Vietnam...inside a Vietcong tunnel.

Here are more snapshots of our visit to the unforgettable Cu Chi tunnels of Vietnam.
All pictures are from my digital camera.


This is another of the opening to the underground tunnels. Again, it is quite small
but sufficient to fit all the NVA or Vietcong soldiers. I have never seen any big size
VC soldier. Those that you may have remembered seeing were in Hollywood movies
where the film extras playing the parts of VC were mostly Hispanics, Latinos and even caucasians dubbed with lots of paint and make up. These were the few films produced
in the mid 60's onwards...including " The Green Berets" which starred John Wayne.
It was very difficult to find SE Asian people near the film production set.

Not all openings are for human entry and exit. Many served as air-vents for

fresh air to enter into the tunnels. Obviously they too were cleverly hidden from

the enemy. There were also outlet vents ( very tiny) for smoke from the underground

kitchens. These too were located very carefully so that the smoke will dissipate innocuously

into the jungle surroundings.


D2 about to enter the very dark tunnel. She did not have any flashlight with her,

neither did I. So, after we captured these shots, I went ahead first as Unk Dicko

has very good eyesight in the dark ( I'm a nocturnal creature remember...an Owl ! )

and she followed close behind.

Inside the tunnel it was pitched dark. Only at the beginning was there a dim light

to help you the first couple of crouches. Yes, just imagine, you stoop or crawl all the way

while traversing along the tunnel. A VC could only stand when he reaches a room with

standing space. That could be a long way off.

I was on all fours, hands and feet and at some points even my knees got into the act.

This was the exit for our tunnel. It looks large right? But this was remade in modern times

for the increasing number of visitors to this highly attractive tourist site.

Many of the visitors come from the West and some are really "huge" in size, even the ladies!

Richard the cameraman had "survived" the ordeal and therefore had reasons to smile.

But I'm not too certain if he managed any shots within, even with flash as the tunnel

is really very narrow and cramped, leaving very little elbow room.


Many of us don't really appreciate how fortunate we all were growing up, running around

open ground, going to work, to school, to the market or anywhere we like...with the health-giving

rays of sunlight lighting up our daily life.

We did not have to spend a single day of our life living in such tunnels as those we visited.

The tunnels, being cut off from the sun, were actually very dark, dank and clammy places

where all sorts of bacteria and virus, and other creepies and crawlies flourished.

It was no surprise that many of its inhabitants came down with all kinds of sickness and diseases.

A high percentage died from these illnesses.

As soon as I was out from the tunnel, I realised I was caked with mud, dust and some slime.

I saw a bamboo pole trickling with fresh water.

It was so refreshing just to be able to wash away the dust and grit.

It did occur to me whether the water is safe for washing our faces. I recalled the entire area

around this region was attacked not only with napalm bombs but with "Agent Orange".

Agent Orange a chemical poison was meant to decimate everything living...plants, trees, living creatures and turn that area into a dead desert. It's deadly effects were supposed to last for decades and more.
Somehow, Mother Nature has seen through all these evilness and has returned the land to

a more healthy glow today.

Otherwise I wouldn't be here washing my face!

See...my third finger was plastered up. Those who want to know why check out my earlier post

" Vietnam...Exploring by sampans ".

How Cu Chi Tunnels were hidden...a "live" demo.

After the presentation in the underground hall, we re-emerged into the open. Our 'Vietcong' guide walked us deeper into the environs of that place. Surrounded by what would once have been dense jungle, with thick foliage, shrubs and bushes...we stopped at a location when he
indicated. He then told us to look around carefully and see if any of us could discover any kind
of entrance to the tunnels. Such an opening must inevitably be on solid ground.
Everyone looked and stared at the surface around them...including me.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Even highly trained soldiers would find it near impossible to locate such well-camouflaged
hidden openings.
In fact, just near where our young 'Vietcong' friend stood, using his hands he pushed away
all the dead and rotting vegetation at a spot...and lo and behold, we saw the clear outline of
a rectangular shape.
It was actually the cover for the entrance. Lifting it out, we could see the opening and the darkness within.

He demonstrated to us how easy it was to get in by carefully lowering himself into the hole,
using his arms to support. Once his legs were on solid ground he could then stand and lift
the same well-disguised cover to place over the hole.
Note how slim he was. That's the general size of the typical Vietcong soldier.

After he replaced the cover from inside the hole, we on the outside could not tell the difference

in the surrounding.

However, for the purpose of capturing the spot for you my readers, I moved some of the

leaves away so you can still see the outline of the cover. Otherwise, no way!


Now that the demo was over, the inevitable challenge, " who will like to try?".

I looked around at my good friends and noted that many of them would never be accepted

by the Vietcong even if they had volunteered enthusiastically. This physical entry into a Vietcong

tunnel is a good test. Size counts!

As a Vietcong, your chances of survival depended on being able to locate the nearest hidden

entrance and to get in quickly, without causing a human traffic jam. Obviously there were others

all rushing to get in too when the alarm was sounded.

A few from our party, cheered on by their more rotund friends, decided to take the test.

Here's a brave one...a potential female VC basic recruit.
It did not surprise me that one of those who stepped forward was J, a former student of mine who was a very active and capable Girl Guide in her schooling days.

She was about to place the cover over her head and be totally concealed from within,

when a strong arm suddenly shot out to grab her firmly and advised her gently," ok, better

come out now".

This is a good friend of mine who has visited the tunnels previously and had some scary

tales to tell. Apparently, some visitors had been literally frightened by ghostly apparition

and

hauntings in the tunnels.

What did I experience?

The more appropriate question should be what's my assessment?

I went into the tunnels, not all did. We were advised to carry flashlights. Most did. I did not.

So, as I entered the tunnel...the first thing I realised is that one has to stoop very low, almost like

doing the 'duck walk' in a PE lesson...to move forward. That's because the height of the tunnel for "moving" is deliberately made to be low.

This was to deter the enemy and make it very difficult for him once he's inside.

So, the same sense of claustrophobia could be experienced once you are inside the very narrow

confines of the rugged tunnel.

That feeling is magnified and multiplied when you are faced with near total darkness within.

And the ground is also uneven again deliberately so.

I met nothing fearful while within and while 'feeling' my way forward was able to pass

some hints and warnings about obstacles to those struggling behind me.

The Cu Chi Tunnels ...Vietnam

If you are ever in Vietnam, there are a couple of things you cannot afford to miss.
One of those things that you must do is to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels and see for yourself
how the Vietcong and NVA soldiers survived the non-stop carpet bombing and attacks
by American forces during the Vietnam conflict.
You'll probably need half a day to do this as the Tunnels are located about 70 kms away
from HCMC ( Saigon ).
But it is a journey worth the time and expense.

In the years gone by, I have read much about these tunnels...of how American GIs and other combat troops went on "search and destroy" missions of these tunnels. They found some here and there but did not really go all the way in for fear of "booby traps" and such things.
Many of those who ventured inside did not come out alive!
The strategic opening/ entrance of each tunnel is kept very small, tiny enough for a VC soldier
to get in or out but not for the bigger size of an American generally.
These tunnels are linked underground to others in a vast and complex network that stretch from
North to South, East to West.

It's truly mindbloggling when you sit through the introductory presentation in an actual underground dugout lecture room.
No electricity nor modern heavy equipment were used to dig these tunnels.
So what were the basic tools used by these resourceful peasants?
Not surprising at all.
I had used them myself when I helped my late father in the early 60's to construct an
underground room for me as a study cum simple bedroom, under our Siang Lim Park
home.
The main tools, still useful today anywhere, are the changkol and the "punki".

At last, we arrived at the entrance to the Cu Chi Tunnels. It is vast.

We orientate ourselves to see where we should explore using the Site Map.

Our "NVA" Cu Chi guide led us into this lecture room where

we watched a historical ( propaganda ) film in mainly black and

white format depicting the history of the Vietnam conflicts.

It was a very hot day on the surface. I can't imagine how the

Vietcong cope with the burning sun, the heat, the humidity, the

mosquitoes, leeches and terror raining from the sky daily.

A diorama showing the cross-section of a typical underground tunnel system

complete with different facilities such as kitchen, sleeping quarters, hospital,

meeting room, store room etc..all connected by tunnels over separate levels.

After a bombing raid, the VC emerged to scour for unexploded bombs.

There were many.

They took these back to their underground workshops, saw them open

to extract the gunpowder for making their own explosives and bullets.

Resourceful and ingenious!

These are the 2 basic tools they used to dig these famous tunnels...

the changkol and the "punki" ( rattan basket ).
It just go to show that in this case of the Cu Chi Tunnels as well as all

other tunnels elsewhere in Vietnam...the indomitable spirit of a people

willing to survive at all costs can unite together, struggle against all odds,

do the almost impossible and defeat the vastly superior might of America...

the world's leading super power.