HCM City authorities seek UNESCO recognition of Củ Chi Tunnels. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY – HCM City authorities have sent a proposal to the Ministry of National Defence to seek UNESCO recognition for Củ Chi Tunnels, the largest underground tunnel network in Việt Nam.

Located about 60km from downtown HCM City, the Củ Chi Tunnels were built by Vietnamese soldiers as shelter from US troops during the war.

More than 120km out of the 250km of the tunnels' length have been preserved for tourism purposes.

In 2016, the historic site was recognised as a special national relic.

Today, the historical tunnel has been preserved and become a popular tourism destination, every day attracting thousands of visitors, both domestic ones and foreigners, who love discovering the country's history through strange and unique places. 

Vistors will be able to experience and understand the resilience and unyielding will of the people who lived in the tunnels during wartime. Củ Chi-the poor but heroic land-faced 21 years of warfare against a well-trained enemy with modern weapons.

The tunnel complex in Củ Chi served as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weaponry storage, and living quarters.

It began to be known as a “barren land” between 1969 and 1972 as no animal or plant could live there due to US bombs and the use of Agent Orange and dioxins.

A worship area was built with 44,379 stone steles to remember the fallen at Củ Chi.

Việt Nam is home to eight UNESCO recognised world heritage sites: Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary, Hội An Ancient Town, the Complex of Huế Monuments, and Citadel of the Ho Dynasty in the central region; along with Hạ Long Bay, Tràng An Landscape Complex, and Thăng Long Imperial Citadel in the north.

If recognised, the Củ Chi Tunnels will be the southern region’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. – VNS