Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City

Are the Cu Chi Tunnels worth it?

The Cu Chi Tunnels (Địa đạo Củ Chi) are a historic network of underground tunnels in Cu Chi, 60–70 km northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City, preserved as an open-air historic site. Technically still part of the city, in practice it’s a trip into the countryside: tropical forest, footpaths, tiny hatches in the ground and short tunnel sections you can climb into.

Yes, it’s worth it if you want half a day out of the city and don’t mind heat, mud and a tight squeeze. The underground part lasts 45–60 minutes; the rest is a guided forest walk with stops at entrances and shaded shelters. It isn’t a museum with display cases — what you see is earth, forest and how narrow the passages are.

It’s less rewarding if you hate humidity and mosquitoes, won’t go underground, and resent three to four hours in a car for a two-hour visit. In that case, spend the morning in the city instead.

Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc: which site to visit?

Ben Dinh (Bến Đình) is closer, about 1.5 hours by car, and almost every group tour goes here. Expect crowds in the middle of the day, with groups following each other along the trail. The visitor tunnels are widened, paths are well laid out, and there are shelters and snack stalls. It’s the easy choice on a half-day tour.

Ben Duoc (Bến Dược) is about 13 km farther, roughly two hours from the city. It’s quieter, greener and more spread out, and it’s where public bus 79 ends, so independent travellers tend to choose it. The tunnels here stay closer to their old size, so the crawl is tighter.

Our take: on a tour with little time, Ben Dinh; on your own or after some quiet, Ben Duoc. Don’t try to do both in one day — the experience is similar and the extra driving eats the afternoon.

How much are Cu Chi Tunnels tickets?

The official base fee, set by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, is 35,000 VND per adult, half for ages 7–15 and students, free under 7. Foreign visitors are usually charged more at the gate: guidebooks give 110,000 VND at Ben Dinh and 90,000 VND at Ben Duoc, while VnExpress quotes 85,000 VND for foreigners at Ben Duoc. A site guide is normally included.

We couldn’t open an official price list for foreigners from the sites themselves, so treat these as unofficial and carry a little extra. Pay in cash, in VND: foreign Visa and Mastercard work at hotels and larger restaurants in the city, but out here it’s cash. Grab takes cash or a linked foreign card.

Most tours include the ticket, but the cheapest group deals sometimes don’t — check the listing. Tripster shows group half-day tours from $20 per person and private car-and-guide trips from $180 per group of up to 10; speedboat tours run $90–150 per person (unofficial).

Opening hours and how long to spend

Both sites open every day, Tet included. Sources differ on the start time — 7:00–17:00 per mia.vn, 8:00–17:00 per localvietnam.com — so plan to arrive after 8:00 and no later than 15:30 to walk the whole route without rushing.

Allow 1.5–2.5 hours on site: 45–60 minutes underground with a guide, the rest on the trails and resting in the shade. Door to door it’s a 5–7 hour trip, about 6–7 by speedboat. An early start, around 7:30–8:00, beats the heat and the big groups and gets you back for lunch.

You can go year-round. May to November is the rainy season and the paths get slippery, but localvietnam.com notes the tunnels don’t flood. December to April is drier but hot by midday.

What to see and do at Cu Chi

• The forest trail — a guided loop through tropical woodland between entrances, shelters and clearings. It’s most of the visit and easy for everyone.
• Tiny entrance hatches — square lids almost invisible under the leaves. The guide shows how they’re found and opened, and you can pose at one.
• Crawling a widened section — a few dozen metres underground, bent double or on all fours, with exits along the way if you want out early.
• Underground rooms — taller chambers you reach by steps and can stand up in.
• Quiet time at Ben Duoc — if you come here, leave time just to walk: fewer groups, denser forest.

Crawling through the tunnels: what to wear and how fit you need to be

The visitor tunnel is low: you’ll walk crouched, sometimes squat or crawl. It’s hot and humid underground, dim, and the red clay ends up on your clothes. You need basic fitness — if a long crouch is hard on your legs, do the first stretch only and take the first exit up.

Wear light trousers or shorts you don’t mind ruining, a T-shirt and closed shoes with grip; sandals are awkward on wet clay. Leave bags in the vehicle or with the guide — they snag in a narrow passage.

Heat and mosquitoes: the forest is humid and mosquitoes are plentiful, especially in the rainy season, so put repellent on before you arrive. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen for the trail. Come back up straight away if you feel short of breath or dizzy.

Ben Dinh vs Ben Duoc at a glance

Travel times and ticket prices are unofficial figures from guidebooks and VnExpress; both sites keep the same hours.

Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta in one day

Combined ‘Cu Chi plus Mekong Delta’ days exist, but the logistics are heavy: Cu Chi lies northwest of the city and My Tho southwest, so you pass back through Ho Chi Minh City in between. Expect 10–12 hours, more than half of it on the road, with a couple of hours at each stop.

With two days in the city, split them: Cu Chi in the morning and back for lunch, the delta the next day. With only one, book a combined private tour and leave as early as you can.

Visiting Cu Chi with kids

Fine for children who cope with heat and a long drive. The forest trail and hidden hatches tend to go down well, and small kids fit the tunnels more easily than adults. But the passage is tight and dark — if a child is scared, don’t push; just head back up.

Bring water, hats, repellent and a spare T-shirt. Under-7s are exempt from the base fee and ages 7–15 pay half, but confirm the foreigner rate at the desk.

Historic places in Ho Chi Minh City

Places in Ho Chi Minh City with a past, rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

How to do it right

• Going independently? Pick Ben Duoc — bus 79 goes to the gate and it’s quieter.
• Leave your bag above ground: it gets in the way in a narrow passage.
• Put repellent on in the car — mosquitoes find you fast in the forest.
• Pack a spare T-shirt: you’ll come out sweaty and streaked with clay.
• Going by Grab, arrange for the driver to wait — rides back from Cu Chi are hard to find.
• Back by lunchtime? Eat around Ben Thanh Market — most tours drop off in District 1.
• The last bus 79 leaves Ben Duoc around 17:30, so don’t linger until closing.

Questions