Afternoon Cu Chi Tunnels tour from Ho Chi Minh City: Small group

The tunnels held kitchens, hospitals and weapons factories underground, hidden from the air.

An afternoon small-group tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels, 37 miles northwest, with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup from District 1, and entrance included. You watch an introductory video about tunnel construction, then walk through the remaining tunnel systems and living areas (kitchens, bedrooms, storage, field hospitals and command centers) before returning to the city. The tour runs 6.5 hours and caps at 12 people per group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon tour of Cu Chi Tunnels

• Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 13:00
• Arrive at Cu Chi Tunnels
• Watch introductory video about tunnels
• Explore tunnel systems and living areas
• Learn about traps and wartime facilities
• Enjoy tea and cassava snack
• Optional shooting experience (self-paid)
• Return to Saigon and end trip

The experience

The tour departs at 1 p.m. from centrally located hotels in District 1 and travels 37 miles to Cu Chi, a district that earned the name "area of steel" for its role in the Vietnam War. The tunnel network once stretched over 135 miles underground, built as an unbreakable village where soldiers lived and fought. An air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide handles the transport, and the entrance fee is included in the price.

At the site, you start with a short introduction and a video explaining how the tunnels were constructed and how people survived in wartime conditions. Then you move through the remaining tunnel systems and explore the living spaces carved into the earth: kitchens where meals were cooked, bedrooms, storage areas, weapons factories, field hospitals and command centers. The maze-like layout includes hidden trap doors and dangerous traps that were built for security during the war. After the walk-through, the tour provides special tea and cassava, the food guerrillas ate during the conflict.

A break follows for rest or, if you choose, a chance to try live shooting at a nearby range. This costs extra and is only available to adults. The return journey to Ho Chi Minh City ends the tour, though traffic can affect the exact arrival time.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at centrally located hotels in District 1.
• entrance fee to Cu Chi Tunnels.
• introductory video and guided tunnel exploration.
• special tea and cassava served during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:45Last departure this season: 31 Dec

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. 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 with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TNK Travel

Is this one for you?Book this afternoon departure if you're staying in District 1 and want a half-day outing without an early start, with hotel pickup included.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 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.

How far is Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City?

Cu Chi Tunnels sits 37 miles northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The tour includes round-trip transport by air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup is available from centrally located hotels in District 1.

What exactly will I see inside the tunnels?

The tunnels contain the remaining living areas, kitchens, bedrooms, storage rooms, weapons factories, field hospitals and command centers that soldiers used during the war. You'll also see the hidden trap doors and dangerous traps built into the maze-like passages for security purposes.

Is the entrance fee included in the tour price?

Yes, the entrance fee to Cu Chi Tunnels is included. The tour also covers the English-speaking guide, hotel pickup from District 1, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the full 6.5-hour trip.

What happens during the tour besides walking through the tunnels?

Before exploring, you'll watch an introductory video about how the tunnels were built and how people survived wartime conditions. After the tunnel walk, the tour provides special tea and cassava, the food guerrillas ate during the war. A break follows for rest, and adults can optionally pay extra to try live shooting at a nearby range.

What time does the afternoon tour depart?

The tour departs at 1 p.m. from centrally located hotels in District 1. The full trip takes 6.5 hours, though the return time can vary depending on traffic conditions.