On Monday we went to the tunnels at Cu Chi. This, for me, was a humbling experience, and there are some somewhat gruesome pictures of traps used below. Please beware, and I just wanted to post them because I had never seen anything quite like it (and I'm fairly well-informed when it comes to history and this war). Here's Wikipedia's description of the area: "The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. The tunnels were used by NLF guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. The role of the tunnel systems should not be underestimated in its importance to the NLF in resisting American operations and protracting the war, eventually persuading the weary Americans into withdrawal."
It was another two-hour drive to Cu Chi (not a 30-minute drive as estimated by someone a few days before, but, oh well.) Cu Chi is another fairly small village (I use this term loosely, since it's obviously not made up of little straw huts or anything like that). There were lots of gorgeous green fields on the way there.
We passed some rubber tree plantations on the way there. Rubber is one of Vietnam's main export products (I spent a lot of time last night reading wikipedia about Vietnam, can't you tell?)
About 30 minutes away from Cu Chi, Devon calmly said from the back seat, "Uh, Hue? He's throwing up back here. Yeah, right now." So non-chalantly--it was hilarious. He was telling her this, of course, so we could pull over and they could clean themselves up (this picture is a very mild picture of the pukage) and she said, "Oh, we're almost there." Aaaaaaaand then we drove for 30 more minutes, all the while Devon and Deacon sat completely still, trying not to let any of the....you know, stuff...spill out onto the seat. Good times, good times.
Ticket booth.
Dani can't pass flowers without taking their pictures. She's just not capable.
Lots of souvenir stands and whatnot. Here are some shells. There were lots of reminders that this was a war site.
We started the tour with a video about Cu Chi and its role in the American War. It really was an amazing accomplishment. It took them over 20 years to complete the tunnels (they started them during the French occupation). It was a little odd watching the video and hearing about different local heroes given honorary titles such as "Hero American Killer."
Some of the weapons used by both sides.
The entrance down into the tunnel area (itself a big concrete tunnel).
Interspersed throughout the area are these tiny little hatches around 10"x12", covered by leaves and dirt. These are the hidden entrances into the tunnels. Our tour guide showed us how they would lower themselves into the tunnel. He asked us if we wanted to try. Dani and I looked at each other and laughed.
Leia had no problem getting into the tunnel and Devon just barely made it (he's about the height of two average Vietnamese men, so it was a little tricky).
One of the many traps designed for massive damage. Our guide assured me that the examples were not actual traps.
There were many, many bomb craters made by bombs dropped from B-52 bombers.
A larger tunnel entrance. The tour area was lightly covered in small trees and had a dirt walking path. During the war, of course, all of the trees were gone, destroyed by constant bombing and agent orange and general warfare.
Norah was fairly well-behaved until towards the end of the walk. There was something a bit eerie to me to have a baby crying in the middle of all this.
There were mannequins dressed as the fighters would have been dressed. From a distance we all thought there were random soldiers sitting around. It was a little startling, to say the least.
Dani and I chillin' with a couple of our peeps, just kickin' it.
A tank incapacitated by a land mine (the land mines would destroy their treads and render them mostly useless).
