Cu Chi Tunnels tour: Private access, no crowds

Walk through the maze the Viet Cong built to survive.

A private Cu Chi Tunnels tour from Ho Chi Minh City with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide and entrance fees included. You choose between Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc tunnel site and decide your departure time (morning or afternoon) to avoid the crowds that pack the site on weekends and holidays. The half-day runs about six hours round-trip from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Tour

• Hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City
• Travel to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Watch wartime propaganda film
• Explore Cu Chi tunnel maze
• See mantraps and tank remains
• Optional real gun shooting
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City

The experience

How do you see the tunnels without spending the afternoon in a queue with fifty other tour groups? Book a private departure timed to miss the rush. The tunnels draw visitors every day, but the crowds thin out before 8:30 AM and again after 2:30 PM, when the morning lines have cleared and the heat has eased. A private guide and car mean you move at your own pace instead of waiting for a group to assemble at each stop.

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City's central districts, then heads to your chosen site: Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc. You'll watch a short film about how the tunnels were built and used as supply routes and hideouts during the war, then spend roughly an hour walking through the underground maze itself. The site displays captured American tank remains, bomb craters left by B-52 strikes, and the booby traps soldiers rigged to defend the tunnels. Boiled tapioca and tea are served on-site. Water and an air-conditioned vehicle are included for the ride back to your hotel by mid-afternoon.

The VIP option upgrades the transfer to a limo with beer and snacks served during the drive, while the standard private car gets you there the same way without the extras. Either way, you're traveling alone or with your group, not rotating through a bus with strangers. Gun shooting is available for an additional fee if you're over 18 and want to try it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City districts.
• entrance fees to Cu Chi Tunnels.
• English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• boiled tapioca and tea served on-site.
• bottle of water.

Options for this experience

4 options

Private TourGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 13:30By car or minibus: pickup and drop-off from any hotel or private address in Ho Chi Minh City. Pickup is included.

VIP Private TourGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 13:30Limousine transfer: pickup and drop-off from any hotel or private address in Ho Chi Minh City. Pickup is included.

Private TET HolidayGuide in English · Available from 5 Feb 2027By car or minivan: drop-off and pickup from a centrally located hotel in District 1, 3, and 4. Pickup is included.

Private VIP Tet HolidayGuide in English · Available from 5 Feb 2027By limousine: pickup and drop-off from your hotel in District 1, 3, and 4. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 13:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Indochina Heritage Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to explore the tunnels without the crowds that pack group buses, especially if you can start before 8:30 AM or arrive after 2:30 PM. The private guide and vehicle let you move through the site at your own pace instead of waiting for a tour group to assemble at each stop. Choose the VIP option if the limo transfer and refreshments during the drive matter to you. The standard private car gets you there the same way without them.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

1,228 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,209

4 ★9

3 ★4

2 ★3

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the Cu Chi Tunnels and why were they built?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground network that Viet Cong soldiers used as supply routes and hideouts during the war. The site displays the tunnels themselves, along with bomb craters from B-52 strikes, a captured American tank, and the booby traps soldiers built to defend the system. A short film shown at the start explains how they were constructed and used.

Can I choose which tunnel site to visit, Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc?

Yes, you decide which one you want to visit when you book. Both are part of the Cu Chi Tunnels system. Your guide will take you to whichever you choose.

What time should I book the tour to avoid crowds?

Aim for a departure before 8:30 AM or after 2:30 PM. The morning queues thin out by mid-morning, and the afternoon temperature is more pleasant. Weekends and Vietnamese holidays see the heaviest traffic, so an early or late slot makes a real difference on those days.

How long does the whole tour take, and what's included in the price?

The half-day tour runs about six hours round-trip from your hotel. Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City districts, entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, boiled tapioca and tea on-site, water, and an air-conditioned vehicle are all included.

What's the difference between the VIP Private Tour and the standard Private Tour?

The VIP option includes a limo transfer with beer and snacks served in the car on the way to and from the tunnels. The standard private tour uses a private car or van without those extras. Both include the same guide, entrance fees, and tunnel experience.

Is gun shooting available at the tunnels?

Yes, you can try real gun shooting for an additional fee, but only if you're 18 or older. It's optional and arranged on-site.