Tunnel Vision – March 2019
One morning we took a 1 1/2 hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnel used during the Vietnam War.
History– This tunnel is part of a 250 kilometer underground system of tunnels in the jungle in southern Vietnam, extending from the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border. Using only hand tools, Communist soldiers and later Viet Cong soldiers (Communist guerilla troops in the south) dug the narrow underground passageways with the help of sympathetic local villagers. Entrances were small, about 14 x 10 inches, and camouflaged with leaves. The tunnel system included special features such as hiding places, kitchens, medical clinics, weapon-making areas, meeting rooms, and places to sleep.
Guerillas marked trees to identify the location of hidden entrances. 
Tunnel doors were well camouflaged with leaves. 
A broad-shouldered person cannot fit through this tunnel door. 
A guide shows how to disappear quickly. 
Not all tunnel entrances used during the Vietnam War were this small.
Booby Traps– Our guide explained that during the Vietnam War most of the fighting by Viet Cong solders was on the jungle floor, so the guerillas used booby traps to injure and kill South Vietnamese and US troops. He showed us quite a few types of booby traps, most of which used very sharp bamboo stakes to impale the enemy when stepping on a well-disguised hinged piece of wood.
Camouflaged, hinged doors increased the likelihood of injury and death. 
This trap could inflict injury on two sides of the victim’s body. 
The Viet Cong soldiers created many types of booby traps.
More examples of booby traps from the Vietnam War. The door trap swings forward and impales the intruder in the doorway.
In the Tunnels– We ducked and crawled through about 100 meters of the underground Cu Chi Tunnels. Fortunately parts of the tunnel were illuminated and a few air vents added since the 1970’s. Even so, the tunnels were very warm and a bit claustrophobic. Our guide diplomatically said that we had an advantage over Vietnamese solders because the tunnels were made taller and wider after the war so visitors could more easily explore the passageways.
Susan descends to the starting point. 
We explored narrow, windy passageways. 
Our 100 meter journey included several one meter elevation changes. 
Even Susan had to crouch down in the tunnel.
Rubber Sandals– Near the end of our tour the guide showed us sandals that the Viet Cong soldiers and villagers made from rubber tires. The shoes were worn backwards in order to deceive the enemy about the direction of travel of both guerillas and local people.
Car & bicycle tires were cut to make sandals. 
Guerillas & villagers wore the sandals backwards. 
Our guide explains the importance of the rubber sandals.