I'm Not Going in Those Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels

My great-grandfather was a Pennsylvania coal miner, sent into the mines at the age of 12 but I can't go into any tight spot underground. Guess the apple fell a long way from that tree!

Phobia aside, visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels was hstory made real...and surreal, too... 

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a popular tourist destination. Some tunnels have been widened and made taller to accommodate the public. First you get there through the jungle.

Hot, steamy jungle. Paths are a recent addition

Dirt from the tunnels had to be disposed off without revealing the presence of the tunnels. Some tailings were fashioned into anthills. A bamboo stick in the "anthill" supplied fresh air.

For demonstration, this "anthill" is on the path, not in the dense foliage

In 1969 the U.S. began "carpet bombing" the Cu Chi area.

cluster bombs

Scandals worn by Viet Cong and  made from discarded rubber tires. We watched them being made.

Mr. Win, our guide, showed us how to use the secret tunnels. You went in one entrance and popped up in another spot.

Once the lid was lowered, the opening was invisible

Video

Then Andy, our tour's " tunnel rat", gave it a try. I yelled, "Andy, don't do it!", but he did and it turned

out OK

Another tunnel..several tour members tried it.

Thank goodness, a way out!

If I had been in the Cu Chi area in the Vietnam War and bombs were falling, I would not have gone into the tunnels. I would have thrown myself in a bomb crater and hoped that the U.S. didn't bomb the same place again!

The History

The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Cu Chi district of Saigon, Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tet Offensive in 1968.

The tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped achieve ultimate military success. (Wikipedia)

I had heard of the tunnels and of "tunnel rats" but was shocked at the reality. So extensive, such small entrances... The U.S. campaigne against the tunnels was mostly ineffective, as entering the tunnels was so dangerous.

 Life for the V.C. in the tunnels was difficult, due to scarce air, food and water, and sickness, esp. malaria and intestinal parasites. 20,000 Viet Cong lived and fought in the tunnels (including woman and children). By the end of the war, 12,000 were dead or missing, and another 4000 had been injured.