We had full day looking at Cu Chi tunnels 44 miles out of city center (Saigon) took about 2 hrs to get there and 1 1/2 hrs to get back – we saw villages of former revolutionary fighters, French rubber plantations where bombing remnants still remain 3 decades later. This trip focused on the Vietnamese fighters who lived and fought from underground tunnels with thick roofs capable of withstanding the weight of tanks or impact of bombs- a military guide showed us tools and weapons used by guerrillas –tunnels had hospitals, kitchens, most unbelievable thing I ever saw – we were standing in a jungle type area with guide – he brushed off debris from
the ground, lifted a piece of rock about 24 by 24, jumped in (he was about 5’7”” 130 lbs) pulled rock over his head covered with leaves and he was
gone – up he came about 50 feet away – one of our military bases was built over one of the tunnels – US had not a clue – – one of the guides made the comment your Marines ate too much hot dog,
hamburgers, could not get in tunnels – your Marines like fat water buffalo - – they ask you to make no comments "any disparaging references made to past foes of the government may be deemed offensive" – of course these kids (guides) were all born after the war – they would steal things off of the US bases and put around tunnels so when US dogs came sniffing they only smelled familiar smells so no reason to alert– soap, coffee etc – not VN spices etc – picture of beautiful young VN girl 19 yrs old in black and white picture in Cu Chi camp –honored for killing more Americans in Cu Chi area than anyone else – as I said it was sobering reliving a tragic civil war - Joanna

I can only imagine, JoAnna, what it was like there. Very somber, I would think. I don't know if I could take that excursion. My former husband was at the battles at Hue, KheSahn and Con Thien and had photos of what the war was like. He lived that war (and probably still does). While the country must be beautiful, we lost so many and so many that came home, did not come home whole.

I read a Nelson DeMille book recently that talked about those tunnels. While I was fascinated, I know for a fact that I couldn't go through them. The only time I am claustrophobic is when I am in a cave or something similar.

It would have to be sobering.

NO, I do no think this tour is for everyone - Tom did not go and Tony changed his mind at last minute and went - part of the reason we only had 12 on our bus - they did fill one other bus but I would guess just not for everyone - however, I would do it again in a New York Minute - thinking of you Denise - Joanna

I'm with you, Kathy. I love reading about Joanna's excursions but this one I think I would have to pass on. Thanks, OK, Joanna and Marcie make me feel like I'm there anyway. They do such a great job.

Hi Joanna

Wish I were there to join in with you and Marcie. What a fascinating excursion! You are both having too much fun while I am working away to pay for our Baltic cruise! Life ain't fair!

Miss you lots and lots!

Joanna:

What an amazing tour - wish I'd had the chance when we were in Vietnam in '97.

I remember how emotional I felt just sailing into the harbor in Da Nang, all that raw beauty - but a very tragic place to think about in the late '60s. Those feeling still remain for many.

No, I couldn't have done it either, both for physical reasons, height AND width, seeing Marcie's picture, claustrophobia, and the other reasons. Seeing the photo of the girl would have brought forth much emotion, NONE of which would have been positive! :b:

The Cu Chi tunnels remain one of my most vivid memories of my trip to Viet Nam. Before that I knew nothing about our brave "tunnel rats". The job was strictly volunteer, and very few of them survived. The tunnels were quite sobering...

Thanks Joanna for telling us about the tunnels. I would love to see these but because of physical problems would never be able to take a tour like this.
I too first heard about these from "fictional" books, the DeMille book & one by Michael Connelly. Does anyone remember seeing anything about these in the main stream media either during the war or since then?
About the picture of the young girl - I guess it would be disconcerting to see that, but understandably, they have a somewhat different official view of that war than we do.
Thanks to both you & Marcie for bringing to life all of these places.

Joanna: When we were in Vietnam on a Song of Flower cruise back in ? forgotten when. anyway, Clyde went into the tunnels and actually stooped his way for a way to see what it must have been like to have live that way back in the '60-70s/ I couldn't do it because I was afraid it would be too claustrophobic for me. I couldn't believe they could live underground like that and steal from our bases at night for food. And what about those pits with the spears for unsuspecting enemy combatants ( our military guys? They would fall into them and be pierced. Ugh. I have pictures of the Vietnamese fellow pulling the turf over his head after he went down into the tunnel. You couldn't see where he went. But Vietnam was a beautiful country, nevertheless. When we got back to the ship after this day-long tour, JJ was at the pier playing "As the Saints, etc." with the Song of Flower Band and there was never a more welcoming sight to our eyes. Memories, Memories.

I would not have been able to go on this tour. I get claustrophobic easily (which is why I have to sit in certain areas of airplanes among other things). I also get extremely emotional when it comes to our great military. I would have ended up saying some extremely, extremely, extremely nasty things to that guide despite the plea from "management" to ignore disparaging remarks.