Cu Chi Tunnels: Group Tour with Hotel Pickup & Local Guide

Summary

Stories of resilience and secret tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City

You’ll crawl through real Cu Chi Tunnels with a local guide sharing family stories, taste simple wartime food like tapioca root, watch traditional lacquerware artists at work, and feel history under your skin — all with hotel pickup and easy transport from Ho Chi Minh City.

What’s the experience like?

“If you get stuck, just shout — we’ll pull you out!” That’s what our guide, Hien, grinned as she waved us toward the tunnel entrance. I’d read about the Cu Chi Tunnels before, but standing above them in the sticky morning air outside Ho Chi Minh City, it felt different. There was this faint scent of earth and old smoke. The group shuffled closer together while Hien pointed out a map scratched onto a metal board — honestly, it looked more like a maze than anything people could survive in.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much. Hien told us how her grandfather used to sneak rice paper into these tunnels, and then she showed us a trapdoor hidden under leaves — I almost missed it until she tapped it with her sandal. Some folks in our group hesitated before going underground (me included), but curiosity won out. Crawling through that narrow space was hot and scratchy; my knees are still complaining. You could hear muffled voices ahead and the echo of someone’s nervous giggle behind me. It’s weird how close you feel to strangers after something like that.

We stopped at this little open-air kitchen where they handed out slices of boiled tapioca root — “VC food,” Hien called it — dipped in peanuts and sugar. It tasted plain but somehow comforting after the tunnels. There was also a smoky whiff from somewhere nearby; turns out it was an old “smokeless” kitchen used during the war so planes couldn’t spot them. Afterward, some people tried the shooting range (not really my thing), while I wandered over to watch lacquerware artists at work — their hands moved so carefully over each piece, barely looking up as tourists passed by.

The ride back to Ho Chi Minh City was quieter. Someone dozed off against the window; I just kept thinking about those dark tunnels and all the small acts of survival Hien described. It’s not something you forget soon, you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cu Chi Tunnel Tour and Exploration

• Hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City
• Travel to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Briefing on tunnel map and model
• Visit Viet Cong traps and workshop
• Explore underground tunnels (optional)
• See underground kitchen, health care, meeting room, bunker
• Taste tapioca root
• Visit rice paper workshop
• Visit art studio for lacquer ware
• Optional shooting range (extra cost)
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How long does the Cu Chi Tunnel tour take?

The tour lasts about 5 to 6 hours including travel time from Ho Chi Minh City.

Is hotel pickup included for the Cu Chi Tunnels group tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in Ho Chi Minh City for this group tour.

Can I choose between morning or afternoon tours?

Yes, you can pick either a morning departure at 7:30am or afternoon at 12:00pm.

Do I have to go inside the tunnels?

No, entering the tunnels is optional — you can skip that part if you prefer.

What food do we try on this day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels?

You’ll taste boiled tapioca root with peanuts and sugar, which was eaten by VC fighters during the war.

Is there a shooting range at Cu Chi Tunnels?

Yes, there’s an optional shooting range where you can buy bullets separately if interested.

Are entry fees included in the Cu Chi Tunnel group tour?

The description doesn’t specify entry fees but includes guided activities and transport.

How big are the groups on this day trip from Ho Chi Minh City?

The maximum group size varies: up to 10, 12 or 20 people depending on booking.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City, round-trip transport by air-conditioned vehicle, guided exploration of the Cu Chi Tunnels network (with option to go underground), tastings of wartime tapioca root snacks, visits to traditional workshops like rice paper making and lacquerware art studios — all led by a local guide who shares personal stories along the way.