Saigon Day 4: Cu Chi Tunnels, War Remnants Museum, AO Show & More

Intensive but fulfilling day: a Saigon day itinerary worth following.

Looking back, this day was quite intensely packed with activities, debunking the idea that there's nothing to do in Saigon. If you've religiously followed my Saigon travelogues or read the title of this post (heh heh), this is already the fourth day in Saigon and we're not losing steam in finding places to explore at all. In this post I'll cover three attractions and a lot of delicious food places! 

The day started bright and early (okay, not thaaat early) slightly before 9, where we gathered at Bui Vien Street for a half-day tour to the Cu Chi tunnels. We bought a tour package two days before in one of the travel agencies along the backpackers' area of Bui Vien and were instructed to meet at the front of the travel agency at 9 to catch the bus.  I don't remember the exact price of the half-day tour, it was approximately 150,000dong (~S$9.50) if I am not wrong. This includes the two-way transport (90mins one way), a guide, and the tour itself. Entrance fees of 90,000dong (~S$5.70). Freshly squeezed, ice-cold mango milkshakes go at 15,000dong (~S$0.95) around here.

Total damage to wallet: 150,000 + 90,000 + 15,000 =  255,000dong (S$16.15) 
Note: Worth it, considering the tour was quite long (2.5 hours) and very vital to understanding Saigon's past.

The bus conductor was very informative at telling us stories about the Cu Chi tunnels, the historical background about the Vietnam War, but thirty minutes into his speech, each of us nodded off... his voice began to sound like a lullaby... But his speech gave us a good background information on what to expect, how the Viet Cong made those tunnels of 200km long by hand, why it has to be done that way, the intelligence of the system and the terrible war incidents that happened then. These tunnels were literally underground cities, where the soldiers live, cook, and sleep in there.

It involved a first-hand experience crawling through the tunnels. It completely challenged my claustrophobia which I tried for a while, but it was indeed a bit scary. It is unimaginable how they could have survived so long in those tunnels when I couldn't even last 5 minutes! There were displays and guide explanations on how the booby traps and other interesting functions of the tunnels, including how they managed to cook underground and hide the smoke from their cooking. We also watched a propagandic film lambasting the Americans' infiltration into Saigon during that time, especially their usage of agent orange which caused tumours, birth defects, rashes... with consequences lasting till today.

/Inappropriate expressions but it's too natural to smile when there's a camera/

The area has already been cleared and restored for tourism purposes, so it didn't feel eerie, but felt so much awe and respect for the soldiers that actually invented the system and lasted within in! The Vietnamese are indeed very intelligent at warfare tactics. The Cu Chi tunnels were critical at forcing the American troops to withdraw then. Though in war, nobody wins...

We tried eating sweet potato dipped with peanut shavings, it was quite delicious (but maybe I was just hungry). This was what they ate during the Vietnam War. It probably won't be delicious anymore if eaten on a daily basis. Thereafter, we were brought to a painting factory where the victims of agent orange worked at, and produced goods for tourists to buy. Then we swung right back to town.

I am two minds about recommending this place, Dac San Bún Mắm, which had the most delicious but disturbing meal I've had throughout this Vietnam trip. Okay, let's first focus on the food: bún mắm (65,000dong; ~S$4) is the one you see on the left, with a darker thicker sweet seafood fish-sauce-based broth with chives, fried garlic and other herbs, which absolutely whets my appetite. The white vermicelli noodles and the freshest prawns, eggplant and meats were also used, and I love it. The one on the right is a chicken vermicelli soup which was pretty delicious as well. Their Vietnamese spring rolls (10,000dong/roll; ~S$0.60/roll) here are made on the spot, right next to us, and is my favourite from this trip as well... 

Everything about this place is a heavenly sweet find for a foodie, except you've got to close two eyes when you eat, because there are little roaches running across the floor.  

It might already be a nightmare for some already, but look at how low the tables are - a characteristic of most 'authentic' Vietnamese eateries, and imagine how close you are to the floor... okay, enough of scaring you.

Granted, I really liked the food here. And it probably won't get an 'A' for NEA here. But we didn't get any stomach issues after the meal here, so what say you? At least you'll get a delicious meal in an authentic Vietnamese eatery ticked off your bucket list - so here's the address:

22 Phan Bội Châu
P Ben Thanh, District 1