Cu Cui Tunnels

Lazy morning and afternoon trip to the Cu Cui tunnels. Met at the travel agents and after a other few pick ups we set off. The guide that did not speak to us in English up to this point then brings out his karaoke microphone and starts to sing Vietnamese folk songs. He had the microphone connected to his phone so we had music too and all quite loud. The first song got a polite round of applause but his second song got no applause - too loud and just too long! Not to be put off he went for a 3rd song. Finally he understood that none of us wanted any more! Just out of the city we stopped at a handicraft place where handicapped people produce lovely pictures and items using eggshell, mother of pearl inlay, paint and lacquer. At the tunnels our guide took us around the points of interest. The Vietcong were ingenious in misleading the Americans - putting the tread on sandals the wrong way around so the footprint looked like they were walking in the opposite direction. They disguised ventilation for the tunnels as natural mounds found in the forest and when the USA troops used sniffer dogs to sniff out the smell of the Vietnamese to gas the tunnels the Vietcong used the uniforms of the US troops cut up small to use around the ventilation holes so that the sniffer dogs couldn't smell the Vietcong - only Americans. I had to admire their determination, ingenuity and tenacity but I found it difficult that they seem still to celebrate the death of American GIs. The Vietcong are their heroes. We were taken along a short section of tunnel - having to crouch right down all the way and Paul 'hid' in a tunnel as they would have done. Brought back to Ho Chi Minh City and went to a food market for dinner. Back to the apartment to pack.Read more