Supplementary Information

• GPS Data (Times are local time)

  • 2025-08-14 06:53:13 | 10.779061, 106.703850 | Silverland May Hotel (Restaurant)

  • 2025-08-14 08:05:16 | 10.779022, 106.704056 | Near Silverland May Hotel (At time of tour pickup)

  • 2025-08-14 10:00:36 | 10.964589, 106.542306 | Lacquerware Workshop (Estimated: Near Cai Be)

  • 2025-08-14 10:46:04 | 11.063136, 106.529161 | Cu Chi Tunnels (Gun display area)

  • 2025-08-14 11:07:14 | 11.061894, 106.527306 | Cu Chi Tunnels (Tunnel entrance)

  • 2025-08-14 11:16:12 | 11.060997, 106.527261 | Cu Chi Tunnels (Tank display area)

  • 2025-08-14 11:59:54 | 11.059531, 106.528336 | Cu Chi Tunnels (Rice paper demonstration area)

  • 2025-08-14 12:09:50 | 11.060614, 106.528328 | Cu Chi Tunnels (Tunnel interior experience)

• Hotel/Flight Booking Information

  • Hotel: Silverland May Hotel (8/12-16, 4 nights)

• Receipt Information

  • Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Tour: 940,000 VND (VN BIKE TOUR CO.,LTD)

• Step Count Information:

  • August 14 (Thu): 16,435 steps (estimated 12.33km) - Total for the day including tour participation and city walking.

Continued