Today we got to explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels led by a Cu Chi War Veteran. The tunnels are located about 70 kms northwest from Saigon and consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. Tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, barely enough space for a person to crawl along. The underground network provided sleeping
quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social
rooms. Although we think of the tunnels in relation to the Vietnam war they were actually built in the 1940s to fight the French occupation!! Needless to say both the French and the Americans were baffled as to where the Vietnamese soldiers "disappeared" to as the tunnels are physically invisible from above ground and with a thick upper layer of soil were able to support the
weight of a 50-ton tank and the damage of light cannons
and bombs. By the time peace had come,
little of the complex, and its infrastructure of
schools, dormitories, hospitals, and miles of tunnels,
had been uncovered and much of it remains uncovered even today. The wells that provided the vital drinking
water are still active, producing clear and clean water
to the three-tiered system of tunnels that sustained
life. I found the whole place fascinating and can't help but admire the ingenuity of the Vietnamese people. Still I would hate to have tried to live in the tunnels and it is said that some people lived there for their whole life!! Even just going through a tiny section was enough for me!!

We then headed to Tay Ninh, where we experience a service at the head temple of the unique Cao Dai religion. Cao Dai is an attempt to create a perfect synthesis of
world religions combining elements of Christianity, Buddhism , Islam,
Confucianism, Hinduism, and Taoism . Established in the
Southern regions of Vietnam in the early 1920's, the religion was
officially codified in 1926. Cao Dai literally means high
tower or palace. The
Great Temple is 140 m long and 40 m wide. It has 4 towers each with a
different name: Tam Dai, Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung Dai, and Bat Quai Dai.
The interior of the temple consists of a colonnaded hall and a sanctuary.
The 2 rows of columns are decorated with dragons and are coated in white,
red, and blue paint. The domed ceiling is divided into 9 parts similar to
a night sky full of stars and symbolizing heaven. Under the dome is a
giant star-speckled blue globe on which is painted the Divine Eye, the
official symbol of Caodaism. Highly ornate and colourful is probably the simplest way to describe the temple and its surroundings.

What an amazing day.....both places unique in Vietnamese history....and both so completely different. I am left to ponder yet another aspect of this surreal country.