Our second day in Ho Chi Minh was our day of tours. Our first tour was the Cu Chi Tunnels and the second was a scooter tour in Vietnam’s busiest city.
We got up early to meet the tour guide for the Cu Chi Tunnels at our hotel at 7am. We then went by van to our boat that we would be travelling in to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
The boat ride was fun with unlimited refreshments (nothing better than coke at 8am) and breakfast provided.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are famous because the Vietnamese soldiers used them to get around during the war. They were a few metres underground, with 3 layers and in total stretching 200km. The tunnels were very narrow so that the big, fat American soldiers couldn’t fit but the small agile Vietnamese could.
Once we got off the boat we started the tour of Cu Chi. Our first stop was where we saw how the soldiers got in the tunnels and then everyone got to try.
We then saw how they made the tunnels and all the traps the Vietnamese soldiers made. These were made of sharp steel or bamboo, that when someone stepped on the trap, they would fall in qnd be stabbed.
My favourite part was when we got to go in the tunnels. We got to crawl 40m in the tunnels which was fun, but I don’t know how they did it everyday during the Vietnam War.
Our 2nd tour of the day was the scooter tour, in Ho Chi Minh. The scooters picked us up at the boat landing and then we set off. Being on the scooter was thrilling, especially when the traffic is so close together.
Our first stop was on top of a bridge, with a great view over the river. Our next stop was Chinatown. This was very different to the Adelaide chinatown because this was a 4 story temple. This was amazing but the top floor was the best. There were 10,000 mini buddhas in the walls, with big statues in the middle.
We then went to the old post office and cathedral. These buildings are amazing even if a post office sounds boring. In between qll this we were riding all over Ho Chi Minh.
Not a bad day!!!
Sounds like you had fun on the scooters – loved the photo of Luke on the scooter and you will have to tell us all about the Cu Chi tunnels when we see you in September. We have been looking at all the photos Mum has put on Facebook, too, and checking your itinerary every day to see what you will be doing next. It will be a holiday that you will certainly remember!
It’s been amazing, Mum….not least of which that we havent cooked a meal or driven a car since June 27th!!! In Siem Reap now – last stop, we’re all looking forward to getting home in some ways…nit so much in others!! We’ll speak to you soon xx
After we got off the scooter we were wet and muddy like you.