Cu Chi Tunnels Chi district – Ho Chi Minh City

Cu Chi Tunnels is a 200 km colossal network of connecting underground tunnels in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City. During the Vietnam War it was a location for several military campaigns. Also it was a base of Viet Cong, the army resisting the United States and South Vietnamese governments. Nowadays this is an important war memorial and a popular tourist attraction. The tunnels are a part of a much bigger underground network of the country. In Ci Chi there are two different tunnel display sites – Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. MEKONG EYES

How to organize a trip?
The majority of tourist companies in Vietnam can organize a trip for you, including a transfer to/ from the hotel and a guided tour. If you organize your trip by yourself and reach the destination from Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy the ticket for entrance the tunnels on the spot, Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

How to get there?
If you decide to use a service of a tourist company, most probably they will provide you a private car or a bus with a pick-up at your hotel.
In a case you want to travel to Cu Chi on your own, you should take a Bus #13 that leaves from the BẾN CV 23/9 bus station (between Lê Lai and Nguyên Thi Nghia, near to KFC restaurant). Its last stop is Cu Chi. Bus fare is approximately $0,3 (7,000 VND), and the ride is about 1,5 hours. When you arrive arrive to Cu Chi bus station, you should take a Bus #79. The ride will last about 45 minutes and cost $0,25 (6,000 VND). The bus will reach a T-junction with Ben Duoc on the left and Ben Dinh on the right, which are in nearly 20 minutes of walking.

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Cu Chi Tunnels Chi district – Ho Chi Minh City

Prices and programme
A private half-day tour arranged by a tourist office may cost from $40 to $75, depends on size of the vehicle. If your reach Cu Chi on your own, for the admission to the tunnels, either Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc, you will have to pay about $4 (90,000 VND) for a guided 45 – 60 min tour. The programme of the tours at both tunnels is pretty much similar and includes a 15-minute black and white propaganda film, tunnel tour and displays of booby traps. In the end of the tour, you will get a chance to taste a steamed tapioca, which is a popular in this region food.

Ben Dinh Tunnels
As we’ve mentioned before, there are two tunnels in Cu Chi. The village of Ben Dinh is located nearly 50 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The tunnels here are a very touristic spot, that’s why sometimes, especially during the high season, it may be overcrowded. Most of the companies will bring you here. But not all of them will tell you that Ben Dinh tunnels have been a part of a real network and were specially created only for tourists.  

Ben Duoc Tunnels
These are the original tunnels that were used by the soldiers of the Vietnamese army and Cu Chi people, who have managed to live, eat, sleep, work and plan the military activities here. Usually they were staying here during a daytime and going out only at night in order to get some supplies or attack the enemy. Also more than 10,000 people lost their lives here. The tour in the tunnels lasts for approximately one hour. Also just next to the tunnels there is a Ben Duoc temple, which is also worth visiting.

Dangers
Don’t forget that while visiting Cu Chi Tunnels you should always carry some insect repelling. Inside the tunnels, watch out for bats, as there is a lot of them here. If you get bitten or scratched by one, you should immediately visit a doctor, as bats may carry rabies

Top 10 Saigon foods you should not miss

These are simple yet delicious dishes. Look yummy?
1. Broken rice

Cơm tấm, or broken rice, used to be called "poor people's rice” since it was made from grains that broke during harvest or cleaning and were sold cheap.
Over the years it has become a popular dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It is usually served with grilled pork ribs, bì (thinly shredded pork mixed with cooked and thinly shredded pork skin) or chả (a mix of steamed eggs, crab meat, ground pork meat, Jew's ear mushroom, and vermicelli) or both. SONG XANH CRUISE
It can be found almost everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces, from street stalls with plastic stools and tables to fancy air-conditioned restaurants.
2. Kuy teav

There are around 20 different versions of hủ tiếu (kuy teav) – a noodle soup consisting of rice noodles with pork stock and toppings – in HCMC.
The most famous ones are hủ tiếu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh rice noodle soup), hủ tiếu sa tế (Chinatown satay noodle soup) and hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho (My Tho rice noodle soup).
There is also a dry version (without soup and with sauce) of kuy teav. Alova Gold Cruise
3. Bánh mì

Bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich) is so famous that it has entered the Oxford English Dictionary. It defines bánh mì as "a Vietnamese snack consisting of a baguette (traditionally baked with both rice and wheat flour) filled with a variety of ingredients, typically including meat, pickled vegetables, and chili peppers."
The best bánh mì should be grilled over coals, with the crispy shell filled with meat, crunchy pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs, smeared with mayonnaise and pâté, and seasoned with a few drops of soy sauce and a spicy chili condiment. travel South Vietnam
Saigonese have many choices of filling for bánh mì -- like thịt nướng (grilled pork), xíu mại (Chinese meatballs known as shu mai in Chinese), and chả cá (deep-fried fish paste).
4. Fried rice flour cakes

Top 10 Saigon foods you should not miss

Bột chiên (fried rice flour cakes) is a dish that originated in China and has become a popular street snack in Saigon.
It is made from rice flour cakes chopped into chunky squares and fried in a large flat pan with whipped eggs and green onion.
It’s served crisp with a sweet rice vinegar and soy sauce concoction and some shredded pickled young papaya and carrot to cool down the dish.
5. Mixed rice paper

Bánh tráng trộn (mixed rice paper) is the favorite snack of teenagers in Saigon. It is like a salad made of shredded rice paper mixed with jerky, dried shrimps, roasted peanuts, boiled quail eggs, shredded mangoes, fried onions, and herbs.
It is seasoned with chili sauce, salt, cashew oil, and onion oil until it is sour, spicy, salty, and sweet at the same time.
The dish can be found anywhere in Saigon but the most famous street for bánh tráng trộn is Nguyen Thuong Hien in District 3.
6. Papaya salad

Gỏi đu đủ (papaya salad) is made of shredded papaya, rice crackers, sliced jerky, roasted peanuts, and herbs seasoned with chili sauce.
It is usually sold on carts pulled by street vendors. The most famous spot to buy this dish is in front of Le Van Tam Park on Hai Ba Trung Street.
7. Pork and shrimp rolls

Gỏi cuốn (pork and shrimp rolls) is one of the healthiest snacks in Saigon. It is made of tightly wrapped rice paper bundles filled with sliced pork, shrimp, vermicelli noodles, herbs, and vegetables. A Hoisin sauce topped with crushed peanuts and chili is often served on the side for dipping.
8. Phá lấu

Phá lấu is pig/cow intestines boiled down to a soft texture in a salty broth. It can be served with bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich) or noodles.
9. Sweet soup

Chè (sweet soup) is the perfect dessert in always-hot Saigon. There are a myriad of sweet soups differentiated by origin, taste or ingredients.
10. Snails

If one comes to Saigon for the first time, chances are they will be invited first to a coffee shop and then to an ốc (snail) eatery.
Saigon is famous for many kinds of snails and diverse styles of cooking.

7 Incredible Things to do in Vietnam’s Central Highlands Region

The Central Highlands region of Vietnam is a lush forested area home to indigenous tribes, traditional villages, the captivating city of Dalat, sparkling waterfalls and the odd elephant here and there!

Soak up the culture of Dalat

The Central Highlands is elevated at 1,500 meters and offer a welcome respite from the tropical humidity of the south of Vietnam and the landscape is dominated by lush rolling hills, punctuated with ancient villages. Few travellers make in this far inland, which is to your advantage. The main highlights are the former battlefield sites, the indigenous tribes and the charming city of Dalat, dubbed Vietnam’s original resort city. Central Highlands and Qui Nhon Beach 7 days

Dalat goes by several different names: ‘the Jewel of the Central Highlands’ and ‘City of Eternal Spring’ are just two. Whatever you choose to call it, Dalat is the very antithesis of Ho Chi Minh City 300km further south: it’s cooler and more laidback. The city was established as a hill station in the late 19th century, designed to offer respite for the resident Europeans from the oppressive heat and humidity of Saigon. Today Dalat retains its unique culture, from the exquisite French colonial architecture of the French Quarter, to the European villas and traditional farmhouses. In fact some of the larger Colonial properties have been fully restored and are in use today as hotels. BASSAC CRUISE

Don’t miss the gingerbread-style Dalat Cathedral (pictured above) which was built in 1931 for exclusive use of the French visitors and residents. Stop by the magnificent Crémaillère Railway Station, which is resplendent in bright yellow Art Deco style, although sadly its not used a great deal anymore. And gawp at the truly bizarre Hang Nga ‘Crazy House’ which was designed by a local war hero’s daughter and which has mystified travellers for years. Its architecture is likened to that of Antoni Gaudi and the grounds are said to be inspired by Dr. Seuss. Image Cruise

Dalat is also known as the ‘City of Thousands of Pines’ thanks to the abundance of fragrant pine trees that line the banks of the many lakes. Chill out with a trip on one of the lakes, both natural and artificial including Da Thien, Ho Xuan Huong and Tuyen Lam. The city is also famed for its beautifully fragrant flower gardens filled with roses, orchids, lilies and camellias. Don’t miss the delightful Dalat Flower Park, located towards the end of Xuan Huong Lake which covers an impressive 7,000 sq. meters. Also in the area are individual flower gardens set around an authentic reconstructed Vietnamese teakwood house. Give your legs a rest and opt for a brief cable car ride u over Dalat’s pine forests, which also takes in an impressive hill-top pagoda. Alternatively a 4×4 trip up the Langbiang Mountain offers spectacular views over Dalat’s mountains, valleys and cityscape. Get here for either sunrise or sunset for an awesome view.

Finally Dalat firmly cements its position as the honeymoon capital of Vietnam with its dreamy palaces and summer houses. The thirteenth and final emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty Bao Dai (1913-1997) resided at the city’s three heritage sites, which are known as Palace I, II and III. Together with the Dalat Palace Hotel and the Dalat Du Park Hotel many of the structures was established around 1922. The Emperor also perfected his swing at the Dalat Palace Golf Club, with its sprawling greens, built in European style.

7 Incredible Things to do in Vietnam’s Central Highlands Region

Try the world-famous coffee of Buon Ma Thuot

The capital of Dak Lak Province is Buon Ma Thuot, which is best known for its production of famous Vietnamese coffee. Catch the annual festival each March which is dedicated to the ‘black nectar’. The town also offers a gateway to the Yok Don National Park…

Hike in the Yok Don National Park

Head about 40km west of Buon Ma Thuot to explore the vast National Park of Yok Don. This biodiverse forest is an important conservation site and is home to nearly forty different animal species which are globally endangered, including the Asian elephant, leopard, red wolf and tiger. Established in 1986, the park is an excellent place to hike the forested hills and traverse the pretty waterfalls and Srepok River. Birdwatchers will also be in their element with over 250 different types of bird species to be found here.

Explore the heritage of Lak Lake

Ho Lak, aka Lak Lake, is the largest natural lake within Vietnam’s Central Highlands and visitors are treated to a glimpse of everyday traditional life that take place on the banks of the lake. Jun village at the southern end is home to the traditional M’nong settlement who still live in authentic stilt houses crafted locally from wood and rattan. As well as the M’nong, there are also other colourful minority hill tribes that call this are home, such as the Edeh and Jarai. Travellers can ride an elephant alongside the lake or take a dugout canoe (or a boat if you’re not feeling adventurous) across the lake to explore Emperor Bao Dai’s former hunting lodge.

Discover the minority hill tribes of Kontum

The quiet village of Kontum offers a fascinating insight into rural life. Centuries old Sedang, Rengao, Bahnar, Gieh Trieng  and Jarai minority hill tribes live in settlement which are centered around the ‘rong’ – a massive communal building where communities gather. Don’t miss the Tan Huong Church, the wooden Montagnard Church which was constructed in 1913 and the colonial-style Catholic seminary.

Chill out in Ngoc Hoi

The small town of Ngoc Hoi is close to the border with Laos on the popular Ho Chi Minh walking trail. Visitors can stay here and soak up the calm atmosphere prior to crossing over into Laos.

Experience Pleiku for yourself

The town of Pleiku is located in the Gia Lai Province and is home to communities of the Kinh ethnic group. The town has a pretty little pagoda, the Minh Thanh Pagoda, which travellers can wander around. Close by is the Bien Ho Lake where visitors can try their hand at fishing or hire a local boatman to ferry them across the lake.