| Vietnam is one of Asian most rapidly developing | | | | areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field |
| countries. Its economy has been growing in the | | | | hospitals, command centres and kitchens. |
| recent years, the level of services has improved and | | | | Today the remaining tunnels have become a major |
| the potential of local tourist industry has massively | | | | tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique |
| increased. | | | | experience and feel of what underground life during |
| Even though the Vietnam War left the country and | | | | the war must have been like. The tunnels have been |
| its people in a terrible state, it appears that the | | | | widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be |
| painful memories are gradually settling down and the | | | | able to enter them!) For those interested there's |
| Vietnamese are ready to tell their stories to the | | | | even the opportunity to fire off rounds from an |
| world. Many tourists who come to Saigon (Ho Chi | | | | AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. |
| Minh City) are attracted by the nearby Cu Chi | | | | “I recommend all our guests to visit the Ben |
| Tunnels. | | | | Duoc Area for an authentic view of tunnels and this |
| After pick-up at your hotel in Saigon, guests enjoy a | | | | amazing net work underground” said Alan Hoang, |
| half day excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This | | | | Travel Advisor in Luxury Travel’s Saigon Office. |
| network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, | | | | “We would have no hesitation at all in |
| became legendary during the 1960s. | | | | recommending Luxury Travel company and services |
| The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the | | | | to our friends and colleagues at the embassy. Of all |
| U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong | | | | the wonderful places that we were taken to I think |
| to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from | | | | that Cu Chi tunnels made the greatest impact as we |
| former Saigon. | | | | came to realize the awful conditions that were |
| At its height, the tunnel system stretched from | | | | endured by those who want their freedom” |
| Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts | | | | Malcolm and Franc Surman, UK Embassy, Bangkok, |
| of which were several levels deep, included | | | | Thailand said. |
| innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living | | | | |