Good Morning Vietnam!

A bunker were the VCs held meetings

We only had one place to visit today; the Cu Chi Tunnels, about 90 minutes drive from our hotel in Saigon. The tunnels were dug by Viet Cong guerillas in the Vietnam War to hide from the Americans, shelter from bombings and to make surprise attacks. The entire tunnel system is over 200km long and even extended under the American base, so the guerillas were able to make surprise attacks inside the base and then disappear back into the tunnels without the Americans knowing where they came from.

A typical meal for a VC guerilla

It was fascinating to see how resourceful the Viet Cong had been, using the jungle to provide food and weapons and American tyres to make sandals and parachutes to make camouflage capes. We did try some of the food they ate, green leaf tea and cassava with ground peanut, salt and pepper - it was good, but I wouldn't want it every meal.

We saw the bunkers where they slept, ate, had meetings, made weapons (including some very vicious traps) and clothes, and also one they used as a field hospital. Every bunker had at least 2 entrances, one of them into the tunnel system.

B52 bomb crater

The whole site was peppered with large craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers and there was also the remains of an American tank, which was destroyed by a mine made by the guerillas.

After returning to the hotel we spent an hour exploring the centre of Saigon on foot. Crossing roads here is an adventure in itself, even on pedestrian crossings cars and motorbikes will pass in front and behind you, only stopping when they have to, and at the last moment.

Christmas in Saigon

Some people in Vietnam are obviously doing quite well these days judging from the number of expensive fashion shops, including Gucci; but we also walked along streets smelling of sewerage with dead rats in the gutter - so they've a way to go yet.

We went out again later for a meal and then a drink. The city was packed with people, most of them young and dressed up for a night out (it was Saturday) and almost all of them taking photos of each other in various weird poses - what's that all about?

Location:Cu Chi Tunnels, Near Saigon, Vietnam