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We had a flight at 8.30 pm so we decided to do the cu chi tunnels half day which finished at 3.00pm. It took an hour and a half to get there and then we had to watch a video on cu chi which wasnt very good and just kept blaming americans for everything- there were also south vietnamese not wanting to be communists but that was ignored. The tunnels were built by the viet cong ( north vietnamese) to hide in for up to two months. There were 3 levels of tunnels 3 metres 6 metres and 8-10 metres underground. They would stay in the top level unless there was heavy bombing or if the americans came down into the tunnels. We then saw a actual tunnel which was absolutley tiny and completely camouflaged. Then we saw some trap that the Vietnamese constructed one was a turning floor so when you stood on it you would drop onto bamboo spikes. Others put a nail in your foot and then when you tried to move your foot you couldnt. Another you fell and spikes went into your armpit. We then saw an American tank that had been blown up from a landmine itself and saw how the viet cong used landmines for their own gain by disarming them or making smaller bombs to blow up tanks.
After that came the tunnels that we could go into they were much larger then the real ones which stretch to over 250km but it was just to get a feeling of how it was down there. I was fine because they had lights down there but we turned a corner and it was pitch black so I used Dans torch. The people infront of me left after 20m ( you can go up to 100) I was crawling on my hand and knees and now have big bruises on them. We got to 60m because I didnt like being right at the front of the group, also there was a very narrow bit coing up which we had been told about and I didnt want Dan to get stuck and because its quite repetitiive- I didnt need to do anymore to understand what its like being in the tunnels. We got out and went to sit down and try some tappioca which tasted like over boiled potato and we dipped some peanut powder on it to actually make it taste nice. Then we went back to Siagon.
Dan decided he wanted to buy a new backpack as they sell northface ones here and all the flags have peeled off in the heat leaving the glue behind. He managed to get a huge grey one for only $23 and then also bought some flipflops because his are dying. We dont really know if they are fake backpacks or whether there is a factory nearby as theres so many. They also sell fake books here which is weird- as in copys of books not things that look like books that arent. Anyway we went back to the hostel so Dan could try and fit his old backpack into his new one which worked remarkably well with tons of room to spare and then went to the airport. Dan has gained 5kg which he was shocked about but he has just bought a massive backpack which would be at least 2 kgs. I've also gained 1 kg since we left. We flew to Da Nang which was a lovely quick flight rather then the 20 hour train and had a pick up waitng. we went straight to bed.
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