Ancient relics, new experiences
Located about 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels is a symbol of the creativity and indomitable fighting spirit of the army and people of the South in general, and Cu Chi in particular, in the resistance wars for independence, freedom and national reunification. Cu Chi Tunnels have a total length of 250km, built between 1946 and 1968. Based on the system of underground tunnels, fortifications, trenches... the army and people of Cu Chi fought bravely, achieving legendary feats, terrifying the enemy.
During the days when the whole country was bustling with activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, the film "Tunnels: The Sun in the Dark" by director Bui Thac Chuyen was released, creating a "fever" at the box office. The film was inspired by real events after 1967, telling the story of a 21-man guerrilla squad fighting in the Cu Chi area. Besides its cinematic values, the film quite realistically recreates the life, the arduous but resilient fighting of the army and people of Cu Chi, affirming the revolutionary heroism in the resistance of our nation. Through the film, once again, Cu Chi Tunnels is brought closer to the people and tourists at home and abroad.
As a former tunnel digger and direct combatant, Huynh Van Chia (residing in Trung Lap Ha commune, Cu Chi district) emotionally recounted: “It has been a long time since there has been a film about the revolutionary war about the heroic Cu Chi Tunnels. Although it cannot fully depict the arduous years of fighting, the film “Tunnels: Sun in the Dark” has helped generations of Vietnamese people and international tourists better understand the life and fighting of our army and people underground more than half a century ago.”
Comrade Nguyen Minh Tam, Deputy Director of Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site informed: “The unit is very proud to cooperate in making the film “Tunnels: Sun in the Dark” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. The attraction of the film also contributes to promoting the image of Cu Chi Tunnels, contributing to stimulating tourism , creating a highlight to bring tourists to the tunnels to visit and learn”.
Cu Chi Tunnels are no longer unfamiliar to tourists as they are in the top 10 world famous tourist destinations that tourists should visit as voted by The Travel (Thetravel.com) travel site, or 25 most favorite tourist destinations in Asia as announced by Tripadvisor (Tripadvisor.com.vn). In Vietnam, Cu Chi Tunnels were voted into the top 50 "Attractive tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta" and are one of the 10 interesting attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is no coincidence that this relic is always in the top of the most famous and attractive destinations on the tourist destination map in the City named after Uncle Ho. Because when coming here, visitors can not only hear and see but also experience crawling in the tunnels. Currently, along with the existing tunnel relic system, to promote and attract tourists, the relic site has invested in many new and attractive services and models to serve the needs of sightseeing and entertainment... In particular, the area recreates the liberated area like a miniature picture of a peaceful Southern countryside village nestled under a cool green bamboo forest, with many scenes vividly recreating the typical life and activities of the people at that time. Visitors can experience rice planting, fishing, pounding rice..., and enjoy many specialties of Cu Chi land. Since 2024, the unit has built a night tour program. The theme "Moon in the war zone" recreates the liberated zone at night, using moonlight as the main theme, recreating the life and night activities of Cu Chi people in the liberated zone.
Mr. Tran The Dung, General Director of Vietluxtour Travel Joint Stock Company, acknowledged that after visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site, most visitors want to return because of the new, deep and unforgettable impressions. Many foreign visitors expressed their admiration and surprise at the brave and intelligent fighting spirit of the Vietnamese people. Therefore, upgrading this relic site will practically promote the image of Ho Chi Minh City as an attractive, safe and vibrant destination for tourists. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the Company focuses on building and promoting cultural and historical tourism products, associating the Cu Chi Tunnels with many new features to attract tourists.
Thanks to innovative thinking and focused investment, the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site has become a bright spot in attracting tourists, an important link in the tour chain of more than 200 tourism and travel service businesses. The site also coordinates with neighboring localities to introduce customs, practices, cultural features in the daily life, work, and beliefs of some ethnic groups. Every year, the site welcomes more than 1 million domestic and foreign visitors, with nearly 1.3 million visitors in 2024 alone (an increase of 21%).
Comrade Nguyen Minh Tam shared that, with the spirit of "Ancient relics, new experiences", the unit has invested in building an automatic explanation system, virtual tourism applications, artificial intelligence technology and virtual reality technology experiences... The tour guides have been improved in historical knowledge, professional skills, foreign languages, service attitude, communication skills... The unit also promotes, promotes, connects and coordinates with travel agencies in building tourism products associated with Cu Chi Tunnels.
Officers and soldiers of units visit and learn about traditions at the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site (Ho Chi Minh City). |
Worthy of a great work
Along with tourism development, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site always identify the propaganda and education of revolutionary traditions as a key political task. The site is also considered a living "historical school" for the younger generation. Every year, a large number of union members, youth, students from agencies, units, localities and many origin-returning groups across the country come to the site to study, visit and experience. Extracurricular activities and origin-oriented activities at the tunnels help to arouse patriotism, national pride and a sense of responsibility to the Fatherland for the younger generation.
To always be the top destination in the system of "red addresses", the relic site has made efforts to implement many synchronous solutions in conservation, restoration, infrastructure construction and service quality improvement. The relic site focuses on doing a good job of managing and preserving artifacts, actively constructing and repairing historical works to serve visitors. The unit has coordinated with relevant agencies to develop a scientific, reasonable and aesthetic plan for arrangement, display, and meeting historical witnesses who were Cu Chi people who directly lived, fought and dug the tunnels, as well as collecting many related documents to enrich information, improve propaganda effectiveness, foster patriotism and national pride.
The Cu Chi Tunnels historical relic site was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister in 2015. Currently, the authorities are coordinating with the relic site to consult on documents for the competent authority to submit to UNESCO to recognize the Cu Chi Tunnels as a world heritage site. According to Major Trieu Van Hieu, Director of the Cu Chi Tunnels historical relic site, the Cu Chi Tunnels are not only a special historical relic but also a symbol of patriotism, intelligence and the resilient and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people. The unit is urgently coordinating to complete the necessary procedures so that the relic site can soon be recognized as a world heritage site. This is the sentiment and gratitude of today's generation for the great contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors who built and fought for this project, making a great contribution to the resistance war for independence, freedom and national reunification. Thereby, the Cu Chi Tunnels are even more worthy of being a great man-made work.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/dia-dao-cu-chi-tu-huyen-thoai-den-trien-vong-di-san-the-gioi-826066
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