Private Cu Chi Tunnels & Cao Dai Temple Tour from Saigon

3.00

(1 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Saigon was already warm when our guide picked us up—he had that easy smile you see a lot here. We headed northwest, past rice paddies and roadside stalls selling jackfruit, toward Tay Ninh. The drive took about two hours, but it didn’t feel long; there’s always something to look at out the window—kids on bikes, women in conical hats balancing baskets of fruit.

We reached the Cao Dai Temple just before noon. It’s hard to describe the place until you see it: bright yellow walls, dragons curling around pillars, stained glass everywhere. Our guide explained how Cao Dai blends Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and even Christianity—it’s a real mix. The noon ceremony started right as we arrived. Inside, the air smelled faintly of incense and flowers. White-robed followers moved in slow lines while musicians played these soft gongs and wooden blocks. I’d never seen anything quite like it.

After lunch at a local spot (the tofu with lemongrass was surprisingly good), we drove to the Cu Chi Tunnels. There’s a short film first—old footage from the war days—then you actually get to crawl through part of the tunnels yourself. They’re tight and dark; I had to crouch low and shuffle along behind our guide. He pointed out little trapdoors and hidden rooms where people lived for months at a time. At one stop, we tried boiled tapioca dipped in crushed peanuts with hot pandan tea—the same snack soldiers ate back then. It’s simple but filling.