That is the secret bunker at 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street - a special historical site, where more than 2 tons of weapons were once hidden to supply the Saigon Commando Unit during the Tet Offensive and Uprising of 1968.
A bunker containing 2 tons of weapons was found in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
In 1966, amidst fierce fighting, the Saigon Special Forces, Sector 6, received orders to build a secret weapons bunker right in the heart of the city. Comrade Tran Van Lai, a military officer, secretly bought this house and dug the bunker right under the house's foundation without the enemy knowing.
From 1966 to 1969, weapons such as explosives, detonators, AK rifles, grenades, B40 warheads, etc., were smuggled into the bunkers in batches using fruit baskets, potted plants, and even through hollowed-out wooden planks.
The house was only 37 square meters, but the basement was 2.5 meters deep and 8 meters long, large enough to hold tons of weapons. The entrance to the basement was hidden under the floor tiles, camouflaged by… six ordinary bricks.
Notably, the bunker has four escape hatches connecting to the drainage system, ready for soldiers to safely retreat in emergency situations.
Today, the bunker is no longer a secret. It has become a national historical and cultural monument, open free of charge to visitors, attracting a large number of tourists, especially foreigners.
"I had read about the Saigon Commandos, but seeing the bunker right in the middle of a residential area felt completely different. I was astonished by the courage and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people," shared Jack, a tourist from England.
During their two visits in 2005 and 2018, General Vo Nguyen Giap and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong left their signatures at the house, a testament to its special historical value.
Each brick, each photograph hanging on the wall is not just an "exhibition," but a living testament recounting a tragic chapter in the heart of this magnificent city.
Few would have imagined that, in the heart of a modern city, there lies a "gateway" leading directly to the fiery era of the Saigon Commando Unit. This is also a significant historical site chosen by many tour guides to introduce to international tourists, as a way to recount history through the most vivid experience.
Not only for history lovers, the secret bunker is also an ideal place to slow down, reflect, and experience a very different Saigon. If you don't know where to go this weekend, this is the perfect suggestion. A " journey back to the roots" that costs no money, doesn't require traveling far, but is enough to help you understand and love the city you live in even more.
Address: 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Admission: Free
Opening hours: Morning: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM - Afternoon: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/kham-pha-can-ham-bi-mat-giua-long-tphcm-20250516105309546.htm
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