Cu Chi Tunnels tour from Ho Chi Minh City: Crawl inside

Crawl through tunnels dug by hand, see the weapons fighters made from bamboo.

A half-day guided tour of Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City includes entry to the site, an English-Vietnamese speaking guide, and hotel pickup from centrally located hotels. You'll watch a documentary about the tunnels' history, see homemade weapons and traps, learn how locals make rice paper and rice wine, and have the option to crawl inside the tunnels yourself. The tour runs 7 hours and returns you to Ho Chi Minh City by afternoon or evening depending on your departure time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cu Chi Tunnel VIP Half Day Tour

• Pick up from hotel or meeting point
• Watch documentary on self-made weapons
• Learn about guerrilla tunnel life
• Crawl inside the tunnels (optional)
• Discover rice paper and rice wine making
• Try firing an AK-47 (optional)
• Sample steamed cassava
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City
• Optional drop off at War Remnants Museum

The experience

The bus picks you up between 7:45 and 8:30 from your hotel near Ben Thanh Market or a central meeting point, then drives you out to the tunnels. Once there, you'll watch a documentary that explains how guerrillas dug and lived inside these tunnels, and how they made their own weapons (bamboo traps, mines, and other devices), when they had no access to advanced equipment. The film shows the ingenuity that went into surviving underground, and it sets up what you're about to walk through.

After the film, you move through the tunnel complex itself. If you want to, you can crawl inside the narrow passages where fighters once moved. It's optional, but most people do it. You'll also see demonstrations of how locals make rice paper and rice wine, which gives you a sense of daily life in the region beyond the war history. The tour includes steamed cassava to try, and you get mineral water and snacks on the bus ride back to Ho Chi Minh City. If you're interested, you can also fire an AK-47 at a shooting range on the grounds (this costs extra). On the return journey, you have the option to stop at the War Remnants Museum if you want to extend your time in the city.

Two group sizes are available: a small group option and a standard group option. Both include the same entry, guide, and pickups. The difference is how many people travel together. Your guide speaks English and Vietnamese, so you'll get explanations in English throughout the day. The whole experience takes about 7 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Entry to Cu Chi Tunnels.
• English-Vietnamese speaking guide.
• steamed cassava and mineral water with snacks on the bus.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at centrally located hotels.

Options for this experience

2 options

Exploring Standard GroupGuide in English or Vietnamese · 07:45 and 12:30Lasts 6 hours; water and a snack included

Deluxe small-group explorationGuide in English or Vietnamese · 07:45 and 12:30Lasts 6 hours; water and a snack included; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:45 and 12:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 65 years) · Child (4 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Audio guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Cong Ty TNHH Du Lich Anh Nhu

Is this one for you?Choose the small group option if you prefer fewer people and a more intimate pace through the tunnels. The standard group works well if you're comfortable with a larger group and want the same access at a lower price. Both departures (morning or afternoon) follow the same itinerary. Pick the time that fits your schedule in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 4): free.

Can I actually go inside the Cu Chi Tunnels, or do I just look at them from outside?

You can crawl inside the tunnels if you choose to. The tour includes the option to enter the passages yourself and experience the narrow spaces where guerrillas lived and fought. It's not mandatory (some travelers prefer to stay above ground), but most people take the chance to go in.

What exactly is shown in the documentary at the start of the tour?

The documentary covers how guerrillas dug the tunnels themselves, how they lived inside them, and how they made their own weapons and traps from bamboo and other materials when they didn't have access to advanced equipment. It explains the determination and ingenuity that allowed them to survive and fight despite having far fewer resources than their opponents.

Does the tour include meals, or just snacks?

The tour includes steamed cassava to try and mineral water plus snacks on the bus. It's not a full meal, but you'll have something to eat and drink throughout the day. If you want a larger lunch, you'd need to arrange that separately.

What time does the tour start, and how long does the whole thing take?

Pickup happens between 7:45 and 8:30 in the morning (for the morning departure) or in the afternoon (for the afternoon option). The entire tour, from pickup to drop-off back in Ho Chi Minh City, takes about 7 hours.

Is firing the AK-47 included in the tour price, or is that extra?

Firing the AK-47 at the shooting range is optional and costs extra. It's not part of the standard tour price. You can choose to do it or skip it when you arrive at the site.

Where does the tour pick me up, and where does it drop me off?

The bus picks you up at your hotel if it's centrally located near Ben Thanh Market, or at a central meeting point in Ho Chi Minh City. After the tour, you're dropped back at your hotel or the same pickup location.