Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Tour: Ben Duoc's Less-Crowded Route

Crawl through the tunnels, touch the tank, taste the history

A half-day tour of Ben Duoc Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City with a small group of no more than 10 guests, focusing on the less-crowded section of the network where you crawl through narrow passages, examine wartime booby traps and a real ex-US Army tank, and eat locally grown tapioca in an underground kitchen. Pickup from central Ho Chi Minh City hotels is included, and the tour runs 6 to 7 hours with an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cu Chi Tunnels and surroundings

• Pickup from hotel in District 1, 3, 4
• Travel to Ben Duoc Cu Chi Tunnels
• Explore Cu Chi Tunnels and war history
• Crawl inside tunnels and see booby traps
• Taste local Viet Cong food, tapioca
• Witness Viet Cong propaganda in Tan Phu Trung
• Experience underground Hoang Cam kitchen
• Return to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

The Experience

The Cu Chi Tunnels were a vast underground network built by hand over several years during the Vietnam War—more than 250 kilometers of passages dug with shovels, hoes and picks, then concealed by spreading the soil in nearby fields. Ben Duoc is the section of this network where your group spends most of the day, chosen specifically because it draws fewer visitors than the main site. You'll see the booby traps the Viet Cong soldiers rigged—spike pits and hidden doors designed to slow intruders—and you'll touch an ex-US Army tank that sits above ground, a tangible remnant of the conflict.

The tunnels themselves are narrow, only a few feet high, and the highlight is crawling through them to understand what movement felt like during wartime. The passages connected living quarters, kitchens, meeting rooms, hospitals and schools, all underground. After you emerge, you'll taste tapioca—locally grown Viet Cong food—prepared near the tunnel entrance, then move to Tan Phu Trung Ward to see propaganda displays and the Hoang Cam kitchen, an underground cooking space that fed soldiers during the war. Pickup from your hotel in Districts 1, 3 or 4 takes about 30 minutes, and the driver returns you to your accommodation at the end of the tour; if you need to go to the airport instead, let the operator know.

The group stays small—maximum 10 people—which is why the Ben Duoc route feels less rushed than busier alternatives. You'll have an air-conditioned vehicle for the ride out and back, two bottles of water per person, and a guide who speaks English or Vietnamese. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours total, so plan for a morning or early afternoon departure.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transport.
• pickup from your hotel in Districts 1, 3 or 4 of Ho Chi Minh City.
• two bottles of water per guest.
• English or Vietnamese-speaking guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Joy Journeys

Is this one for you?Book the Premier Group option (max 10 guests) if you want the tunnels without the crowds that larger tours bring; book the Private Tour if your group wants the site to itself and prefers not to share the guide or the vehicle with other travelers.

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Top questions

How narrow are the tunnels I'll crawl through at Ben Duoc?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are only a few feet high, so you'll be moving on your hands and knees or crouching as you navigate the passages. The narrow height and tight spaces are part of what made them effective during the war and what gives you a real sense of how soldiers moved through them.

What exactly is the Hoang Cam kitchen, and will I see it on this tour?

The Hoang Cam kitchen is an underground cooking space where Viet Cong soldiers were fed during the war. You'll visit it as part of the tour after exploring the main tunnels, so you can see how food was prepared in these hidden chambers.

Will I actually touch the US Army tank, or just look at it?

You'll have the chance to touch the ex-US Army tank from the Vietnam War. It sits above ground at the site, and handling it is part of how the tour lets you connect physically with the war's history.

What is the tapioca food I'll taste, and where do I eat it?

Tapioca is a locally grown Viet Cong food that was eaten during the war. You'll taste it next to the tunnels as part of the tour, giving you a direct sense of what soldiers ate while living underground.

How long is the pickup, and which Ho Chi Minh City areas does the driver serve?

Pickup usually takes around 30 minutes and covers hotels in Districts 1, 3 and 4 of Ho Chi Minh City. If your hotel is outside these areas or you need to go to the airport instead of returning to your hotel, let the operator know when you book.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit, or if I have mobility concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, crawling through narrow tunnels does require you to move on your hands and knees or crouch, so consider your comfort with tight spaces and ground-level movement before booking.