One of the big tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City are the Cu Chi tunnels. Cu Chi is a suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City and the tunnels there are part of a huge network of connecting underground tunnels, which where used by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam war.
One way to get from district 1 (the backpacker district) in Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi tunnels is to take a special tourist bus. The ticket for the tourist bus can be bought at many places, for example at tourist agencies and hostels. At the Nga Hoang hostel it was sold for 7 USD but supposedly you can also get it for 5 USD. The tourist bus takes you directly to the tunnels and back to district 1.
Another option is to take the public bus. The advantage of this option is, that you can visit the tunnels on your own pace without following a big group, you can experience a local bus ride as the only tourist on the bus and in addition it is much cheaper than the tourist bus. From district 1 to the Cu Chi Tunnels and back costs altogether 18000 Dong (around 1 USD).
Going by public bus you first have to take bus 13, which takes off at the Ho Chi Minh city bus center in the first district (see map below), and go all the way to the end station in Cu Chi.
At the Cu Chi bus station you have to switch to bus 79, which takes you directly to the tunnels. There are several signs along the way saying Cu Chi tunnels, so you can’t miss it.
Here are the ticket prices and journey times for the public buses:
Bus 13 to Cu Chi: 5000 Dong, journey time around 60 min
Bus 79 to the tunnels: 4000 Dong, journey time around 30 min
At the tunnels, the entrance fee is 80.000 Dong (which is NOT included in the price for the special tourist bus).
The area around the tunnels is quite big and offers several attractions, like a temple with a big Ho Chi Minh statue, and you can spend half a day there walking around.
About 15 min walk from the ticket counter is the entrance to the actual parts of the tunnels which can be visited by tourists. Here you can first watch an introduction video, which is however less informative but more like an old propaganda video from the Vietnam war. This old black and white film in poor quality praises, for example, the so called “American killing heroes” from Cu Chi, who killed dozens of Americans.
After the video, a guide shows you around in the tunnels area and explains a bit. You see for example the traps which where used by the Cu Chi fighters.
The most interesting part of visiting the Cu Chi tunnels is to actually crawl through the tunnels. Some sections are really tight, where you have to crawl on your knees to get through (while bats are hanging over your head), and you can get an idea how it must have been for the Cu Chi fighter to live there for month and years.
Thanks for your blog! Helped me and my family a lot. Keep posting!
Good post, the public bus tips worked like a charm.
It took about 2h30min one way including wait time at the stations.
Also, since 1/1/2013 the ticket price are 7,000 and 6,000.
Thanks for the ticket price update!
Great advice thanks, did this trip today. Prices the same as above – Bus 13 was 7000d and bus 79 6000d. Time wise on the bus, we had a quick journey I think based on traffic but was still 1,5hours from HCMC and then 45mins from Cu Chi to the tunnel, better than hotel pick ups though!! We had to ask our driver twice where to stop and he eventually told us to get out! Coming back also easy, just wait at the junction of the main road and wave when the bus comes! Great way to do this trip, scenery from the bus is great and you feel like you’ve achieved something when you get there and back on your own!
Good information…
Great advice; thanks for making this easy. While I travel with a local much of the time, it’s a great feeling to get out and see the actual local life, rather than some tourist bus full of backpackers. Besides, the tourist bus with all its stops and other nonsense doesn’t save much time anyway.
Thanks for the great and very detailed tips! 🙂 I went to Vietnam in 2005, but mainly to HCMC and 2 provinces. One of the buses that we rode going to the province passed by the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Ben Duoc pagoda, but we didn’t drop by since we were en route to a relative’s house. So I don’t know how to travel to Cu Chi on my own. I’m now researching, since I plan to go back to HCMC in Dec 2014 with my sister. In 2005, I travelled with my Viet mom to HCMC and to other provinces to see her siblings. Since I was with my mom and relatives, I didn’t really pay attention to the commute since mom spoke the language. I’m half-viet and don’t speak the language. Again, thank you for the tips and more power to you! Happy safe travels!
Hello everyone!
I’m a English teacher working at a high school in Cu Chi. I’m running a project to have my students work as local tour guides in Cu Chi Tunnel and Ben Duoc Temple. This project aims to introduce the local culture to foreign tourists as well as to provide students with opportunities to practice their English.
The biggest problem that I face is to find the tourists who would like to come and visit Cu Chi Tunnel on the day that we carry out the project, which is sometime at the end of April or early May. (from 25 April to 5 May).
If you intend to visit Cu Chi during this time, or your friends and acquaintances do, please let us know by posting a comment down here. You will have the opportunity to be guided by local students and enjoy the activities what we design to introduce the best to you.
Do your students still have classes to attend on the 14th of May?
Hi Vu,
Three friends and I are planning on going to the cu chi tunnels tomorrow. And instead of taking a lame tour we would love to be shown around by one of you students.
Can you let me know if this is still possible and do you maybe have an emailadress or telephone number so that we can reach you.
Hope to hear from you soon
Jodie
Jodiekleinelhorst@gmail.com
Dear Tran Thanh Vu,
With much interest we read your recent posting.
We would like to come into contact with you and see if we can plan a project for our students and yours together.
We plan a project in your country in February 2016, involving 15-20 Dutch High School students, all relatively fluent in English.
Contact email: jaap-dot-karsten-at-gmail-dot-com
Dear Sir,
My wife, daughter and myself will visit Cuchi tunnel on 10th February 2016, do you think you can an arrange a students to show us around? How much do I have to pay? Please advise. you can email to me. Thank.
Regards,
Barry Khoo
Hai, may i get the public bus schedule from ho chi min town to chu chi tunnel?
Hi Vu,
May i ask, how we get to cu chi and how much is entrance and tour? Having a tour by jan 23, 2017. Thanks
I am an English teacher from Hong Kong now staying in the Novotel Hotel. I plan to come to see the Cu Chi Tunnels the day after tomorrow. Would you be able to arrange a student to show us around?
Sorry, but the day after tomorrow is Friday and my students have to go to school on that day, so they cannot show you the place.
Hi, me and my colleague are planning to visit the cu chi tunnels on 29th or 30th Jan. Do you have any students interested in showing us around? Let us know the fees as well
Hello Vu Tran,
Me and my fellow are planning to go there this Wednesday on the 15th. Is it possible to arrange your student on a morning time tour? Thank you in advance.
Dear all,
Can some one let me know the following:
1) where can I buy the $ 5 or 7 bus tickets in district one?
2) where does the bus start from ?
Thank you u. Advance,
Nira
Hi
Hi!
I will be in Vietnam this coming March and I would like to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. How long do we need to explore the tunnel? Regarding the fare and entrance fee, is it still the same?
Thank you
I’m planning to visit Chu Chi tunnels in July 2016. Planning to use the public transport and self explore. In my reading up, I believe there are 2 entrances to the tunnel: Ben Duoc tunnel ( for Vietnamese) and Ben Dinh ( for tourist).
Pl advise me on which one I shld go to and how to get to either tunnel fr HCMC.
Tq in anticipation
I did the same trip but by motorbike. I rented one from Tigit a few weeks ago. So amazing how the Vietnamese survived underground. Cu Chi is just too hot though! No breeze in the park.