Day 1 in Ho Chi Minh : Cu Chi Tunnel and City Tour

Day 1. 

A good benefit of staying at the backpackers’ area is that tour arrangements include picking you up at your hotel. It’s one less worry of having to find the meet-up point. :)  The tour guide arrived around 8:15 AM. Aside from us, there were other tourists from the other hotels in the backpackers’ area that he picked up for the tour. We then hopped on the bus, and got around several other hotels to pick-up other tourists.

By 9AM, we are already en route to our tour destination. Midway through, we had a 15-minute stopover at a Handicapped Handicrafts shop. Not only you will be able to see handmade handicrafts being sold, but you also get a chance to see how they’re done. It’s my first time to see how these glossy stuffs were made, so I’m really amazed and impressed with what I saw. 

After about an hour, we finally reach our destination. Here you will pay an entrance fee of 90,000VND. Note that this is not part of the $6 charge for the tour. On the way, the tour guide will collect the fees, and he will take care of paying for the entrance fee once you’re there.

The tour will start with a film showing of the Vietnam War. After the video, there will also be a few minute discussion of the war, and how the Viet Cong people built and lived in the tunnels. 

Then the tour will go around showing how Viet Cong people lived, and what they built to protect/defend themselves during war time.

Here below is an actual size of the tunnel that was previously built. They said it was built this small so only Viet Cong people could fit, as Western people has a larger build and could not fit in.

I was the first in our group to try the tunnel and luckily, i fit in. :)

You also have the option to try out firearm shooting;  this has to be paid separately.  I opted not to try and instead had a snack while waiting.

Then came our time to try going in the tunnel. It’s a 100M long journey, with an exit in every 20M, so anyone who get tired easily or does not enjoy being in the tunnel has the option to go out. It’s not easy being in there, knowing you can only duck-walk or crawl to be able to go through. But i still managed to complete the 100M. :)

As the last stop, we will be served with tapioca, to experience what Viet Cong people ate during the war. It’s not anything unique for us Filipinos, as it very much just tasted like camote. :)

The tour ended around 2:30PM. We were back in the city about 4PM. The drop-off was at Ben Thanh Market, just right as we planned to have lunch at Pho2000. After lunch, we then decided to take a tour of the city. 

In Vietnam, motorcycle is their basic mode of transportation so you’ll really be amazed with the motorcycle traffic, and how they battle with cars and buses on the roads. Walking around the city, be careful in crossing streets as motorcycles appear everywhere. :) Even if you’re already walking in the sidewalk, they still pass by, so you still have to be watchful.

Not much pictures were taken during our city tour, as it was already starting to rain. First stop, War Remnants Museum. It was an eye opener on how Vietnam fought and suffered during the war.

Next, Reunification Palace. It was closed already at the time we arrived, so we did not have a chance to tour around. Then we headed to Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office. We were not able to get in the Cathedral as mass is already ongoing. Inside the Post Office, there are shops where you can buy souvenirs or trinkets.  

We also managed to pass by some malls along the way. Diamond Plaza is just across the Post Office, then few blocks away is the Vincom Centre and Parkson. The rain went harder during our walkabout, so we just passed by City Hall and Opera House. After dinner, the rain stopped so we decided to end our tour with pasalubong shopping at Ben Thanh Market.