Ben Dinh Tunnels, a part of the Cu Chi Tunnels network, is famous for its part in the victory of the Indochina Wars. Located around 50 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City, the tunnel has been preserved well despite its age. When coming to this place, you can know more about the life of the North Vietnamese and explore a specifically designed establishment used by Vietnamese soldiers as their base of operations during their resistance against the American forces.
Where is Ben Dinh Tunnels?
- Location: Phu Hiep Hamlet, Phu My Hung Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00 daily
How to get to Ben Dinh Tunnels?
Ben Dinh Tunnels are located on Provincial Road 15, within the larger complex of Cu Chi Tunnels in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To get to this relic, you can either go by:
- Public bus: From Saigon bus station, take bus number 13 (Ben Thanh – Cu Chi) to An Suong bus station. Alternatively, if you depart from Cho Lon bus station, take bus number 94 (Cho Lon – Cu Chi) to An Suong bus station. From An Suong bus station, take bus number 122 to Tan Quy bus station. From Tan Quy bus station, take bus number 70 to Ben Dinh War Tunnels.
- Car or motorbike: Following the route Truong Chinh – An Suong – Hoc Mon, then continue on Road TL15 to reach Cu Chi Tunnels.
- Canoe: Canoeing on the Saigon River to Cu Chi Tunnels has become an enticing new experience lately, albeit with higher costs. The journey is operated by Greenlines, departing from Bach Dang Wharf.
For travelers who want to visit the Ben Dinh with private services, you can book a private tour from Vietnam Shore Excursions. Professional and knowledgeable tour guides will share profoundly many interesting stories about this place and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the local life of local people during the tour. Here are some Ho Chi Minh Tours which customers can find out and book for you and your group.
- Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursions
- Ho Chi Minh City Tour
- Ho Chi Minh Half Day Tour
- Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
- Ho Chi Minh City Jeep Tour
History of Ben Dinh Tunnels
Ben Dinh Tunnels is situated in Ben Dinh Village, about 50 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City. It is a part of Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground work used by South Vietnamese forces against foreign invaders.
Cu Chi Tunnels was built during the resistance war against French colonizers in 1948. In 1967, the use of tunnels grew vital throughout the whole Cu Chi District. In particular, the part of Ben Dinh Tunnels is an ideal safe base that covers more than 100 hectares under an eucalyptus forest. From here, Vietnamese soldiers could withdraw safely towards Saigon River when the enemy made sweeps.
After 1975, Ben Dinh Tunnels were well-preserved and open for tourists to visit. Here, you can contemplate the underground structure and the heroic spirit of Vietnamese people.
Significance of Ben Dinh Tunnels
Ben Dinh Tunnels were built entirely by the hands of thousands of Vietnamese people with rudimentary tools like hoes and shovels. Due to frequent air raids, the tunnel had to be dug time and time again. The establishment of Ben Dinh Tunnels shows the indomitable spirit of Vietnamese people, who could make innumerable feats in the resistance wars.
The tunnel was mainly used by Vietnamese forces to transport supplies, brief missions, provide medical treatments, hide from air raids and surprise attacks, etc. In recognition of the tunnel’s unique structure and great historical significance, Ho Chi Minh City is taking the necessary steps so that the whole Cu Chi Tunnels can be listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
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What to do in Ben Dinh Tunnels?
Cu Chi Tunnels in general and Ben Dinh Tunnels in particular welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. This historical attraction was also visited by many countries’ official figures around the world.
Explore the underground tunnels
Following the narrow pathways in the tunnels, visitors can see all sorts of war facilities, including surgery rooms, meeting rooms, small kitchens, etc. Notably, there is a system of deep tunnels used as a place to live, take shelter, store weapons, etc.
On the ground, there is an M41 tank of the US Army that was entangled by Vietnamese guerrillas in 1970. Visitors can also watch documentary films to understand more about the history of establishment and development of the whole Cu Chi Tunnels system.
Join thrilling recreational activities
Visitors may engage in a variety of different activities close to the Cu Chi Tunnels in addition to visiting Ben Dinh Tunnels, such as:
- Try your aim in a shooting range: There is a shooting range that offers travelers a chance to shoot real guns. A variety of guns such as AK47 or M16 are available for you to try your aim under supervision. You will have a chance to test your aiming skills by shooting at various targets.
- Enjoy local delicacies: There is a prominent local restaurant located along the nearby Saigon River. Here, you can try many specialties of the Southeast region, such as braised fish, fish paper rolls, sour soup made of Giang leaves, Vietnamese pancakes, etc.
- Buy souvenirs: There is a souvenir area where visitors can purchase souvenirs made from bullet casings, oil lamps, lighters, ballpoint pens, straps, or sandals made from old tires. There are also many handmade products from the craft villages in Cu Chi.
Ben Dinh Tunnels Map
Besides Ben Dinh Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City also has many other famous attractions for tourists to explore, such as Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Saigon Opera House, Cu Chi Tunnels, etc.
Ho Chi Minh City – a combination of traditional and modern features (Source: Collected)
Ben Dinh Tunnels symbolize the resilience and spirit of Vietnamese people in the form of a massive underground construction. This is an ideal destination for you to explore the heroic culture and history of the S-shaped country.
