Day 2 - cycle to the Cu Chi tunnels (18 miles)

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an elaborate underground network made up of 250 km (155 miles) of tunnels and chambers in the town of Cu Chi.

A warm day, but hotter later in the trip.

Setting off on our rather good Giant mountain bikes.

These roads were quiet'ish. Little did we know what was in store on subsequent days.

Isabella's fab yellow helmet hat, coveted by many.

Stops included thirst-quenching lemon squash (a bit like Robinson's Barley Water). Also, lots of fresh fruit including alternating pineapple, banana, mango and really tasty watermelon.

Also, peanuts, cashews and almonds in partially crushed shells soaked in something sweet ?coconut.

At junctions, our tour guides helped us traverse more difficult sections or where the route was unclear.

Arriving a the Cu Chi tunnels, much to my surprise, we walked into a clearing with a giant US transport plane.

It felt like a prehistoric dinosaur, deserted in a jungle clearing.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), agreed in Dublin in 2008, prohibited the use of cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters “bomblets".

Sadly, around 30% of cluster bombs used in Southeast Asia did not detonate upon impact leaving a deadly hazard for years after.

Strangely beautiful shell cases.

By the time the US ended its Southeast Asian bombing campaigns, the total tonnage dropped approximately tripled the total for WW2 (7,662,000 vs. 2,150,000 tons).

Should I sit in helicopter, let alone have my photo taken? It was an interesting dilemma for me as I'm definitely a 'peacenik'.

However, I did want to know what it was like, being in that steel clad flying fighter.

After so many viewings of anti-Vietnam war films, such as 'Apocalypse Now', I wanted to a 'kinaesthetic' experience in order to remember.



A descent into a tunnel with well-water within the tunnel complex.

Spot the hidden opening below.

The Viet Cong built these by hand using rudimentary tools.

When pursued, the VC would put leaves over the lid and descend quickly below ground.

Initially tunnels were local, but later the tunnel complex was extended between villages.

More recently, I watched most of the 18 hour Ken Burns & Lynn Novick, Netflix documentary series. A must if you're interested in this period - though really grim viewing.

Our museum guide and I emerge elsewhere.

One of the Vietnam War booby traps - the 'Tiger Trap'.

Treading on this swinging trapdoor was one of multiple booby traps.

Spikes below for the non-cognisant pursuant.

The tunnel system also included medical support.

An operation was in progress.

That'll be another bottle of Hartmann's solution please.

The more senior officials were deeper underground...

...with meeting room facilities.

Time to go.

Note the uniform style of the VC and homemade tyre sandals.

More booby traps - the 'Clipping Armpit' trap.

I had very mixed feelings about the museum. It felt a bit post-holocaust voyeuristic.

I guess I wanted a more thoughtful and compassionate commentary.

Both sides were horrendously cruel to each other. Here we only heard from the victors.

The gift shop had memorabilia in  poor taste - a pen made from old rifle shells.

You could even get a shuttle bus to a firing range to practice shooting with a smorgasbord of Vietnam War weaponry.

Day 1

Day 3