Cu Chi Tunnels: A Practical Guide for Your Visit

Which site to choose, what it costs, how to get there, and how to make a half-day trip from Saigon actually meaningful.

Published Oct 2026 • Updated Oct 2026 • By the Vietnam Private Tours planning team, reviewed by Van Anh (Founder & Chief Executive Officer)

Quick answer

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a half-day trip from Ho Chi Minh City: about 1.5–2 hours by car or 1–1.5 hours by speedboat. Choose Ben Dinh (closer, busier) or Ben Duoc (quieter, with the memorial temple). They open about 7:00–17:00 daily and foreigners pay about 120,000–135,000 VND (US$5). Go at opening time to beat the heat and the crowds.

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Ben Dinh vs Ben Duoc

	Ben Dinh	Ben Duoc
Distance from central Saigon	Closer (about 1.5 hours)	Roughly 10–15 km further (about 2 hours)
Crowds	Busy, most group tours	Noticeably quieter
Tunnels to crawl	Widened sections, several lengths	Widened sections; feels more original
Extras	Shooting range, film, displays	Memorial temple (Đền Bến Dược), wider park
Best for	Short visits, first-timers	History lovers, anyone avoiding crowds

A short history of the tunnels

The Cu Chi network was started in the late 1940s during the war against French rule and extended in the 1960s into a system of roughly 250 km of tunnels on several levels. It linked hidden villages, field hospitals, kitchens and command posts under what was one of the most bombed areas of the war, a short distance from the large US base at Dong Du. The tunnels let local fighters move and survive, and the area later became the staging ground for the 1968 Tet Offensive on Saigon.

Today's visit shows the trapdoor entrances, the smokeless Hoang Cam kitchens that vented smoke far from the tunnel, sleeping chambers and the booby traps. It is told from the Vietnamese perspective; a good guide fills in the wider context, including the American and South Vietnamese side of the story.

Tickets, hours and extras in 2026

Opening hours: about 7:00–17:00 every day.
Entrance: about 120,000–135,000 VND for foreign adults (sources vary; no official 2026 notice has been published), 35,000 VND for Vietnamese adults.
Shooting range: optional, charged per bullet (roughly 40,000–80,000 VND depending on the gun), often with a minimum of about ten rounds.
Getting there: private car about 1.5–2 hours each way; speedboat on the Saigon River 1–1.5 hours.

Figures come from Vietnamese sources checked in October 2026; they change, so confirm at the gate.

How to plan your visit

Option	Good for	Trade-off
Morning by private car	Families, flexible timing, Ben Duoc	Road traffic leaving Saigon
Speedboat on the Saigon River	Scenery, avoiding traffic	Costs more
Afternoon visit	Fewer groups after 14:00	Hot until late afternoon
Combine with the Cao Dai Temple	History plus culture in one day	A long day (about 9–10 hours)

From our Saigon guides

Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty and closed shoes; the crawl sections are red earth.
Bring a small flashlight or use your phone. The tunnels are lit, but only just.
Use insect repellent. The site is forest, and mosquitoes are busy at dawn and dusk.
Ask your guide about the people. The best visits are less about the traps and more about how families lived underground for years.

Our Classic Cu Chi Tunnels tour is private, with a Saigon-based guide and car; we can switch it to Ben Duoc or add the speedboat on request.

Sources

Cẩm nang du lịch Địa đạo Củ Chi — opening hours and tickets (Vietnamese)
Địa đạo Củ Chi: hướng dẫn tham quan, giá vé 2026 (Vietnamese)

Frequently asked questions

Are the Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting?

Yes, if you are interested in the Vietnam War or simply in how people lived through it. You crawl through a widened section of tunnel, see the hidden trapdoors, kitchens and booby traps, and hear the story from the Vietnamese side. Allow half a day from Ho Chi Minh City.

Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc: which Cu Chi Tunnels site should I visit?

Ben Dinh is closer to Ho Chi Minh City and is where most tours go; it is well organized but busy. Ben Duoc is roughly 10–15 km further, larger, quieter, and has the memorial temple to those who died in the region. Tickets cost about the same. If you dislike crowds, choose Ben Duoc.

What are the Cu Chi Tunnels opening hours?

The tunnel sites open daily from about 7:00 to 17:00. Arrive at opening time or after 14:00 to avoid the late-morning tour-bus peak and the worst of the midday heat.

How much is the Cu Chi Tunnels entrance fee?

As of October 2026, foreign visitors are quoted about 120,000–135,000 VND (roughly US$5) per adult; Vietnamese adults pay 35,000 VND. Tour prices usually include the ticket. The shooting range is extra and charged per bullet, roughly 40,000–80,000 VND depending on the gun.

How do I get to the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City?

By private car or tour, about 1.5–2 hours each way depending on traffic, or by speedboat up the Saigon River, about 1–1.5 hours, which is more scenic. Public buses go but involve changes and a long walk.

Can you go inside the Cu Chi Tunnels if you are claustrophobic or tall?

You do not have to. The visit is mostly above ground, and the crawl-through section is optional. It has been widened for visitors but is still tight, dark and hot; most adults crouch or crawl. You can walk the short sections and skip the longer ones.

Are the Cu Chi Tunnels suitable for children?

Yes, for school-age children who are curious about history. The paths are easy and the tunnels optional. Parents should know that the booby-trap displays are graphic and that gunfire from the shooting range is loud and frequent.

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