Cu Chi Tunnels Tour from Ho Chi Minh City: Options, Prices and Tips

Sixty kilometres of tunnels dug by hand over twenty years, wide enough in some sections for a small person to crouch-walk but not stand - the Cu Chi tunnel network northwest of Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most viscerally affecting historical sites in Vietnam. Used by Viet Cong guerrillas from the late 1940s through the fall of Saigon in 1975, the tunnels connected underground hospitals, meeting rooms, and weapons workshops with concealed surface trapdoors that made the area almost impossible to clear despite repeated US Army attempts, including the chemical defoliation of the surrounding forest.

Today, two sections of the tunnel network are open to visitors: Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Both are legitimate historical sites; the question of which to visit comes down to how much time you have and how you prefer to get there.

Ben Dinh vs. Ben Duoc

Ben Dinh (~70 km from District 1) is the more commonly visited site and the default for most group tours from Ho Chi Minh City. It is smaller and more compact, with a fixed walking circuit, a video introduction, and a section of expanded tunnel (widened from the original 45 cm width to accommodate larger foreign visitors) that you can crawl through. The crawl section runs approximately 40 metres through three tunnel levels and an underground chamber. Ben Dinh also has a shooting range where visitors can fire original AK-47 and M16 rifles at approximately USD 1–2 per round - this is optional and operates separately from the historical tour.

Ben Duoc (~90 km from District 1) is larger, less visited, and generally preferred by travellers who want more historical context and fewer fellow tourists. It has an expanded tunnel network, a full-scale replica of the command bunkers, and a significant war memorial. The Ben Duoc site takes longer to reach and is rarely included on standard half-day tours from the city, but it is the more complete experience.

Our recommendation: Ben Dinh for half-day tours or if time is limited; Ben Duoc for a full-day visit with a private driver.

Group Tours from Ho Chi Minh City (~USD 12–25 per person)

Group minibus tours from HCMC to Cu Chi Tunnels are the most popular format and the easiest to book. Most operate as half-day tours (departing at 7:30–8am, returning by 1–2pm) or full-day tours that combine Cu Chi with a Mekong Delta stop.

Sinh Tourist / The Sinh Tourist - one of Vietnam’s largest tour operators, with offices throughout District 1. Their Cu Chi half-day tour departs daily from multiple central Hanoi/HCMC pick-up points and costs approximately USD 12–15 per person including entrance fee and English-speaking guide. Consistent quality, predictable itinerary. Book directly at their office on De Tham Street or online.

Klook Cu Chi Tunnels Tours - with both Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc options. Price range approximately USD 18–28 per person as of 2026 including entrance, guide, and transport from central HCMC. Higher rated guides on average than the cheapest walking operators.

GetYourGuide Cu Chi half-day tours - multiple operators listed, with half-day group tours from approximately USD 15 per person. Reading reviews carefully matters here: the cheapest listings sometimes use older vehicles or assign larger groups (25+) to a single guide, which reduces the quality of commentary considerably.

Full-day combination tours (Cu Chi + Mekong Delta): some operators combine Cu Chi in the morning with a brief Mekong Delta boat trip in the afternoon. These are long days (7am–7pm) and the Mekong component is rushed, but they work for travellers with only one day to spare.

Private Tours (~USD 40–80 per person or USD 80–150 for the car)

A private tour means a car (or van) and guide for your group only. The main advantages are flexibility - you can spend more time at sections that interest you, visit Ben Duoc rather than Ben Dinh, and stop for lunch at a riverside restaurant rather than the tunnel complex canteen.

Private drivers from HCMC charge approximately USD 30–45 for a return transfer to Ben Dinh by car (4–5 seats). Adding a licensed English-speaking guide costs USD 25–40 extra. Several operators on GetYourGuide and Klook offer pre-packaged private tours in this range.

Private tour at Ben Duoc is particularly worthwhile: the site has an area that most guides describe as the most complete surviving example of the original tunnel network, and a full-size diorama of the guerrilla camp layout that requires explanation to understand properly.

Self-Guided Visit (~USD 5–10 total)

Possible but significantly more time-consuming. The bus journey from Ben Thanh Bus Station takes 2.5–3 hours each way using Bus 13 (to Cu Chi bus terminal, approximately 12,000 VND) and then Bus 79 (to the tunnel entrance, approximately 8,000 VND). Return journey means catching the last buses in the mid-afternoon. The site itself provides an audio guide in English for approximately 50,000 VND, but the commentary is limited and the self-guided circuit misses context that a knowledgeable guide would provide.

For most travellers, the cost difference between a self-guided visit (approximately USD 5–8 total transport + entrance) and a budget group tour (approximately USD 12–15 all-in) is small enough that the group tour represents better value unless you specifically prefer to travel independently.

What to Wear and Bring

• Footwear: Closed shoes are required for the tunnel crawl. Sandals are not suitable.
• Clothing: Light, loose clothing that you do not mind getting dirty in the tunnel. Long trousers are practical for the crawl section.
• Water: The tunnel complex is hot and the surrounding scrub forest provides limited shade. Bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person.
• Cash: The shooting range and food vendors at both sites are cash-only (VND preferred; USD sometimes accepted at unfavourable rates).

Practical Information

Entrance fees (2026): Approximately 110,000 VND at Ben Dinh; 120,000 VND at Ben Duoc. Confirm whether your tour includes this before booking.

Opening hours: Both sites open daily, approximately 7:30am to 5pm.

Photography: Permitted throughout, including in the tunnel sections (bring a small torch for the darkest sections).

Getting there independently: Grab (Vietnam’s dominant ride-hailing app) does not generally offer routes to Cu Chi from central HCMC. A Grab car to Cu Chi township followed by a local taxi to the Ben Dinh gate is possible but complex. An organised tour or pre-booked private driver is the simpler choice.

For more on making the most of your time in the south, see our Ho Chi Minh City guide and Mekong Delta day trip guide. Need something confirmed today? Our last-minute tours page lists Cu Chi Tunnels trips with same-day availability.

Book Cu Chi Tunnels tours:

• Tours and activities in Ho Chi Minh City via GetYourGuide
• Cu Chi Tunnels tours on Klook