Apart from the tunnels as a spotlight, the area now features a site replicating a small village in the liberated Cu Chi zone during the 1960-1975 period. (Photo: VNA) The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City isworking on a dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition for the tunnels.
Located in Tan Phu Trung and Phuoc Vinh An communesin Cu Chi district, about 70km from downtown HCM City, the tunnels were builtby local residents and soldiers using simple tools from 1946 to 1968 asshelters from US and Sai Gon troops during the war.
Initially, they dug only short sections with simplestructure to hide documents, weapons and resistance members. The tunnels were graduallyconnected and extended into a system which by 1965 had a combined length of about200km of underground trenches arranged in three floors. The deepest floor isabout 8-12 metres under the ground.
The tunnel system runs in a zig-zag shape underground,and the main route branches out in multiple directions that connect in someareas, depending on the terrain.
The Cu Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the war. (Photo courtesy of Cu Chi Tunnels) Many exits open to the Sai Gon River so that inemergencies residents in the tunnels could escape by river route to Ben Catresistance base in Binh Duong province.
The tunnel system is bulletproof and can withstandthe weight of tanks and armoured vehicles.
To complete the construction, dozens of soldiers andresidents braved the bombardment of the enemy and worked round the clock digand remove a huge amount of soil and rock in secrecy.
During his trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels in 1995, CubanMinister of Culture Armando Hart Davalos paised the courage and honour oflocals, as well as the rich culture of Vietnam, and described the tunnels as asacred site and great legend.
The system has significantly contributed to theVietnam’s major victories such as the 1968 Spring Mau Than General Offensiveand Uprising, and the Great 1975 Spring Victory.
After 1975, the tunnels have been preserved and upgradedto become a revolutionary historical relic site, and is opened to tourists.
According to the management board of the Cu ChiTunnels, the relic site has welcomed about 1.5 million visitors each year,including foreign high-ranking leaders and military officers.
Apart from the tunnels as a spotlight, the area nowfeatures a site replicating a small village in the liberated Cu Chi zone duringthe 1960-1975 period, along with a corner displaying weapons.
Tourists will also have a chance to experience farmingactivities and taste special dishes in Cu Chi, notably “khoai mi” (cassava) thatwas a main dish of locals during the wartime./.
VNA
