Vietnam 2: Cu Chi Tunnel

Bismillah.

We took a tour van with an English-speaking tour guide from out hotel in Ben Thanh.

Our destination: Cu Chi Tunnel.

*it is pronounced ku ci, not "cuci" as in "basuh". 

We were the second group of passengers who boarded the van. 

The first couple was Swedish.

The third was a couple from London.

The fourth, an Australian couple.

And the last one, two young women from Israel.

The word "Israel" sent a chill down my spine. But they were just okay.

Handicapped Handicrafts

It took about 2 hours to reach Cu Chi Tunnel. On the way, we stopped for rest at Handicapped Handicrafts.

It was a centre for the victims of the effect of Agent Orange.

Agent Orange? 

It is a kind of herbicide used by the American army to destroy orange vegetation around the guerilla's (Vietnam Communists or VC) hiding place. 

Agent Orange doesn't only cause horrific effects to the Vietnamese at that time, but also cause unbelievable deformities in their next generation.

This is because this herbicide seeped into the soil and water. Hence, causes serious contamination to plantations and fishes that they consume. 

Blind, mute, deaf, spina bifida, mental retardation, not-well-developed limbs etc. 

At the centre, they were trained to create artworks on tiles. They use crushed eggshells for decorations. A really delicate and intricate work.

Designing

They use crushed  egg shells for decoration

I could see determination in their faces. At least, they can support themselves.

Cu Chi Tunnel

It is a unique interconnected tunnel system, dug manually by hand and hoe. It is very small, only fit for a common Vietnamese. 

the entrance sticker

One of the entrance to the tunnels

BEFORE

AFTER
Sharp bamboo spikes down there!

Why it is built? 

During the Vietnam war, it was very dangerous and risky to live on the ground. So they decided to live underground, in tunnels. 

It has 3 levels. They have a lot of "bunkers", like rooms. 

They have 

1.Smokeless kitchens. They alsi made airways for ventilation system from underground.

2. "Bedrooms"

Far from luxury. Just a space to lie down and rest. 

3. Showroom

For some entertainment

4. Bomb-cover hideout

A special space to take cover from bomb explosion.

They get water supply from the underground water system connecting to Saigon River. 

Imagine living underground, with poor air ventilation. 

Toilet? Go to the Saigon River.

The openings to the tunnels were cleverly camouflaged. But somehow the Americans did discover some of them, so the Vietnamese set many booby traps with deadly insects such as scorpions etc.

But the Americans' huge body size became a problem. They got stuck in the tunnels and even lost their ways. No lights, dark. So they sent Tunnel Ferrets or Tunnel Rats to get into the small puzzling tunnels.

Many Tunnel Rats died in their mission, because the Vietnamese knew the tunnels better.

Tourists get a chance to experience the feeling of crawling on all four inside the tunnel. It has been widen for tourists. 

Apa lagi, kita join la jugok! Best, macam dalam cerita the Mummy pulak. Tapi agak seram sebab gelap, toleh belakang dah tak nampak apa2. Nasib baik gok ada lampu kuning kat tepi2 tunnel, tapi still gelap.  We finished crawling through the 100 m tunnel. Alhamdulillah.