The Cu Chi Crawl..
Trip Start
May 02, 2006
1
106
113
Trip End
Mar 02, 2007
Cu Chi Tunnels,
Vietnam
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
So off I trot on my lonesome which was quite a strange feeling after having done everything together for the last 9 months. I was under directions to play nicely with the other children and make friends, even share my packed lunch if needs be.
So we begin the trip in our shitty minivan with a quick run through of the tunnels themselves and why they were so strategically important. The tunnel network became legendary during the 1960's for it's role in facilitating Viet Cong control of a large rural area only 30 kilometres from Saigon itself. At the time there were more than 200 kilometres of tunnels in Cu Chi alone
01 Soldier Going To An Original Entrance..
. After ground operations targeting the tunnels claimed a large number of casualties and proved ineffective, the Americans turned their artillery and B-52's on the area.So it was into what remains of the Cu Chi tunnels that we headed. There still remains part of the original tunnel system but the system that the tourist are shunted to have been enlarged by about half their size again for the fat westerners to get through. And squeeze through we did.
After walking through the general area to get a feel for the jungle (mainly new growth as it was this area that Agent Orange was used most liberally) we were marched single file into the tunnel system. We descended with some trepidation, some more than others it would seem as one middle aged American was necking a beer to calm his nerves. And it was this guy that would provide myself and two Irish guys with so much amusement during the first ten minutes down under.
Literally within a minute of crawling you are in a pitch black environment lit intermittently with dim red lanterns. I kid you not, you could not see a thing and it was freaking the American out. Liam was behind me and the yank was behind him screaming, 'where are you guys, I've lost you guys'. To which Liam answered, 'we're lost man, we're lost, we took a wrong turn we're gonna die'. This continued for five or so minutes and I was in hysterics as was Donal in front of me and the poor yank was freaking himself right out. It really was kinda scary down there and I don't have a problem with enclosed spaces so I'm afraid our laughing at him was probably pretty cruel but hey, he knew the risk and fortune didn't favour the brave on this occasion
02 New Tourist Entrance..
. For most of you the most dangerous thing likely to occur down there is scuffed knees from having to crawl along the compacted dirt floor.Anyways, once out of the tunnel system you walk around the different room types there were (now conveniently excavated with thatched roofs), and have a look-see at the different traps the Viet Cong used (with a lovely painted backdrop). All of which makes it quite an interesting day trip from Saigon. I just hope for your sake that another tourist freaks out while you're down there, it certainly made mine and a couple of Irish men's day!
Next Pod - Moc Bai (Cambodian Border), Vietnam.
Love,
Nath and Kat.
