Heritage

Cu Chi Tunnels

#10of 10 places to visit in Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City, Southeast Vietnam, Vietnam

Also known as Dia Dao Cu Chi · Ben Dinh Tunnels · Ben Duoc Tunnels

Quick answer

Opening hours: 07:00–17:00, last entry 16:00. Entry: ₫135,000. Allow 3 hrs. Best time: 07:00 - 09:00.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Lars Curfs (Grashoofd) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl

Opening hours: 07:00–17:00; 07:00 - 17:00 daily at both Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc; last entry 16:00.
Entry fee: ₫135,000; Ticket from
Time needed: 3 hrs
Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00
Best months: Dec – Mar
Address: Ben Dinh Tunnels (Nhuan Duc area) and Ben Duoc Tunnels (Phu My Hung area), Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City 700000

About Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels charge about 135,000 VND per foreign adult, as of 2026, at the two tourist sites of Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, roughly 70km north-west of central Ho Chi Minh City by road. The network began under the Viet Minh in the 1940s and was expanded through the American war until estimates put its length at around 250km by 1967. Today visitors walk forest paths of red laterite soil past preserved trapdoors, bunkers and kitchens, and crawl through a few sections that have been widened for tourists.

Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00. Before tour coaches arrive from Ho Chi Minh City and before midday heat builds in the forest.

Cu Chi Tunnels timings

Cu Chi Tunnels opens at 07:00 and closes at 17:00. The weekend is no different: Saturday and Sunday follow the same times.

Opening hours: 07:00–17:00; Mon–Sun 07:00–17:00; 07:00 - 17:00 daily at both Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc; last entry 16:00.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	07:00–17:00

Opening hours compiled from hochiminhcity.gov.vn and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Cu Chi Tunnels ticket price

Entry fees for Cu Chi Tunnels
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	₫135,000
Concession (student / senior)	₫75,000
Children	Free

One 2026 guide lists 135,000 VND per foreign adult from 1 February 2026 (35,000 VND admission plus 100,000 VND service and guide fee), but other sources give 90,000 VND for Ben Duoc, 110,000 VND for Ben Dinh, or a range up to 150,000 VND, so verify at the ticket counter. The 75,000 VND concession figure is an approximate student or child (6-17) rate from a single source, unconfirmed. Children under 6 enter free. Tickets are cash only in dong, and shooting-range ammunition at Ben Dinh is charged separately per round.

Prices compiled from hochiminhcity.gov.vn and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Cu Chi Tunnels

Quiet
Moderate
Very busy

07:00 - 09:00
Opening WindowBest time to go
Independent visitors and early tours; cooler forest paths and shorter waits at the tunnel entrances.
Quiet
09:00 - 12:00
Tour Coach Peak
Half-day tours from Ho Chi Minh City arrive together; queues form at the crawl entrances at Ben Dinh.
Very busy
12:00 - 14:30
Midday Heat
Group traffic thins but the forest is hot and humid; visitors rest in shaded pavilions.
Moderate
14:30 - 16:00
Late Afternoon
Fewer tour groups; last entry is at 16:00 and staff close exhibits toward 17:00.
Quiet

History of Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels began in the 1940s under the Viet Minh as a hiding place from French patrols, and by the American war the network had grown into hospitals, kitchens, weapon stores and command posts, sometimes on several levels. It supported the 1968 Tet Offensive, and US forces launched Operation Crimp in January 1966 with about 8,000 troops and B-52 support, then Operation Cedar Falls in 1967 with about 30,000 troops. Those campaigns introduced the tunnel rats, small, lightly armed soldiers who searched the tunnels for enemy positions.

Cu Chi Tunnels are now preserved at two sites. Ben Dinh, the former Cu Chi District Party Committee base, is closer to the city, suits a half-day trip and has a shooting range. Ben Duoc, a former regional military command centre, is further out, quieter, and has a memorial temple and a reconstructed liberated-area attraction. Many passages have been widened and lit for visitors, so the crawl is far easier than the original tunnels, which is worth remembering when reading stories of wartime life underground.

Rules & etiquette at Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels involve crawling through low, narrow, dark and warm passages, and they are not suitable for visitors with claustrophobia, back problems or limited mobility. Crawl sections are optional and can be skipped. Wear closed shoes and light clothing that can get dirty, and bring water and insect repellent, since the forest is hot and humid for much of the year.

Cu Chi Tunnels expect respectful behaviour at memorial areas, particularly at Ben Duoc's memorial temple, where shoulders and knees should be covered. Photography is allowed at the exhibits. The Ben Dinh shooting range is loud and priced per round, and ear protection is worth asking for. Ticket counters accept cash in dong only, according to 2026 guides, so bring enough notes.

Tips for visiting Cu Chi Tunnels

1
The Cu Chi Tunnels are best visited as a half-day trip of five to six hours including the drive, and organised tours from Ho Chi Minh City start from around 975,000 VND for about six hours. Independent visitors can take bus 13 from Ben Thanh Bus Station to Cu Chi bus station for about 10,000 VND, then a local bus for about 7,000 VND, though the trip takes much longer than a tour.
2
Cu Chi Tunnels at Ben Duoc are the better choice for a quieter visit with fewer groups, while Ben Dinh suits a short trip from the city. Tea and boiled cassava are commonly served at tunnel demonstration stops, and a guide fee is bundled into the ticket at some sites, so confirm what is included. Tipping a guide is appreciated but not compulsory.

How to reach Cu Chi Tunnels

The red star is Cu Chi Tunnels. Tap a pin for details.

Ben Dinh Tunnels (Nhuan Duc area) and Ben Duoc Tunnels (Phu My Hung area), Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City 700000Directions in Google Maps

From Ben Thanh Bus Station (central Ho Chi Minh City)
70 km · 2-3 hours
About 10,000 VND for bus 13 plus about 7,000 VND for the local bus.
From Ho Chi Minh City centre
70 km · 90-120 min each way
From about 975,000 VND per adult for a six-hour tour, ticket and transport included on some packages.
From Ho Chi Minh City centre
70 km · 90-120 min
Roughly 600,000-1,000,000 VND one way by Grab or private car; agree fares in advance.

Nearest airport

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

about 65-75km, 1.5-2.5 hours by road depending on traffic.

Nearest station

From No rail service; the nearest public transport is bus 13 from Ben Thanh Bus Station to Cu Chi bus station, then bus 79 or another local bus onward.

Cu Chi Tunnels FAQs

How much does it cost to enter the Cu Chi Tunnels?

About 135,000 VND per foreign adult as of 2026, made up of a 35,000 VND admission fee and a 100,000 VND service and guide fee. Sources conflict, with older figures of 90,000 VND at Ben Duoc and 110,000 VND at Ben Dinh, so verify at the counter.

Which is better, Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc?

Ben Dinh is closer to the city and busier, with a shooting range, while Ben Duoc is further out and quieter, with a memorial temple. Visitors with limited time choose Ben Dinh, and those seeking fewer crowds choose Ben Duoc.

Are the Cu Chi Tunnels safe for claustrophobic visitors?

No, not comfortably. The tourist sections are widened but remain low, narrow and dark, and the crawl sections are optional and can be skipped.

How far are the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City?

About 70km north-west of the central districts, and 90-120 minutes by road depending on traffic. Half-day tours take roughly six hours including the drive.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places