The Cu Chi Tunnels are one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most visited historical sites, and knowing the Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee in advance helps you plan your visit and budget accurately. Below is the most up‑to‑date, source‑backed information available from official and recognised booking/tourism platforms.
Where Are the Cu Chi Tunnels?
The Cu Chi Tunnels are located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, with two main visiting areas:
- Ben Dinh (closer to Ho Chi Minh City)
- Ben Duoc (slightly farther, generally considered more authentic and less crowded)
Most organised tours from Ho Chi Minh City will specify which section (Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc) they visit.
Cu Chi Tunnel Entrance Fee (On‑Site Ticket Price)
The tunnel complex does not have a single, centrally maintained official website publishing walk‑up ticket prices. However, multiple established Vietnamese and international tour agencies that sell standalone entrance tickets (not just package tours) list current entrance fees that align closely with on‑site prices.
Typical Published Entrance Fee Range
Several reputable Vietnam‑based travel companies publish current entrance fees as:
- Ben Dinh Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee: usually quoted around 90,000–110,000 VND per person
- Ben Duoc Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee: usually quoted around 90,000–110,000 VND per person
For example:
- The well‑known Saigon‑based operator Saigon Free Walking Tours lists a “Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee” of 110,000 VND per person for Ben Dinh in their tour cost breakdown, while clarifying that this is paid at the tunnels, not to the guide (see the cost section on their Cu Chi tour page: Saigon Free Walking Tours – Cu Chi tour cost breakdown).
- Vietnam tour specialists such as Vietnam Travel Group show similar ranges when pricing optional add‑ons and breakdowns for their Cu Chi packages, again indicating that on‑site entrance is a modest separate fee, distinct from transport and guiding (see their Cu Chi tour product details: Vietnam Travel Group – Cu Chi Tunnels tours).
Because these operators quote the entrance fee separately from their own service charge and direct visitors to pay at the gates, their figures provide a realistic picture of the walk‑up entrance price at the Cu Chi Tunnel site.
Important Notes About the Cu Chi Tunnel Entrance Fee
1. Entrance Fee vs. Tour Price
Most visitors do not buy a stand‑alone park ticket online. Instead, they book:
- A half‑day or full‑day tour from Ho Chi Minh City, which includes:
- Transport (bus, speedboat, or private car)
- English‑speaking guide
- Sometimes lunch or extra stops (e.g., Mekong Delta, handicraft villages)
- Entrance fee is then paid separately on arrival at the tunnels, as highlighted on platforms like Saigon Free Walking Tours – Cu Chi tour details.
So when you see a “Cu Chi Tunnels tour price” of, say, 20–40 USD per person on an agency site, that usually does not include the government‑set entrance fee, which is added at the gate in VND.
2. Ben Dinh vs. Ben Duoc Pricing
Recognised agencies that specify both sites generally indicate similar entrance fee levels for Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Any difference is small relative to transport and guide costs. Check your chosen tour’s description to confirm:
- Which site is visited (Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc)
- Whether the entrance fee is:
- Included in the tour price, or
- Payable separately at the tunnels
You can see this clearly broken down in many tour descriptions on booking and agency sites such as Vietnam Travel Group – Cu Chi tours, where the “Exclusions” list will often specifically mention the Cu Chi Tunnels entrance ticket.
3. Extra Activities (Shooting Range, etc.)
The entrance fee covers access to the tunnel site (grounds, exhibits, and tunnel sections that are open to visitors). There are optional paid activities inside, most notably:
- Shooting range: live‑fire experience with various firearms
- Refreshments and souvenirs
Tour operators and ticket platforms normally state clearly that these extra activities are not included in either the tour price or the basic Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee. For example, tour descriptions on Vietnam Travel Group – Cu Chi tours highlight that shooting‑range fees and ammunition are paid directly on site.
How to Buy Cu Chi Tunnel Tickets
Because there is no widely used official online ticketing portal operated directly by the park/government, your practical options are:
1. Pay at the Gate (Most Common)
If you travel independently (by bus, taxi, or private car), you can:
- Arrive at either Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc entrance.
- Purchase tickets at the on‑site ticket booth in Vietnamese dong.
- Join a local guide group or explore with posted information (most visitors opt for a guide arranged through a tour).
Tour operators like Saigon Free Walking Tours – Cu Chi tour make it clear that their guide meets you in the city, but the entrance ticket itself is bought at Cu Chi.
2. Book Through a Tour or Ticket Platform
If you prefer a packaged option:
- Use a reputable Vietnam‑based agency or international platform to book a Cu Chi Tunnels tour that may include:
- Round‑trip transport
- Guide
- Sometimes pre‑paid entrance fee
On some itineraries listed by agencies such as Vietnam Travel Group – Cu Chi tours, the inclusion or exclusion of the Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee is written explicitly. Always check for wording like “Cu Chi Tunnel entrance ticket included” or “Entrance fee excluded” in the Inclusions/Exclusions section.
Local Payment & Currency Tips
- Currency: The Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee is charged in Vietnamese dong (VND).
- Cash: Having cash in VND is recommended; card acceptance at rural attractions can be limited, even if some tour offices in Ho Chi Minh City accept cards.
- Exchange rate awareness: Since the entrance amount is modest and paid in VND, small fluctuations in exchange rate have little effect, but be sure you understand current rates when converting.
Opening Hours & Visiting Information
Most tour descriptions and local agencies list the Cu Chi Tunnels as open daily, generally from morning to late afternoon. For example, tour operators scheduling early‑morning and midday departures to Cu Chi consistently time their itineraries around typical opening hours, visible in sample itineraries on pages like Saigon Free Walking Tours – Cu Chi tour schedule.
Because hours can change for public holidays or maintenance, confirm current operating times:
- With your chosen tour operator when booking, or
- Directly upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City via local tourism offices or your accommodation.
Contact Details & “Official” Information
The Cu Chi Tunnels are administered as a historical site in Cu Chi District, under local authorities, but there is no single, clearly branded, internationally targeted “official” ticket website with contact details and live pricing. Instead:
- Tourism information and booking is handled by numerous private tour companies (e.g. Saigon Free Walking Tours, Vietnam Travel Group) and major global platforms.
- On‑site management and any official contact numbers are typically displayed on location and via Vietnamese‑language local government channels which do not systematically publish daily ticket prices in English.
Because of this, if you need up‑to‑the‑minute confirmation of the Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee or group arrangements, the most practical approach is:
- Contact your tour provider (using the contact details on their own official website).
- Ask them to confirm:
- Current entrance fee at Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc
- Whether it is included or excluded in your booking
- Any recent changes (e.g., holiday surcharges, temporary closures)
Summary: Cu Chi Tunnel Entrance Fee
- The Cu Chi Tunnel entrance fee is a relatively low on‑site charge, typically reported by reputable tour agencies in the range of around 90,000–110,000 VND per person, paid at the gate.
- Most visitors pay this on arrival, even when joining a tour from Ho Chi Minh City.
- Extra activities inside (such as the shooting range) are separate, optional costs.
- Since the park does not promote an internationally visible, English‑language official ticket website, the most reliable way to confirm current entrance fees is to check the cost breakdown and exclusions on established tour operators’ pages, such as Saigon Free Walking Tours – Cu Chi Tunnels tour and Vietnam Travel Group – Cu Chi tours, and then verify again when you arrive in Ho Chi Minh City.
For travellers planning their budget, it is safest to treat the online figures as indicative and bring enough VND cash to cover a modest entrance fee plus optional on‑site activities.
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