Talk about a Strange Spot and a unique tourist activity, the Cu Chi Tunnels outside of Ho Chi Minh City has certainly got these two covered. The Cu Chi tunnels are 75 miles of underground tunnels build during the Vietnam war. They are connected to a larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The tunnels had various purposes during wartime including hide outs, transportation of supplies, food, medical care and living quarters for North Vietnam fighters. Life in the tunnels was extremely difficult. American dubbed the tunnels "Black Echo" to describe the conditions within. The soldiers shared the underground earth with ants, spiders, poinsonous centipedes and scorpions. Illness spread easily and conditions were more or less, horrible. The U.S. officials attempted to destroy them as the tunnels provided an obvious benefit to the N. Vietnamese fighters.
Today, the tunnels have become an amazing and strange tourist experience. Tour guides allow willing participants to climb into the tunnels. Obviously the conditions are much better than during war times. Low-powered lights have been installed, boobie traps are on display and the tunnels have even been widened for western visitors. Above ground attractions are available including monkeys, souvenirs and even a shooting range in which you can shoot an assault riffle (M16 rifle, M60 or AK-47). Seriously, would you want to climb into those little holes??
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