Cu Chi Tunnels: two sites, one day out
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a historic site and memorial for the wartime tunnel network north-west of Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors go to one of two areas: Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Parts of the passages have been widened for visitors, and the sites also show the rooms, workshops and exhibits that belong to them.
Most people visit as part of a guided trip. You can also go by public bus or by car with a driver. Both sites open daily from 07:00 to 17:00. Prices below are in Vietnamese ฤแปng (VND) as shown for 2026.
Our picks: Cu Chi Tunnels tours
The first is the basic Cu Chi trip with the ticket in the price, the second goes to the quieter Ben Duoc section, and the third is a small group where you should check the ticket first.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Small-group Cu Chi half day, morning or afternoon
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- English-speaking guide
- Boiled tapioca and tea
Air-conditioned transport, water and all taxes and fees are included. Ask before booking whether the ticket to the tunnels is in the price.
Check availability โ
Ben Duoc tunnels with a history-focused guide
- Entrance fees included
- English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
The Ben Duoc section of Cu Chi, with boiled cassava as a wartime food to taste and drinking water. Pickup covers selected districts.
Check availability โCu Chi Tunnels, morning or afternoon departure
- Entry tickets included
- English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
The basic Cu Chi visit with the entry ticket and a bottle of water. The vehicle drops you at Ben Thanh Market or the operator's office, not necessarily at your hotel.
Check availability โCu Chi Tunnels tours
Half-day and full-day trips to Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc, by road or with a boat leg, with live prices and availability.
How to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels
Choose a guided trip, a bus or a driver.
Guided tour
A tour covers transport and usually a guide, so you do not need to work out the route. Check the card for whether the entry fee is in the price. The tunnel entry and the tour price are separate things.
Boat leg
Some programs use the Saigon River for part of the way, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes on the water. This is part of that tour, not a public ferry with a timetable.
Public bus
To Ben Duoc, take bus 13 to Cu Chi and change to bus 79. To Ben Dinh, use 13, 122 and 70. Expect about 2.5 to 3 hours each way. Routes, stops and timetables change, so check them before you leave. The free city bus scheme covers 134 city lines, but airport and long-distance lines are excluded, so do not assume a given Cu Chi line is free.
Car with driver or motorbike
A car with a driver avoids the question of a licence. If you ride yourself, you need a valid licence of the right class and, in 2026, an international permit under the 1968 convention together with your national licence.
How much time to plan
What fits into the time.
Ben Dinh is about 55 km from the centre, 1 to 1.5 hours by road. Ben Duoc is about 70 km, 1.5 to 2 hours. Traffic can add to this. With that much driving each way, a half-day tour fits one site and leaves little time for anything else, while a full day lets you add a second stop. Both sites close at 17:00, so a late start shortens your time inside.
The tunnels are narrow and low. If you are claustrophobic, have a bad back or knees, or a health condition, think carefully before you enter any crawl section. Wear shoes you can walk in and bring water.
Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc
What each site shows.
Ben Dinh has a film screening, a weapons workshop and the remains of an M41 tank. Ben Duoc has tunnel rooms with storage and an operating room, a memorial temple and a reconstructed area. They are separate visits, so plan on one site per trip unless you have a full day. Ben Dinh is closer to the city.
A sport shooting range is run as a separate paid activity. It is not part of the entry fee and you do not need it for the visit.
Cu Chi Tunnels entrance fee
Two figures are in use, so confirm at the gate.
Foreign adult visitors in 2026
| Fee | Ben Dinh | Ben Duoc |
|---|---|---|
| From 1 February 2026: monument fee plus guide service | VND 135,000 (35,000 + 100,000) | VND 135,000 (35,000 + 100,000) |
| Lower figure you may be charged | VND 110,000 | VND 90,000 |
| Children and discounts | Ask at the ticket office | Ask at the ticket office |
So plan on VND 90,000 to 135,000 per adult and keep the higher figure in your budget. Bring cash and arrive well before 17:00. For most visitors, the guided tour with transport included is the simplest way to pay for everything once.
More about the area
Related guides on this site.
Cu Chi Tunnels: frequently asked questions
How far are the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City?
Ben Dinh is about 55 km from the centre and Ben Duoc about 70 km. Count on 1 to 2 hours by road each way, more in heavy traffic.
How much does the Cu Chi Tunnels entrance cost?
Plan on VND 90,000 to 135,000 for adult foreign visitors in 2026. From 1 February 2026 the figure of VND 135,000 is the monument fee of VND 35,000 plus VND 100,000 for a guide. Confirm the amount at the ticket office.
Which site should I visit, Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc?
Ben Dinh is closer and has a film, a weapons workshop and a tank remnant. Ben Duoc is farther and has tunnel rooms, an operating room, a memorial temple and a reconstructed area. Most tours go to one of them.
Are the tunnels suitable for everyone?
No. The passages are narrow and low, so they are not for everyone. If you have breathing, back, knee or heart problems or are claustrophobic, ask before you go in.
What time should I arrive?
The sites open from 07:00 to 17:00. With 1 to 2 hours of driving each way, an early start gives you more time inside, and a late one cuts it short.