| Cu Chi Tunnels ~ |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sixty kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City lies the Ben Dinh Tunnel, belonging to the famous Cu Chi tunnels, which the Vietcong built to sustain aerial attack above ground. The main tunnels used during the war were approximately two feet by two feet. Basically allowing only those small enough and nimble enough to escape and move from point to point. |
| The tunnels would open up into larger rooms, where the Vietnamese would hold meetings, dine or sleep. When we first arrived, our guide had us look for the opening to the tunnel which he said somewhere underneath a pile of leaves. After about five minutes of shuffling the leaves back and forth, the guide brushed off a few leaves where we all had passed, and opened up the entrance to one of the secret tunnels. |
| After an attempt of sticking my butt into the hole (above), which didn't fit by the way, we went to a section that had been carved out to allow "larger bodies" to experience the underground. The tunnels were still small enough that I had to squat or crawl on my hands and knees, and was definitely not a place for those who are claustrophobic. It was a great opportunity to experience something I had only heard about and seen in books. |
| At the site, there were also exhibits of homemade boobie-traps, weapons and snares used in the jungle. To the left is a swing-door that, if stepped on, will open and allow the poor soul to fall onto sharp bamboo spears jutting up from the earth. This place affirmed my admiration and sympathy for all who fought in this hell, and made me very grateful I was only an infant at the time. |