Cu Chi Tunnels: how to get there on your own from Ho Chi Minh City
How to reach the Cu Chi Tunnels without a tour: buses 13 and 79, Grab and taxi, travel time, Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc, what to bring and when to go.
You can reach the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City on your own: two buses (13, then 79) take 2.5-3 hours, Grab or a taxi 1.5-2 hours. The tunnels are one of the stops in the Ho Chi Minh City attractions section; plan a full day, since the site is about 70 km northwest of the city centre.
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Should I go on my own or with a tour?
Go on your own if you do not want to follow a group schedule and can handle a bus change or a Grab ride. You choose the arrival time and the section, and you can come at opening, before the big groups. The downside is that there is no guide. If you want commentary, book a guide separately. We do not quote ticket or tour prices: check them on site or with the organiser.
How do I get to the Cu Chi Tunnels by bus?
Take bus 13 from Bến Thành bus station to Củ Chi bus station, then change to bus 79 to the Bến Dược memorial (Vietnam Airlines Cu Chi guide, 26 October 2026). The whole trip takes about 2.5-3 hours. Check times and stops the day before on buyttphcm.com.vn (the "Tìm đường" route finder), because routes change from time to time. Getting to Bến Đình by bus involves more changes, so the bus is simpler for Bến Dược.
Can I take Grab or a taxi to the Cu Chi Tunnels?
By Grab or taxi it is about 1.5-2 hours one way from the centre (Vietnam Airlines, 26 October 2026). It is faster and has no changes, but finding a car back near Cu Chi is harder than in the city. Ask the driver to wait for you, or keep two apps installed. How to book and avoid overpaying is in taxis, Grab and the metro in Ho Chi Minh City.
How long does it take to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels?
The tunnels are about 70 km northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City (Báo Pháp luật, 19 January 2020; Vietnam Airlines, 26 October 2026). Bus 2.5-3 hours, Grab or taxi 1.5-2 hours, motorbike 1.5-2 hours. Add 30-40 minutes in rush hour or rain. A round trip is 3-6 hours, which leaves two to three hours at the site.
Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc: which section should I visit?
There are two tunnel sections, Bến Đình and Bến Dược, and one visit is enough. Bến Dược is in Phú Hiệp hamlet, Phú Mỹ Hưng commune; it was the command post of the Saigon-Cholon-Gia Dinh military region and has a memorial temple for the fallen. Bến Đình is in Bến Đình hamlet, Nhuận Đức commune, a base of the Cu Chi district Party committee (Báo Pháp luật, 19 January 2020). According to Vietnam Airlines, Bến Đình is the most famous and most crowded, Bến Dược is quieter.
| Section | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bến Dược | Phú Hiệp hamlet, Phú Mỹ Hưng commune | memorial temple, fewer people, bus 79 |
| Bến Đình | Bến Đình hamlet, Nhuận Đức commune | most famous, more groups |
Both are open daily from 7:00 to 17:00 (Vietnam Airlines, 26 October 2026). Check the hours before a holiday trip.
What should I bring and wear to the Cu Chi Tunnels?
Wear closed flat shoes and light clothes you do not mind getting dirty, and bring water and mosquito repellent. The tunnels are tight and stuffy and you crawl bent over, so if you dislike enclosed spaces, stay in the above-ground areas. There is a shooting range on site, so earplugs help children and sensitive visitors. Keep money and documents in a zipped pocket.
When should I visit the Cu Chi Tunnels?
Go in the dry season, December to April, and within the day before 9:00 or after 14:00, when there are fewer groups (Vietnam Airlines, 26 October 2026). The rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City runs from May to October or November: paths turn muddy and the tunnels are damp. Month by month is in weather in Ho Chi Minh City by month. A day in the city itself is in what to see in Ho Chi Minh City.
FAQ
How do I get to the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City by myself? Bus 13 from Bến Thành to Củ Chi bus station, then bus 79 to Bến Dược; 2.5-3 hours in total. Faster by Grab or taxi, 1.5-2 hours.
How far are the Cu Chi Tunnels from Ho Chi Minh City? About 70 km northwest of the centre.
What are the Cu Chi Tunnels opening hours? Daily 7:00-17:00 (Vietnam Airlines, 26 October 2026). Check before a holiday.
Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc? If you go by bus or want fewer people, Bến Dược. Bến Đình is more famous and busier.
Do I need to visit both sections? No, one is enough; they are in different places.
How long should I allow? Two to three hours on site, a full day with the journey.
When can I avoid the crowds? Arrive at opening or after 14:00.
How do I get back to the city? Bus 79 to Củ Chi and bus 13 to Bến Thành, or Grab: cars take longer to find near the site than in the city.
Sources and checks
Updated 26 October 2026. Hours, distance and bus routes come from the pages listed below. The complex site diadaocuchi.com.vn did not open on the day of checking, so confirm hours and bus numbers on buyttphcm.com.vn or by phone with the site before you go.