Cu Chi Tunnels Tours and Tickets

Yes, you can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels without a tour. All you need to do is get there—via bus, taxi, car, or motorbike—and purchase a ticket at the entrance. Guides are free to all paying visitors. Be sure to visit the Ben Duoc Cu Chi Tunnels site for a more authentic experience.

Most Cu Chi Tunnels tours are 60 to 90 minutes long. If you’ve booked a tour from Ho Chi Minh City, any longer durations listed are likely regarding travel time. If you go alone, you’ll receive a free guide to assist your visit, and you can take a bit more time to explore.

Yes, the Cu Chi Tunnels are claustrophobic for some—the smallest ones are 23 inches (60 centimeters) wide by 30 inches (80 centimeters) tall, designed to facilitate only the narrow bodies of the Vietnamese. More recently, some have been carved larger to accommodate tourists. If you climb into the tunnel and experience claustrophobia, know that many escape points exist.

The best time of year to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels is typically from November to April, during southern Vietnam’s dry season. That also correlates with Ho Chi Minh City’s primary tourist season, meaning tours will run at full steam. Go early in the morning to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat.

On a Cu Chi Tunnels tour, you start with a short film in an open-air theatre. From there, your guide will take you through various thatched-hut exhibits showcasing the soldiers’ setup. Eventually, you’ll walk through multiple tunnels, should you choose, and see if you can fit in the smallest of them. Afterward, you’ll taste the soldiers’ basic diet, like yams with salt.