In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, there are plenty of tourists who come to visit every day. Without a doubt, the city has plenty to offer. What many tourists don’t realize is that there is so much more to explore and experience of Vietnamese culture right in the middle of the city in the Cu Chi tunnels.
Underneath Ho Chi Minh is an amazing network of tunnels, rooms, cellars, and other fascinating nooks and crannies that have become available to tourists as each of them has been found. Many of these were used during the Cold War for different purposes, such as for storing weapons, publishing news, and printing propaganda material to give to the people
Among the numerous cellars and tunnels that were used, two stood out the most: Secret Cellar B, and Gia Phu in District 6. Secret Cellar B was held an undercover printing press. The family that ran it was able to provide crucial news about the war to the city’s inhabitants. It was a very risky, but valuable endeavor during this time as many of the people under French control in southern Vietnam did not have access to news or information.
Secret Cellar B was used right up until 1959, when the people who ran it had to shut it down and hide it to avoid being found. Because it was kept so well hidden, it is a great opportunity for visitors to get an authentic experience of what life would have been like back in the days of the war.
Gia Phu in District 6 is another such cellar. It was also used as a printing press and can be found underneath what used to be a factory. It was used to help provide news just as Secret Cellar B had done before it. It was detected in 1970, however, and had to cease operations.
Other exquisite tunnel finds, like the Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City, include the tunnel system that runs underneath the Palace, as well as underneath the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The difficulty for tourists when wanting to visit any of these fascinating locations is that they have to contact authorities in the city to set up special appointments to see them.
Ho Chi Minh City is a great hub of activity and offers great services and vendors to its inhabitants. Its name actually refers back to one of North Vietnam’s most recognizable , Hô Chí Minh, who was the very first leader to step up and take control of the northern area of Vietnam.
The Cu Chi tunnels of Ho Chi Minh City served a noble purpose. A place for Vietnamese fighters to take cover during the war, it was able to show the people of Vietnam how they were able to stand up for each other during a very difficult time. From providing shelter to news, to weapons to the Vietnamese people from these secret areas, both the people working undercover and the citizens were able to stay informed and to stay connected during the war and afterward.
