# Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City

> The Cu Chi Tunnels are a historic network of underground tunnels 60–70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, preserved as an open-air historic site with two entrances, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Allow about two hours on site and half a day overall. Foreigners pay roughly 90,000–110,000 VND (unofficial); open daily from about 7:00–8:00 to 17:00.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/cu-chi-tunnels

- City: [Ho Chi Minh City](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city), Vietnam
- YesGo score: 35/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 2 h 30 min
- Entry: ≈ 90,000–110,000 VND
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Foreigner ticket: Unofficial: Ben Dinh 110,000 VND, Ben Duoc 90,000 VND; VnExpress gives 85,000 VND at Ben Duoc
- Base fee: 35,000 VND per adult; half price for ages 7–15 and students, free under 7 (city council resolution 08/2020)
- Hours: Daily, roughly 7:00–17:00; some sources say 8:00–17:00
- Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours on site, 5–7 hours door to door
- Travel time: 1.5–2 hours by car each way; 2.5–3 hours by public bus with one change
- Tours: Unofficial: group tours from $20 per person, private car and guide from $180 per group, speedboat $90–150 per person
- Payment: Cash in VND at the ticket desk and snack stalls; book tours online by card
- Coordinates: 11.06300, 106.52910
- Facts checked: 05.11.2026

## Key facts

- **60–70 km** — northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City; Ben Dinh is the closer site, Ben Duoc the farther one (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia (69 km); VnExpress (about 70 km); localvietnam.com)
- **2 sites** — open to visitors, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, about 13 km apart (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia; VnExpress)
- **1.5–2.5 hours** — for one site with a guide; the underground part takes 45–60 minutes (source: localvietnam.com; Tripster tour itineraries (unofficial))
- **Widened tunnels** — the visitor sections at Ben Dinh were enlarged to fit today’s visitors (source: English Wikipedia; localvietnam.com)
- **3 levels** — the tunnels ran at three depths: about 3 m, 5–8 m and 8–12 m (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia ‘Địa đạo Củ Chi’)
- **120–250 km** — total length of the network depending on the source; only short stretches are open (source: English Wikipedia (121 km); Russian Wikipedia (about 150 km); Vietnamese Wikipedia (about 250 km, around 120 surviving))
- **2016** — the site was ranked a Special National Relic of Vietnam (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia ‘Địa đạo Củ Chi’)
- **Buses 13 + 79** — public buses to Ben Duoc: to Cu Chi Bus Station, then on to Ben Duoc Temple (source: Znews; mia.vn; localvietnam.com)
- **≈ 1 hour** — by speedboat up the Saigon River from Bach Dang Pier to Ben Dinh (source: speedboat operators’ sites (unofficial))

> **The crawl is tight, dark and hot** Even the widened section means walking bent double or on all fours: low ceilings, stale air and only small lamps. If you’re claustrophobic or have a bad back or knees, skip it — the forest trail, entrance hatches and open underground rooms are all visible from above or via steps. Going underground is always optional, and the guide waits at the exit.

## 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.

## How to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels

1. **Group tour** — the easiest option: a minibus or coach collects you from District 1 hotels around 7:30–8:00, 1.5–2 hours each way, back by lunch. Nearly all go to Ben Dinh.
2. **Private car or Grab** from Notre-Dame Cathedral — 1.5–2 hours, about 500,000 VND one way according to VnExpress. Ask the driver to wait: finding a ride back from Cu Chi is harder.
3. **Bus 13** — from Saigon Bus Station by 23/9 Park (about 1.5 km in a straight line from the cathedral, a 20–25 minute walk) to Cu Chi Bus Station (Bến xe Củ Chi). Znews reports the route is currently free under a temporary city scheme.
4. **Bus 79** — from Cu Chi Bus Station to the terminus at Ben Duoc Temple (Đền Bến Dược), next to the site entrance. The whole trip takes 2.5–3 hours; the last 79 back runs at about 17:30 per mia.vn.
5. **Speedboat on the Saigon River** — from Bach Dang Pier (Bạch Đằng), about 15 minutes’ walk from the cathedral, to Ben Dinh in about an hour each way. Operator tours only, roughly $90–150 per person (unofficial).

## Ben Dinh vs Ben Duoc at a glance

|  | Ben Dinh | Ben Duoc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| From the centre | ≈ 1.5 h | ≈ 2 h |
| Foreigner ticket | ≈ 110,000 VND | ≈ 85,000–90,000 VND |
| Crowds | Busy: most tours come here | Fewer people, quieter |
| Tunnels | Widened for visitors | Closer to original size, tighter |
| Public bus | Awkward, several changes | 13 + 79 to the gate |
| Best for | Tours, short on time, first visit | Independent travellers, quiet |

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](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/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.

## Before you go

Tick off what’s ready — your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] Picked a site: Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc
- [ ] Checked whether the ticket is included in the tour
- [ ] VND cash for tickets and drinks
- [ ] Closed shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting muddy
- [ ] Repellent, hat and sunscreen
- [ ] Enough water for the trip
- [ ] Last bus time noted, or the driver agreed to wait

## Historic places in Ho Chi Minh City

Places in Ho Chi Minh City with a past, rated by YesGo.

- [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass
- [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
- [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
- [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
- [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry
- [War Remnants Museum](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/war-remnants-museum) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 60,000 VND; concessions 30,000
- [Museum of Vietnamese History](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/museum-of-vietnamese-history) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 60,000 VND; kids and students free
- [Cu Chi Tunnels](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/cu-chi-tunnels) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 90,000–110,000 VND

## Cu Chi in the morning, downtown after lunch

Morning at Cu Chi, back in town for lunch at Ben Thanh Market, then the Opera House and the Central Post Office. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the timing.

1. [Cu Chi Tunnels](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/cu-chi-tunnels) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 90,000–110,000 VND
2. [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry
3. [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
4. [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free

> **Beat the tour buses** Big groups reach Ben Dinh around 10:00. By car or Grab, leave around 6:30: at 8:00 the trail is nearly empty, the forest is cooler and the mosquitoes are less of a nuisance than in the midday heat.

## Not to be confused with

Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc are two separate sites about 13 km apart — tell your driver which one you want. ‘Cu Chi’ alone usually means Ben Dinh on tour listings.

## Tips

- 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](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/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

### How much is the entrance fee for the Cu Chi Tunnels?

The official base fee is 35,000 VND per adult. Foreigners are usually charged about 110,000 VND at Ben Dinh and 85,000–90,000 VND at Ben Duoc (unofficial). Pay in cash.

### Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc — which is better?

Ben Dinh is closer, busier and has widened tunnels; nearly every tour goes there. Ben Duoc is farther and quieter, with tighter tunnels and a direct public bus.

### How do I get to the Cu Chi Tunnels by public bus?

Take bus 13 from Saigon Bus Station by 23/9 Park to Cu Chi Bus Station, then bus 79 to Ben Duoc. Allow 2.5–3 hours each way.

### How long does it take to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels?

1.5–2 hours by car or Grab, 2.5–3 hours by public bus and about an hour by speedboat from Bach Dang Pier to Ben Dinh.

### How long should I spend at the Cu Chi Tunnels?

1.5–2.5 hours on site. With travel, plan on half a day, 5–7 hours.

### Are the Cu Chi Tunnels OK if I’m claustrophobic?

You don’t have to go underground. The forest trail, hatches and open rooms are worth seeing on their own; the crawl is optional and has exits along the way.

### What should I wear to the Cu Chi Tunnels?

Clothes you don’t mind getting muddy, closed shoes with grip and a hat. Bring water and mosquito repellent.

### Can I visit the Cu Chi Tunnels with kids?

Yes, if they handle heat and a long drive. Under-7s are exempt from the base fee. Skip the crawl if they’re uneasy in tight spaces.

### Can I combine the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta?

Yes, but it’s a 10–12 hour day with more than half spent driving. Two separate days work much better.

### Is a speedboat tour to Cu Chi worth it?

If you want a scenic river ride instead of a highway, yes — about an hour each way from Bach Dang Pier. It costs several times a bus tour, roughly $90–150 per person.

## How we checked

This page is deliberately practical: at the owner’s request it covers only the visit itself. We couldn’t open an official price list from the sites (diadaocuchi.com.vn refused the connection), so the only official figure is the 35,000 VND base fee from city council resolution 08/2020, which sets no separate foreigner rate. Foreigner prices disagree: 110,000 VND at Ben Dinh and 90,000 at Ben Duoc (localvietnam.com and other guides), 85,000 for foreigners at Ben Duoc (VnExpress), 70,000 (Vietnamese guide sites) and 125,000 (a single guide) — we show the most common figures and mark them unofficial. Hours are 7:00–17:00 per mia.vn and 8:00–17:00 per localvietnam.com; we show both. Network length differs between encyclopedias (121 km English, about 150 Russian, about 250 Vietnamese Wikipedia), so we give a range. The 13 km between sites is from VnExpress only; the three tunnel levels and relic status are from Vietnamese Wikipedia only. Free fares on buses 13 and 79 come from Znews and the scheme is temporary. Speedboat times and tour prices are from operators and Tripster, unofficial. Distances from the cathedral to Saigon Bus Station and Bach Dang Pier are our own straight-line estimates. The English core was built from English search results and related questions.

## Sources

- Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council Resolution 08/2020/NQ-HĐND (via caselaw.vn) — base fee, discounts and exemptions
- Vietnamese Wikipedia: ‘Địa đạo Củ Chi’ — distance, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc locations, tunnel levels, relic status
- English Wikipedia: ‘Củ Chi tunnels’ — the two sites, widened tunnels; Wikidata Q192721
- Russian Wikipedia: ‘Тоннели Кути’ — network length
- VnExpress: 48-hour Cu Chi travel guide — distance, 13 km between sites, foreigner ticket at Ben Duoc, bus 13, taxi fare
- Znews: ‘Du lịch khắp TP.HCM với tuyến xe buýt 0 đồng’ — buses 13 and 79, temporary free fares
- localvietnam.com: ‘Cu Chi Tunnels’ — Ben Dinh vs Ben Duoc, prices, hours, buses, what to wear
- mia.vn: Cu Chi travel guide — opening hours, bus 13 and 79 operating hours
- Tripster and speedboat operators’ sites: tour prices and durations, unofficial

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