# Should you visit Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc at Cu Chi, what does it cost, and how do you get there from Ho Chi Minh City?

> Cu Chi has two sites: Ben Dinh is closer and full of tour groups, Ben Duoc is further, quieter and more authentic. Entry 135,000 VND, buses from District 1.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/cu-chi-tunnels-ben-dinh-vs-ben-duoc-guide
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-09-18

Cu Chi has **two separate sites** and choosing between them is the whole decision. **Ben Dinh** is closer (35 to 40 km, about 1.5 hours), has widened tunnels reinforced for tourists, and takes 95% of standard group tours. **Ben Duoc** is further (50 to 60 km, 2 to 2.5 hours), preserves far more of the original layout, and is much quieter. Foreign visitor entry is about **135,000 VND (≈ $5.2)** at either. Most budget tours only go to Ben Dinh.

## Which of the two to choose

**Ben Dinh** if you are short on time, want a structured tour with hotel pickup, or are travelling with people who want the easy version. The tunnels here have been widened and concreted so that international visitors can physically get through them, which is either considerate or inauthentic depending on your view.

**Ben Duoc** if you want the historical site rather than the attraction. The tunnel network is far larger, much of the original structure is preserved, and there is a striking memorial temple to fallen soldiers. Standard cheap group tours rarely go here — you need a private tour, a Grab, or public transport.

Our view: Ben Duoc is worth the extra hour each way. The difference in atmosphere is not subtle.

## What it costs

**Independent entry:** about **135,000 VND (≈ $5.2)** per foreign visitor, usually split as roughly 35,000 VND (≈ $1.4) admission plus a 100,000 VND (≈ $3.9) visitor service fee. There is no way around the service element.

**Group tours (usually Ben Dinh):** $15 to $35 per person for a half day, typically including air-conditioned transport, District 1 hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide and entry.

**Private tours (either site):** $50 to $135+ per person depending on group size and vehicle.

**Speedboat tours:** $60 to $100+, running up the Saigon river to avoid the highway traffic.

**Extras:** firing live ammunition at the shooting range costs around **50,000 to 60,000 VND (≈ $1.9–2.3) per bullet**, usually with a minimum purchase of about ten. Tapioca and tea inside the site are free.

## Getting there on your own

**Grab or taxi:** about **250,000 to 350,000 VND (≈ $9.7–13.6)** one way to either site. For Ben Duoc, negotiate a round trip with waiting time — roughly 600,000 to 800,000 VND (≈ $23–31) total — because getting a return car from there can take a long time.

**Public bus (cheapest, slowest):** from the District 1 depot near 23/9 Park take **bus 13 or 94** to **An Suong** bus station in District 12, then **bus 79** all the way to Ben Duoc. Total fare around **32,000 VND (≈ $1.2)** return, and about **2.5 hours each way**. Five hours of travel for a five-dollar saving; do it for the experience, not the efficiency.

**Organised tour:** the most common choice, and honestly reasonable if you are time-limited. Just check which site the tour goes to before booking — that is the detail operators do not lead with.

We visited from Ho Chi Minh City in May 2023, at the end of a month going north to south, and hired a car for the day rather than joining a group.

## Practical notes

The tunnels are hot, humid and very confined. Anyone with claustrophobia should stay above ground — there are surface exhibits and the forested site itself, which is worth walking regardless.

Wear shoes you can crouch and crawl in. The tunnel sections you can enter involve bending double, and the exit hatches are small.

Go early. The sites open in the morning, and Ben Dinh in particular becomes a convoy of minibuses from about 10:00. Ben Duoc is quieter but not empty by midday.

The site is a war memorial as well as a tourist attraction. Read the panels, and expect the presentation to be from the Vietnamese perspective — that is the point of going, and it is more interesting than a neutral account would be.

## Frequently asked questions

### Should I go to Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc?

Ben Duoc for the more authentic, quieter site with more original tunnel structure. Ben Dinh if you are short on time or on a standard group tour, since almost all of them go there.

### How much is entry to the Cu Chi tunnels?

About 135,000 VND (≈ $5.2) for foreign visitors, usually split between a 35,000 VND (≈ $1.4) admission and a 100,000 VND (≈ $3.9) visitor service fee.

### How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi by bus?

Bus 13 or 94 from District 1 to An Suong station, then bus 79 to Ben Duoc. About 32,000 VND (≈ $1.2) return and 2.5 hours each way.

### Are the Cu Chi tunnels claustrophobic?

Yes. They are hot, humid and very confined. There are surface exhibits and walking routes if you do not want to go inside.

## Official sources

- [Vietnam National Administration of Tourism](https://vietnam.travel/)
- [Ho Chi Minh City official tourism portal](https://visithochiminhcity.com/)