Cu Chi Tunnels are undergoing procedures to become a World Heritage Site.

TPO - As one of the greatest underground works of Vietnam in the 20th century, the Cu Chi Tunnels are being processed by the cultural sector to submit to UNESCO for recognition as a World Heritage Site.

Cu Chi Tunnels are located about 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1946, they were initially just separate secret shelters. Due to the effects of the war, local residents later linked the tunnels together to form tunnels.

From 1961 to 1965, before the fierce escalation of the war, Cu Chi Tunnels were built and strongly developed into a solid, interconnected tunnel system with a large scale throughout 6 communes in Cu Chi district with a length of about 250km hidden underground.

Cu Chi Tunnels are undergoing procedures to become a World Heritage Site photo 1

The way down to Cu Chi Tunnels

During 30 years (1945-1975), Cu Chi Tunnels developed from secret tunnels into a complete system including many tunnels, traffic tunnels, combat tunnels, fortifications, living areas such as kitchens, meeting rooms, rooms for treating wounded soldiers, underground food and weapons storage... The above tunnel system contributed to ensuring that the people and soldiers of Cu Chi could take shelter, stay put to fight combined with production and create an underground village.

Cu Chi Tunnels are undergoing procedures to become a World Heritage Site photo 2

Underground meeting room

After 1975, some areas of the Cu Chi Tunnels were preserved, conserved and put into operation, promoting their value to serve domestic and international visitors as well as being aneducational destination for the younger generation about patriotism and fighting against foreign invaders. The Cu Chi Tunnels relic was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister in December 2015 and by 2020, the city leaders assigned the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City to advise and prepare a dossier to submit to UNESCO to recognize the Cu Chi Tunnels as a World Heritage Site.

Cu Chi Tunnels are undergoing procedures to become a World Heritage Site photo 3

Tourists go down the tunnel at Cu Chi Tunnels

According to a representative of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, recently the Department has coordinated with the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Relic Site and the People's Committee of Cu Chi District to complete a summary report on the tunnels heritage and submit it to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Currently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is waiting for the unified assessment opinions of relevant agencies to report to the Prime Minister for consideration, allowing the Ministry to coordinate with the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO to register with the UNESCO World Heritage Center to include the Cu Chi Tunnels relic in the list of nominees for the Project to build a World Heritage dossier.