After the Cao Dai Temple we made our way to the Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels were originally used by the Viet Minh in their war against the French; later they were used by the NLF against South Vietnamese and American forces. It has been turned into a sort of interpretive center that is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Ho Chi Minh City area.
Here our guide shows us a camouflaged entrance to the tunnels. When the cover is down it is very hard to spot.
Liz and I took turns climbing into the hole. Even though the space has been widened to accommodate tourists we could barely fit.
Visitors to Cu Chi can visit the firing range to shoot a few rounds. It is not cheap: about $10 for 10 rounds from an M-30 and a bit more for the M-16. That doesn’t sound like much, but 10 rounds from the M-16 goes REALLY QUICKLY. Liz, Jess, Zach, and Kelly all decided to take the plunge at the firing range. I don’t like loud noises, but I stood nearby (with earplugs!) so I could get some pictures. Notice the spent shell casings–the photo is the tiniest fraction. There were huge piles a little further beyond the fence.
Vietnam, Past and Present 