Originally used by Viet Cong guerrillas as transport routes, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a complex network of tunnels used as the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. Located in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City, there are many hotels in Vietnam in which one can lodge while exploring these tunnels. However a preferred hotel Haiphong among many would be Harbour View Hotel Haiphong Vietnam that could provide convenient accommodation during this excursion. Referred to as Black Echo by American soldiers, this extensive network of tunnels consisting of food and weapon caches served as a communication and supply route to hospitals as well as living quarters for guerrillas. Needless to say, life in these tunnels proved to be extremely difficult due to the scarcity of air, light and water as well as the tunnels being infested with ants, poisonous centipedes, snakes and scorpions. The Cu Chi Tunnels proved to be an important deciding factor in the Viet Cong’s resistance against American forces and ultimately helped in achieving military victory. Preserved by the Vietnamese government and turned into a war memorial park, the Cu chi Tunnels today is a popular tourist attraction featuring a variety of Vietnam War era weapons, tours around the tunnels where the booby traps have been clearly marked as well as various war relics belonging to the same age. 
Jayani Senanayake is a writer who dabbles in travel and all things exotic. Under the pseudonym of Calliope Sage, she writes of the allures that must simply be discovered. Google+
