Cu Chi Tunnels Trip, also known as the day I shot a gun

After the Cao Dai temple, we went onwards to the main course of the Cu Chi tunnels. Our tour guide, being a true Vietnamese of the South, went ahead to make fun of the communists and discourage us from paying anymore than the admission fee as the Cu Chi tunnels is an attraction ran by the army.

For anyone who has ever heard about the Vietnam war, the Cu Chi tunnels is a must hit. Of course, in Vietnam this is known as the American war (of course it would right!). The Cu Chi tunnels is a proud national park symbolizing the tenacious efforts of the Vietnamese in defeating the Americans. But actually, the park is more like a military diorama complete with mannequins, and demonstration of various traps and weapons used in the American war.

At the start of the tour, a fairly communist (and fairly hilarious) video depicting the people of Cu Chi region during the war is mandatory. I was very amused by the commentary: "With brave Vietnamese men and women fighting to the end from the amazing Cu Chi tunnels, the Americans had no idea what was going on!" (cue footage of Americans running around wildly)

Going into the Cu Chi tunnels, I could understand how confusing it would be to fight a war over the 200 km of complex tunnels stretching over the entire region. With trap doors at strategic positions, shooters could come out of nowhere. Without a map of the tunnels, you could have no idea when or where the enemy would show.

Interestingly, the Vietnamese place a lot of emphasis on the participation of women in the war. The images of women performing domestic activities with rifles around their chest were a stark contrast from the typical Western depiction of war time woman consisting of moms, nurses, and factory workers. Apparently Vietnamese women were out there, shooting it up like the men. Plowing rice fields with guns on their backs.

With that thought in my mind, combined my personal yearning for understanding such women, I went along with my Australian friend Lisa to shoot a gun as part of the Cu Chi tunnel tour. I have never shot a gun before. I despise American gun culture and I have personally never had the desire to touch a rifle. I allowed myself this time, not only because it's the only chance I'll ever get to shoot an M16, but to explore what it must have been like for those women in the war and the "say I've done it" factor.


So in the end it was actually pretty anti climactic. Perhaps I built it up a little too much in my mind, but it was very easy. You pull the trigger, a ear deafening bang follows, and gun powder sprays on your shirt. It is actually very safe, a member of the Vietnamese army has his hands on the mounted gun at all times so that no live ammunition goes flying where it isn't supposed to. If anything, the ease made the idea of guns much more disturbing to me, as all inventions that can take away life should be.

Cao Dai's play at religious harmony
(oxymoron alert)

Being on a tight schedule in Vietnam, I reluctantly signed up for a tour of the famous Cu Chi tunnels through my guesthouse. These tours are very appealing for a couple reasons: a) pickup and dropoff at your guesthouse b) lots of other eager tourists without fail, so you're sure to pickup a few new friends c) they are dirt cheap.

If you're short on time, tours will not only save you money, but time and the hassle of finding a fair deal. Since tours are a dime a dozen in backpacker areas, prices are at equilibrium level. Though there are things to beware of, if it's too cheap you'll probably get what you pay for and be packed like sardines in a small van with a somewhat shady tour guide (but aren't they all a little bit?)

With a stop at the Cao Dai temple, the tour started on a early bright Saigon day. The Cao Dai temple ended being a very very interesting place. I ask you, where else can you find a congregation that worships Buddha, Jesus, Confucius, and Muhammad AT THE SAME TIME. Saints also include Pericles, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo.

Think I'm kidding? Check out this mural, they're all there.

In addition, Cao Dai also worships the all seeing eye. The temple wasn't short on colors at all, contrasting the pale palette of most western religions the temple was filled with wonderful pinks, yellows and blues. In a world where religious conflicts have caused much hatred, the harmonious synthesis of faith at the Cao Dai temple was truly a refreshing eye opener.


In fact, Cao Dai claims that "religions are not different and if we take enough time to study deep --deeply enough in each religion, we would see that they have one same principal, if not identical principal. That's the reason God has founded Cao Dai, in order to bring harmony to different religions."

Truth that this is a fairly simplistic, not to mention idealistic, view. But with the core belief that the purpose of life and existence is in fact peace, Cao Dai fusion strangely seems to make sense. But only for a moment when you're there.