Cu Chi Tunnels

A few weeks ago we booked a day tour to the Cu Chi tunnels and the Cao Dai Temples. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an huge system of underground tunnels used for living, fighting and escaping during the Vietnam War. They were just one of the ingenious ways that the southern Vietnamese who sympathized with the north survived during the war. Actually even though 100% of them had intestinal problems and 50% had malaria they still managed to fight really hard. Most of the time while living in Vietnam now there is no reminder of the war that we fought here a few decades ago. This might come as a surprise to you since the first thing that most Americans think of when the country name "Vietnam" comes up is the war. However, the country has healed quite well and most of the population is under 30 with little recollection of the actual war. But there are a few reminders every once in a while and going to the Cu Chi Tunnels was one of them.
This is one of the entrances to the tunnels. Laurel was pretty adventurous. The average weight of a man during that time was about 110 lb to 120 lb and a woman was between 80 and 90 lbs so they could fit into these tunnels with little trouble.
They were quite ambicious with the booby traps. They used tricks to capture the southern army and the US troops that they used to capture tigers. It was a little over the top.

There was a chance to actually go in the tunnels but I got a bit too nervous. They had widened the first part of the tunnels for western tourists but it was just too unnerving for me.
The propaganda was pretty over the top as well. We watched a film from 1960s about the community fighting off the Americans. There were a few Germans laughing behind us during the film and I got mad because it was a serious issue that was being shown. However, I got a giggle too when the propaganda just went a bit too far. Most of it was just rediculous. Anyway I know this will probably stir a bit of emotion in you but I thought I would share anyway because it is apart of our history. Do you think our children will be in Iraq in a few decades doing what I'm doing in Vietnam?