Visiting the Phu Tho Hoa Tunnels

Approximately 100 meters of the Phu Tho Hoa underground tunnel (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City) have been restored and upgraded, and are now open to visitors free of charge. This tunnel was dug in 1947 as a revolutionary base to support the resistance against the French and Americans.

The Phu Tho Hoa Tunnel (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City) is one of the first tunnels in Southern Vietnam. The tunnel, once over 10km long, was dug by soldiers in 1947 as a revolutionary base to support the resistance against the French and Americans. Located within a 4,000m2 area of ​​the Phu Tho Hoa Tunnel historical site, it was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Monument in 1996.

The image shows a model of the Phu Tho Hoa tunnel system. The tunnels have many branches connecting in different directions. The tunnels extend over 10km in length, have two levels, and are dug deep underground, 3-4m deep and 0.8m wide. Each section of the tunnel is designed with ventilation holes leading from the surface downwards, camouflaged by termite mounds.

Currently, about 100 meters of the underground tunnel have been restored and upgraded, and are open to visitors free of charge. However, due to water seepage in some sections, the management board is restricting visitors from entering the tunnel.

The original tunnel entrances were cleverly camouflaged within mounds of earth or dense thickets, just wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Today, the tunnel entrances have been restored with cement and wooden covers for visitors to explore. Because there is no light inside the tunnels, visitors must bring flashlights each time they tour.

The tunnels lead down to an underground passage 3-4 meters deep.

According to Mr. Do Hoang Hai, a tour guide at the Phu Tho Hoa historical site, "The unique feature of this tunnel is that it was dug in an undulating wave shape. Every 20 meters or so, there is a partition with a hole 0.5 meters in diameter in the middle. An adult wanting to pass through has to crawl or lie down."

Outside the Phu Tho Hoa Tunnel Historical Site, numerous statues depict scenes of fighting in the trenches by the Southern guerrilla fighters.

Uyen Nhi and Hong Ngoc (Tan Phu District) said this was the first time they had heard of the Phu Tho Hoa tunnels, even though they live quite close to where they live. "After watching the movie 'The Tunnels,' I was very curious and wanted to experience what the tunnels were like in reality. The tunnels are very narrow, hot, and difficult to move through. I truly admire the efforts of our ancestors," Uyen Nhi said.

The Western soldiers used hunting dogs to search for and eliminate countless of our cadres.

The tools used to dig the Phu Tho Hoa tunnels are on display here. During the two wars of resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism, the tunnels served as shelters and hiding places for many armed units of the city and the people and soldiers of Go Vap and Tan Binh districts (now Tan Phu district). The Phu Tho Hoa tunnels are one of the unique and creative underground military architectural works of our army and people in the Southeast region.

Vietnamnet

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/tham-dia-dao-phu-tho-hoa-post400516.html