Visiting the Cu Chi tunnels...

Our first day in Vietnam we headed to the Cu Chi Tunnels about 45 mins outside of Hoi Chi Minh City...The tunnels are a network of underground passageways that the gorilla's used in the Vietnam war against the Americans... there were many mixed emotions about this tour... Grandpa was with us and active in the military at the time of the Vietnam war, seeing traps and tunnels that were used to fight Americans was a bit interesting and sad at the same time, and then I found myself occasionally thinking about the current war that we find ourselves in and the men and women that die everyday.... but on a happier note enjoy the pictures...

On our drive out to the location we got to see lots of village life and rice fields... a different site from the city.

Rubber trees... and lots of them.

Headed into the tunnels... Grandpa got a picture of me taking pics... the only thing I seem to be doing these days with my new toy...

A entry point for the tunnels... a bit small... do you think we could fit in it?

Blake was the brave one and tried it out...

This working station was under ground at one time but they opened up so we could breath :-).

This section is where the traps start.. this is a common trap that they used... a person would come along and walk on the green patch (obviously it would be surrounded by green not brown).

and this is what they would find on the other side....

Ouch... alot of the traps were meant to mangle not to kill...

Another entry... a bigger one... that has been reinforced due to erosion.

Pierce taking a picture with a lady gorilla.

This was an American tank that was stopped here due to a bomb that killed 4 Americans...
They make shoes out of tires and tubes just like in the old times... the guy that was making them had a pair on his feet that he has had for 7 years... they last for 20.

we got to go inside the tunnels... Pierce fit perfectly the rest of us had to crawl around like the tour guide.

Finally we get to come out... we see light... and fresh air...

On our way out we grabbed some more hats and took some pictures...

A great first day... what will the rest of our days look like... come back for more... please!