IBSM VIETNAM

The Cu Chi tunnel is a network of underground tunnels constructed by the Vietnamese guerrillas during their war against the United States of America. The tunnel stretches for more than 70 miles and it consists of several levels for different purposes. The purpose for the construction of the tunnel was to hide from the Americans during the war. However, by understanding the significance and reason behind this tunnel, one can see ‘deeper’ into the Vietnamese culture and their general characteristics.

For example, we learnt from our tour guide Kah that the tunnel was dug at a rate of 5 metres per day in small groups and by the end of the war, the complex network of tunnels stood at an astounding 70 over miles in length. From this, we can already derive how resilient the Vietnamese people were and how strong their willpower and perseverance was.

Another reason why the tunnel managed to reach such a length was due to the fact that the guerrillas kept digging non-stop throughout the war. This again shows the dogged surviving instincts of the Vietnamese as well as the sheer determination to win the war even though they were up against arguably the strongest military army in the world.