Cu Chi Tunnels Tour: Crawl Through War History

Six hours underground: tunnels, traps, and the network that sheltered thousands

A six-hour group tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels, 75 kilometres northwest, where you crawl through sections of the 250-kilometre underground network built and expanded during the French and American wars. The tour includes hotel pickup in Districts 1, 3 or 4, an English-speaking guide, entrance fees, and drop-off back in District 1. Children from age 5 can join when accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cu Chi Tunnels and War History

• Travel to Cu Chi District
• Discover underground tunnel network
• Visit war traps exhibits
• Enter and crawl through tunnels

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City and a drive northwest to Cu Chi District. Once you arrive at the tunnel site, your guide walks you through the scale of what you're standing in front of: a network of 250 kilometres of interconnected tunnels and chambers dug by hand with simple tools, first to protect against French occupation in the 1940s, then expanded during the American War in the 1960s. The Vietnamese government has preserved sections of this underground complex as a historical site, and the tour takes you through the various areas where troops lived, worked and defended themselves.

You'll see the traps that were set throughout the tunnels, mechanisms designed to catch intruders, and then you crawl through one of the passages yourself. The tunnels are narrow and low. This is the part of the day where you move through the actual space instead of walking past it. Your guide explains the conditions soldiers endured and how the network functioned as both shelter and supply route. The tour includes tapioca, Vietnamese hot tea, bottled water, crackers and wet tissues. The small practical details matter when you're underground and the air is thick.

After the tunnel section, you return to the surface and make your way back to Ho Chi Minh City, with drop-off in District 1. The whole outing runs six hours from pickup to return. Tours run in the morning and afternoon, and you travel by air-conditioned bus or minivan depending on group size: the luxury and deluxe options cap the group at 9 or 12 people respectively, while the standard group tour goes up to 25.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Districts 1, 3 or 4 and drop-off in District 1.
• entrance fees to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
• an English-speaking guide for the full six hours.
• tapioca and Vietnamese hot tea.
• bottled water, crackers and wet tissues.
• travel insurance.
• air-conditioned transport by bus or minivan depending on group size.

Options for this experience

4 options

Group of up to 25 peopleGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Deluxe group of up to 12 peopleGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Luxury group of up to 9 peopleGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Pickup is included

Cu Chi Tour, PrivateGuide in English · 14 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:30

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

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.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by KIM TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book the standard group option if you're comfortable in a larger group and want the best value. Choose the luxury or deluxe option if you prefer a smaller group and a slower pace through the narrow tunnel sections. The morning and afternoon departures run the same route, so pick based on when you want to travel and return to your hotel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

How far is Cu Chi from Ho Chi Minh City, and how much of the day is spent traveling?

Cu Chi is located 75 kilometres northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The tour runs six hours total, which includes the drive out, time at the tunnels, and the return journey with hotel drop-off included.

What exactly do I do when I crawl through the tunnels?

You enter and move through one of the preserved tunnel passages yourself. It's a low, narrow section where you experience the actual space rather than viewing it from outside. Your guide leads you through and explains the tunnels' history and how they were used during the wars.

What were the traps I'll see, and how were they used?

The Cu Chi Tunnels included various traps designed to catch intruders and defend the network. The tour shows you these mechanisms in place so you understand the defensive strategy built into the underground complex.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes hotel pickup from Districts 1, 3 or 4; entrance fees to the tunnels; an English-speaking guide; tapioca and Vietnamese hot tea; bottled water, crackers and wet tissues; travel insurance; and drop-off in District 1. Bring comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty and closed-toe shoes for crawling.

What's the difference between the group options, standard, luxury and deluxe?

All three options follow the same itinerary and include the same inclusions. The standard group tour accommodates up to 25 people; the luxury option caps the group at 9 people; the deluxe option limits it to 12. Smaller groups mean a more intimate pace and easier access through the tunnel sections.