We are a family of 4 living full time in our self-converted van.
We currently are swapping van life for 5 months back-packing around South East Asia.
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Vietnam is steeped in history and as a worldschooling family, we wanted to introduce our boys to this history in a way that was suitable for them. We have spent 5 weeks backpacking around Vietnam and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was our final stop before we headed into Cambodia.
Before we set off on our adventure to Vietnam, we sat down and researched things we would like to do. The Cu Chi Tunnels was up there in one of the top things to do in Vietnam. However, I was slightly worried about whether or not it would be suitable for our 4 year old.
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If you are thinking about visiting Cu Chi Tunnels with kids then I have put together a guide based on our experience there with kids. Read on to find out everything you need to know BEFORE you visit Cu Chi Tunnels with kids.
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What are the Cu Chi Tunnels?
The Cu Chi tunnels is a historical and cultural attraction in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City. It is network of underground tunnels that were established in 1946 during the war to hide resistance forces, documents and weapons.
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The labyrinth of tunnels run for miles underground, connecting villages and linking up to the Saigon river. There is so much history surrounding the tunnels and a visit to them provides an opportunity to learn about and gain a snippet of understanding of what it was like during that time. ​​​​
Are the Cu Chi Tunnels worth visiting?
I would highly recommend a visit to Cu Chi tunnels to ANYONE who is planning on visiting Vietnam. As I mentioned previously, I was worried that it wouldn't be suitable for our 4 year old but he had the best day and was able to come away with some understanding (at his level) of what he experienced.​​
Photo: Going down!
Getting to the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi tunnels are located 2 hours north of Ho Chi Minh city in the Cu Chi district. There are 2 ways you can get to the tunnels. One is by getting a Grab taxi there and back and the other is by booking onto a tour. Before we went, we explored both options and compared prices.
If you are thinking about heading there yourself, a taxi is around £20 each way for a family of 4 and entrance fee is around £4 per person. We compared this to the prices of guided tours on Get Your Guide. We found this tour which was just under £12 per person. Our 4 year old was free and our 9 year old had a discounted price. For us, it was more cost effective to book onto the tour.
What a guided tour includes
Hotel Pick up
The tour included hotel pick up from anywhere in District 1. We were actually staying in District 2 so I contacted the company and they gave us the address of a hotel they were picking up from. In the morning, we got a Grab taxi to the hotel where the bus picked us up.
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English Speaking Guide
Our tour guide Mario was fantastic and his English was very good. Being a descendent of those who fought in the war, he was extremely knowledgable and passionate about the history of the tunnels. This really had an impact on us, especially the children as he was very engaging.
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Ticket Entry
The price of this tour included entry into the tunnels. Mario stayed with us during our time exploring the tunnels and was our tour guide throughout. We got approximately 2 hours exploring Cu Chi Tunnels which was enough time to walk around the site, crawl through the tunnels, stop for refreshments, sample a local dish from the war, watch a documentary and have a go at shooting an AK47/M-1 for those who wanted to. So much packed into such little time however, we did not feel rushed and the boys were able to keep up the whole way around.
Photo: Mesmerised by Mario's knowledge about the tunnels
Getting inside the tunnels
One of the main things the boys were looking forward to was getting inside the tunnels. Throughout the visit, we had an opportunity to get inside 3 different tunnels. The first one was the camouflaged entry point where you can get inside and cover yourself up with a hatch. This is a great photo opportunity! Our 9 year old was able to get inside but it was too much of a drop for our 4 year old. He enjoyed watching the others getting in and disappearing though.
Photo: Wandering through the jungle.
We then had the opportunity to climb down into the tunnels and explore what it was like to be inside them. Our 4 year old absolutely loved this! He was actually small enough to just walk normally through them, whereas the rest of us had to bend down to fit. The tunnels are dark and hot and if you get claustrophobic then I suggest you stay above ground. There are 3 exit points so if you need to come out early you can. We made it to the first exit point in this tunnel before needing to head back up. Our 4 year old wanted to carry on though!
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If you are wondering if you can explore the tunnels with babies, a couple on our tour had a baby with them. They had a travel buggy and to go down into the tunnel, they used a baby carrier to carry the baby. As with anything parenting, you make your own judgement as to whether or not you want to take your baby into the tunnels.
Photo: Our 4 year old walking easy through the tunnels
There was a third tunnel to explore during our tour. This tunnel was much smaller than the previous one and led to a meeting room under ground. Our 4 year old and Robin had a go at this one and confirmed that it was definitely much smaller than the previous tunnel!
Photo: Climbing out of the last tunnel
So much more than just tunnels
The tour provided so much more than just walking through the tunnels. Mario filled our brains with information about the war and gave us a glimpse into daily life during that time. Some of the highlights for the boys were seeing the traps they made, trying war snacks and learning about how the Vietnamese tricked the Americans by creating shoes that left backwards footprints.
Photo: The tour guide explaining the differences between the guns used
during the war
Things to note when visiting Cu Chi Tunnels with kids
Whilst Cu Chi tunnels are a visit that I highly recommend doing with kids, there are a few things to note before you go:
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Wear sensible and comfortable shoes. You will be crawling through tunnels so trainers/daps are the best bet for the whole family.
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There are a few things that will get mentioned that might make your child feel uncomfortable. At the end of the day, you are taking your child to a war site. Different ways of killing are discussed, how traps work are discussed and the impact of life after the war is discussed. Our 9 year old can be quite sensitive at times so he only had to give us a look and we knew to walk away slightly and look for bugs. This only happened a couple of times but it is something to be aware of especially if you are visiting with sensitive kids.
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You will hear gun shots throughout your visit. On site there is a shooting range where you have the opportunity to shoot some of the guns used in the war, including an AK47. As you get close to the shooting range, ear protection is provided.
Photo: Experiencing what it would have been like to
shoot an M1
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April- October is wet season in Vietnam therefore the tunnels can be known to flood. For a better experience, it is best visiting between October- April during the dry season. But be prepared for the heat during this time. Protect yourselves from the sun, take lots of water and a hand fan if you have one!
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Wear suitable clothes. I wore lightweight trousers thinking I would be crawling along on my hands and knees but as soon as I got there, I regretted it instantly (it was so hot). Shorts will be fine.
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Take cash if you want to have a go in the shooting range and to buy refreshments half way around.
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Do not feel you have to do everything. At the end of the tour we were taken into a little hut to watch a documentary about the war. By this point our boys were done. They were hot, tired and ready to head back. Therefore we stepped out of the hut and kept ourselves busy until the group were ready to move on. If things get a bit too much for your kids, it's ok to take a little step back.
Photo: Sampling some Cassava
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About 4inthVan
We are a family of 4 living and travelling full time in our self converted Luton van.Â
Our aim is to provide other families information, guides and top tips to help them on their next adventure, whether that's world travel, van life or home education.