I know this is already a super late blog post. You can even dub this as a throwback Vietnam blog post. Lol. But it’s better to be late than never, right? And besides I’m being a responsible blogger now. Just look at my previous post. I’m currently trying to work on back logs one by one so please bear with me. :)
Alright. Our third day in HCMC consist of a tour to Cao Dai temple and a half day tour to Cu Chi tunnels. It was a veeeeery long day and it was scorching hot too.
Cao Dai temple boasts its extravagant interior and exterior. It’s as if all small details have a deep meaning connecting to their religion. If you’re lucky enough, you can watch ceremonies being held inside the temple.
Before your enter the temple, you must remove your shoes and follow strict house rules. When we got there, there’s an on going ceremony and we’re only allowed on certain spots inside the temple. I just don’t know if it is because there’s a ceremony being held or it is just how the temple works. You can be up close to some monks on the second floor but you can’t go near the center.
After some photo ops, we went straight to Cu Chi tunnels which has a huge part on Vietnam War. During the Vietnam war, in order for the group known as Viet Cong battle Americans, the group dug a tunnel that’s seems to be a tactical move against their enemies. This is where they set up booby traps and other necessary strategic move.
During the tour, we also had the chance to go inside the tunnel. And mind you! It’s a very small tunnel that only equip people can go through. Since the tunnel was set up to be of use during the war, I guess those people who made it are really strong and had fought a lot as the tunnels in nature are suffocating. There’s barely enough air inside and as you go down deeper, the harder for you to breathe. Or at least for us. There are a lot of tourist who tried going inside but none had succeeded in going to the bottom part. It is especially hard if your body physique is big because as we all know, Vietnamese or rather, Asians has small body physique. And so the tunnels are also built to cater Vietnamese people. It is also tactical since the guide told us that Americans are having a hard time going inside the tunnel because they are getting stuck along the tunnels.
As for me and my sister who tried, we only managed to be inside for about 20 minutes. After that, we rushed to find the nearest exit.
Before going inside the tunnel, you will first watch a documentary regarding the Vietnam war and Cu Chi tunnels. It is best to listen carefully to know this very well. It is very informative and will help you understand the Cu Chi tunnels better.
Our guide Mr. Binh who is a Vietnamese claimed to be part of the American forces who fought the Vietnamese during the Vietnam war. So it’s quite interesting because he knows a lot about the war and we’re listening to what really happened from a person who experienced it first hand. If you’re planning to tour around Saigon and will stop by at Cu Chi tunnels, I recommend you choose him as your guide. I just don’t know how will you be able to contact him as we booked our tour through a travel agency here in the Philippines and they’re the ones who arranged our tour in Saigon.
Around the vicinity is a firing range too. Some tourists try firing while some just rest around the benches while waiting to depart the area.
It was a long day and a lot of walking. It is advisable to bring insect repellent around Cu Chi tunnels as there a lot of insects. Or, if you can, just wear a pair of pants or anything long that will cover your legs.
After a whole day of touring. We went back to our hotel dead tired. But don’t get me wrong, it was fun! Feels like a field trip because you get to learn a lot.
If you’re planning to tour Saigon, Cu Chi tunnels is a must. Actually if you only have limited time touring, I think this is the only place you need to go and you’ll learn a lot about the historic Vietnam.
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