The tunnels of Cu Chi

Here is the story of the Cu Chi tunnels (an hour' drive by bus outside Ho Chi Minh City), as told in the words of our hosts.  

Cu Chi was always known as a land of gardens and fruit trees, there was always something ripening in all seasons.   It was a favorite site for picnics for those living in Saigon.  

Rubber tree plantations were an important part of the economy.  

During the American war this area was converted into a base from which the Viet Cong (VC) could launch attacks.   

Saigon airport was only 30km away and was a frequent target.  

In response, the US launched B52 attacks of hundreds of bombs.   

As a result of this "crazy batch of devils", a hatred of "US bombs and bullets" developed.  

To keep their homes and cherished countryside, the Vietnamese were forced to live underground, eventually developing an immense network of zigzagged tunnels, seventy five miles long and about two feet high.  

The deepest of the tunnel series were eight to ten meters deep, and "everywhere, there were hiding places."

To keep the enemy from discovering the soil dispersed during the creation of the tunnels, it was sent by bicyclist to the nearby Saigon River, in which it was dumped.  

"Locals became heroes for killing Americans. "

Using animal tracking techniques, they would follow the typical paths (GI's) would take, foretelling where the enemy would go.  

They then devised a series of traps of various types to snare the enemy, some which had been previously and successfully used with French invaders.  

The traps often featured deadly, pointed bamboo and metal stakes. 

A cheap, and readily available source of poison to place on these stakes was human excrement.   It was also highly effective in (eventual) killing.  

Another weapon used to advantage: unexplored American bombs.   These were disassembled at great personal risk and new  weapons and explosives were crafted to use against the enemy. 

The Cu Chi townspeople and Viet Cong kept cultivating the land or targeting Americans at night, while sleeping, eating and cooking in the tunnels and wider "bunker" spaces during the day.  

Human waste was managed within the body fitting (only) tunnels by digging a shallow hole,  and refilling it with dirt and ashes from the fireplace of the  cooking bunker.  

Many Vietnamese and VC were overcome by malaria, which was the second highest cause of death following wounds.  

One hundred percent of tunnel occupants were said to have "intestinal parasites of significance."  (Wiki)

To keep the enemy from finding the smoke rising from the cooking bunker stove, a series of ingenious filters were developed along the length of the bamboo-based evacuation route.  

Cooking was permitted once a day around 4am so that any residual smoke would be camouflaged by morning mists, natural to the jungle.  

The enemy attempted to find the tunnel entry points by bringing in hundreds of German dogs trained in smelling the clothes of the Vietnamese.  

But the Vietnamese countered by leaving the clothes of dead Americans outside the tunnel openings during the night, and the dogs would then simply walk by during the day.  

The American and allied troops complained that they couldn't see the VC, yet they would seem to be everywhere; appearing, disappearing and reappearing.  

American and allied troops couldnt imagine their enemy capable of building so complicated  a system.  

But Cu Chi guerrillas did, and stood firm at the gateway to Saigon, from which they eventually unleashed their deadly and successful Tet Offensive.