Cu Chi Tunnels by Private Car from Ho Chi Minh City: Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc, Timings and Tips
The Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the most popular trips out of Ho Chi Minh City: a network of hand-dug tunnels that once ran for more than 200 km beneath the countryside northwest of Saigon, sheltering fighters, field hospitals and kitchens during the war. Today two sites are open to visitors, both an easy morning's drive from District 1. Here's how to choose between them, a realistic half-day plan, and how to turn it into a full day with the Cao Dai Temple.
Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc: which site should you visit?
Ben Dinh: the closer of the two, usually around 1.5 hours from District 1 depending on traffic. Most group tours come here, so it's well set up but gets busy from mid-morning.
Ben Duoc: a little further, closer to 2 hours, and part of the original base area. It's usually quieter, has longer reconstructed sections and includes the Ben Duoc memorial temple.
Which to pick: short on time or travelling with young children? Ben Dinh. Prefer fewer crowds and more atmosphere? Ben Duoc. With a private car the choice is yours, while many shared tours only go to Ben Dinh.
What you'll see
Short tunnel sections you can crawl through, widened for today's visitors. Going underground is optional, and exits are frequent.
Hidden trapdoor entrances, displays of booby traps, and reconstructed command rooms and field kitchens, including the smokeless Hoang Cam kitchen design.
A short wartime film and models in the visitor area, plus a taste of steamed cassava, a staple food of the time.
A shooting range on site for those who want it (paid separately, and loud).
Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours on site. Tickets are sold at the entrance. If you'd like someone to explain the history in depth, we can arrange a tour guide alongside your car and driver.
A half-day plan from Saigon
7:30 Pickup at your hotel. An early start beats both the heat and the tour buses.
9:00 Arrive at Ben Dinh (or around 9:30 at Ben Duoc).
9:00 to 11:00 Explore the tunnels, displays and forest paths at your own pace.
11:15 Drive back, with an optional lunch stop on the way.
13:00 Back in the city centre with the afternoon free.
Prefer a slower morning? An afternoon visit works too. Just expect more heat and, in the rainy season (roughly May to November), the chance of a short afternoon downpour.
Make it a full day: Cu Chi and the Cao Dai Temple
The Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh is the main temple of Caodaism, a Vietnamese faith founded in the 20th century, and its colourful interior is unlike anywhere else in the country. It's roughly another hour to an hour and a half beyond Cu Chi. Most visitors aim to arrive before the midday ceremony, which can be watched quietly from the upper gallery.
7:00 Pickup and drive to Tay Ninh.
11:30 Cao Dai Temple and the midday ceremony, then lunch nearby.
14:00 Cu Chi Tunnels on the way back (Ben Dinh fits this route best).
18:00 Back in Saigon.
It's a long day on the road, which is exactly where a comfortable vehicle earns its keep: reclining seats, strong air-conditioning and a driver who deals with the traffic while you rest.
What to wear and bring
Clothes you don't mind getting dusty and closed shoes with good grip. The tunnel floors are bare earth.
Insect repellent and a hat. The sites are shaded forest, but humid.
Covered shoulders and knees if you're adding the Cao Dai Temple.
The tunnels are tight and dark. If you're claustrophobic or have knee or back problems, you can still see almost everything above ground.
Back in the city
Cu Chi pairs well with the War Remnants Museum for the wider story. See our one-day Ho Chi Minh City itinerary for how to fit it in. For another easy day out of Saigon, the Mekong Delta is about two hours south, with boat rides, orchards and canal villages.
Your Cu Chi trip with COA-LIMO
Hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, with the same driver waiting at every stop.
Bottled water and cold towels in every car, very welcome after a morning underground.
Vehicles from sedans to the Toyota Alphard and VIP limousines. Here's how to choose the right car.
Half-day or full-day hire, with an optional tour guide.
Planning a trip to Cu Chi? Contact COA-LIMO with your date, group size and hotel, and we'll arrange the right car and driver.
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