Ho Chi Minh: Cu Chi Tunnels Day Trip & Local Lunch

Summary

Cu Chi tunnels day trip from Ho Chi Minh with history, local stories and street food

You’ll crawl through real Cu Chi tunnel sections near Ho Chi Minh City with a local guide sharing personal stories along the way. Expect earthy smells, close-up history lessons, and a fresh banh mi sandwich on your ride back—plus hotel pickup so you can just focus on taking it all in.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air to feel so heavy when we first ducked into the Cu Chi tunnels. You know that feeling when you’re suddenly somewhere that’s seen a lot? It kind of sticks to your skin. Our guide, Hanh, joked about how she still gets lost in there sometimes — but then she got serious and showed us the tiny trapdoors, her voice dropping as she explained how families lived for months underground. I tried to imagine it, but honestly, even crouching for five minutes made my knees ache. The walls were cool and rough under my hands, and every sound seemed to echo twice as loud.

The drive out from Ho Chi Minh City was longer than I thought — about two hours — but watching scooters zip past rice paddies kept me awake (plus Hanh pointed out a spot where her grandmother used to sell noodles). At the tunnels, there was this faint scent of damp earth mixed with something metallic. We crawled through one of the shorter sections (I’m not sure I’d manage the full 200km), and when we popped up again into sunlight, I felt oddly grateful for fresh air. There was a moment where an older man in our group just sat quietly on a bench after — not saying much, just looking at his hands.

On the way back toward Ho Chi Minh City we stopped for banh mi at a roadside place Hanh swears is “the best in District 12.” I tried to say thank you in Vietnamese; she laughed and corrected my accent (I probably butchered it). The bread was warm and crisp, with this spicy-sweet sauce that lingered all afternoon. We swapped stories about what we’d seen — some people were quiet, others couldn’t stop talking about the tunnel tricks they’d learned. Honestly, I still think about that feeling underground sometimes. Makes you see things differently.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cu Chi Tunnels and local sandwich

• Travel 2 hours west from Ho Chi Minh City
• Tour the Cu Chi tunnels with guide
• Enjoy a local sandwich returning to city

Top questions

How far are the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City?

The tunnels are about two hours west of Ho Chi Minh City by private transport.

Is hotel pickup included in this Cu Chi Tunnels day trip?

Yes, pickup from centrally located hotels in Ho Chi Minh City is included.

What do you do during the tour?

You’ll explore parts of the Cu Chi tunnel system with a local guide and learn about their wartime history.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

You get a local sandwich (banh mi) on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City.

How much walking or crawling is involved?

The tour includes around 1 mile (1.5 km) of walking plus crawling through short tunnel sections if you wish.

Are dietary requirements catered for?

Vegetarian and lactose intolerance can be accommodated if notified at least 24 hours before travel.

Is this tour suitable for kids?

The minimum age is 6 years old due to physical requirements inside the tunnels.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City, private transport out toward the Cambodian border, entrance fees for the Cu Chi Tunnels memorial park with a knowledgeable English-speaking local guide leading you through each stop, tips on what else to see or eat during your stay, plus a fresh banh mi sandwich on your return journey home.