Discover the secret basement in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City

(Dan Tri) - Right in the middle of bustling District 3, a secret basement that once hid more than 2 tons of weapons for many years still quietly exists today.

That is the secret basement at 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu - a special historical relic, where more than 2 tons of weapons were hidden to serve the Saigon Special Forces soldiers during the 1968 Tet Offensive and Uprising.

The basement containing 2 tons of weapons in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City

In 1966, in the context of fierce war, Saigon Special Forces Division 6 received orders to build a secret weapons bunker right in the middle of the city. Comrade Tran Van Lai, a military officer, secretly bought this house, dug a tunnel right under the floor without the enemy knowing.

From 1966 to 1969, batches of weapons such as explosives, detonators, AKs, grenades, B40 warheads... were brought into the bunker through fruit baskets, potted plants, and even through hollowed out planks.

The house is only 37 square meters wide, but the basement is 2.5 meters deep and 8 meters long, enough to store tons of weapons. The basement entrance is hidden under the brick floor, camouflaged with… 6 ordinary bricks.

In particular, the tunnel has four escape holes connected to the drainage system, ready for soldiers to retreat safely in emergency situations.

Today, the basement is no longer a secret. It has become a national historical and cultural relic, open to visitors free of charge, attracting many tourists, especially foreigners.

"I had read about the Saigon Special Forces, but when I saw the bunker in a residential area with my own eyes, the feeling was very different, I was startled by the bravery and creativity of the Vietnamese people," Jack, a tourist from England, shared.

During their two visits in 2005 and 2018, General Vo Nguyen Giap and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong left notes at the house, demonstrating the special historical value of this place.

Each brick and each picture hanging on the wall is not just a "display", but a living testimony telling a tragic chapter of history in the heart of a splendid city.

Few people expect that in the heart of the modern city there is a "door" leading straight back to the wartime of the Saigon Special Forces. This is also the red address chosen by many tour guides to introduce to international tourists, as a way to tell history with the most vivid experience.

Not only for history lovers, the secret basement is also an ideal place to live slowly, quietly, and feel a very different Saigon. If you don't know where to go on the weekend, this is the ideal suggestion. A " back to the roots" trip without tickets, without having to go far, but enough for you to understand and love the city you live in more.

Address: 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 5, District 3, HCMC

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Morning: 7:30-11:30 - Afternoon: 1:00-5:00

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/kham-pha-can-ham-bi-mat-giua-long-tphcm-20250516105309546.htm