Verglas Blog: HCM Day 3 - Cuchi Tunnel and Cao Dao Temple

Made day tour bookings with The Sinh Tourist again for our 3rd day in HCM. Since we had a lot of time on hand (doing HCM for 6 days 5 nights is a little too long), we decided to occupy the full 3rd day with a day tour. They offered Cuchi 1/2 day tour and Cuchi and Caodao 1 day tour. Obviously, with too much time on hand, we went for the full day! Cost VND 195,000 (~S$15), inclusive of 500ml water, coach ride and entrance tic to the Cuchi tunnels. Lunch is on your own, driver brings u there. Dont expect anything fanciful. It will be a local fare.

A picture of the tour agency in case anyone googles and this space.

Stop 1 - Handicap Crafts Centre

Very delicate hands! And they do pretty crafts!

Take a look at some of their craftworks...

Buy! and help the economy! Too bad I dont have my own house. If not I sure (i think) buy some as decors.

Stop 2 - Cao Dao Temple

Interesting temple. The religion consists of 3 different religions combined (after a war, i think) - Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Look around the pretty courtyard...

Man and woman has to go through different entrances and exits. The kind people there will help you get around if u are not sure. You can tell from their body language when u walk in the wrong directions! :p

Symbol for this religion is actually an eye in the middle of a triangle. Eye represents god/buddha can SEE what you do. Each edge of the triangle represents one of the 3 religions.

A beautiful sight awaits at the backyard :):) Different lives, same sky :)

Stop 3 - Cuchi Tunnels

This had me entering and leaving in awe. I wondered how the villagers learned to dig such a well organised yet massive tunnel. How did they dig? How did they create the ventilations? How did they get accustomed to such small space so easily? Why were they not claustrophobic?

I had many hows and whys on my head....that I will never get to find out unless we teleport back into time..

Some pictures...

A shed

Tour guide uncovered the well camouflaged cover leading to the tunnel entrance..

tiny entrance. You can enter if u dare ;p

Our entrance fees included a 30m, 60m or 100m crawl in the tunnel. Level one only. Deeper down, lesser air. I felt like hyperventilating even before the first 30m. It was pitch dark inside. And verrrry verrrrry cramp. Lucky N never go with me..I think he cannot squeeze through!! hahaha! By the first stream of lights marking some stairs and exit point, I exited immediately. 60m and 100m is obviously NOT a choice.

There were traps hidden all over the grounds to trap intruders. Below are some preserved ones..

A swivel cover camouflaged by grasses

It swivels upwards when u step on it

And intruders fall into sharp knifes. Most of the Cuchi people were hunters. So creating traps like these were of easy feat.

There was an exhibit hall showcasing more deadly traps.

Go with a guide. He will show you how the traps work with a mock leg stick.

And the pictures on the walls showing how the traps killed soldiers..

The Vietnamese are really a bunch of creative recycling people!

What do you do with the old and (little bit) worn out tyres of your vehicle? For a normal Singaporean, we change our tyres every 40,000 - 50,000km of mileage. It doesnt even get so worn out as below tyre when we decide to change into spanking new BRANDED Bridgestones!

They use it to make slippers! Am sure the material provides a good grip, better than any other sandals! Better than crocs leh I think..

So how? You tyre changing people guilty or not???!!! We know all about recycling. But all we know is to throw respective items into the green, yellow and red bins along orchard road. Guilty or not?!

And see what amazing things they can create with used cans...

!!!!!!!!!!!

Really upped another level of respect!

There was a fruitful jackfruit tree right outside the tunnel entrance...see for yourself... WOW!!

We headed back to Ben Thanh Market (Night) for dineroos. Ordered less this time cos we were full from the bread we packed for the day trip :)

Morning glory - how they call it. We decided to order this and anticipated a vege surprise without knowing that this actually was a Kangkong ;p

Coconut Juice - Must tell them you want BIGGER one! Hydrate hydrate hydrate! tho the smaller one tastes sweeter :)

The grilled fish we were eyeing on day one :) Yumsssss...

Fried rice with beef cubes...it was under the same category as the fried rice we ordered on day one...but when it came, portion of rice was sooo much smaller..