Overview
Reach the Cu Chi Tunnels by speedboat on the Saigon River — a scenic one-hour cruise each way, arriving before the highway bus groups.
Most visitors travel to the Cu Chi Tunnels by road, a 1.5-hour highway drive through Ho Chi Minh City’s outer districts. This tour takes the river route instead — departing from Bạch Đằng Pier in District 1 and cruising northwest along the Saigon River to Bến Đình, the main section of the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site. Within 15 minutes of departure the city waterfront gives way to open farmland, floating fish farms, and riverside villages. The one-hour journey is cooler, more relaxed, and more interesting than the highway, and the boat arrives at the site before the peak of bus tour traffic.
The tunnel visit at Bến Đình covers the full programme: wartime documentary, guided walk through concealed tunnel entrances and booby trap displays, optional tunnel crawl, and cassava tasting. The return journey follows the same river route back to Bạch Đằng Pier, with a vehicle transfer back to your hotel in District 1.
This is a small group join-in tour — you travel on a shared departure with other guests. Daily departures at 8:00 AM.
Why TNK Travel for this tour
– Arrive before the bus groups: the speedboat departs at 8:00 AM and reaches Bến Đình before the main wave of road-transfer tours arrives mid-morning. The site is noticeably quieter at this hour.
– The river journey adds context: the Saigon River was a key military supply corridor during the war. Your guide explains the history of the waterway as you cruise through the same landscape.
– No highway traffic: the river route is genuinely faster than road in the morning peak and significantly cooler and more comfortable for the journey.
– Trusted operator since 2000: TNK Travel is ranked #3 on TripAdvisor with over 24,000 verified reviews.
Tour highlights
– Saigon River cruise both ways: ~1 hour each way from Bạch Đằng Pier. City skyline at departure, open countryside and fishing villages en route.
– Bến Đình — Cu Chi Tunnels: concealed tunnel entrances, booby trap displays, bomb craters, underground bunkers, and wartime documentary.
– Optional tunnel crawl: a widened section of the original tunnel. Dark, low, and optional — the guide provides full context above ground for those who prefer to skip it.
– Cassava and hot tea tasting: the wartime staple of the Cu Chi underground community.
– Optional shooting range: period weapons available on site at own cost.
Important information
Meeting point & pickup
– Hotel pickup available in Ho Chi Minh City, District 1 (excluding Đa Kao and Tân Định wards). Pickup between 7:45 and 8:00 AM. Please wait in your hotel lobby.
– For hotels outside the standard pickup zone: meet at TNK Travel, 112 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1 — by 7:45 AM. Look for a guide or driver holding a sign with your name or “TNK Travel”.
– The vehicle transfers the group from the hotel to Bạch Đằng Pier (a short drive within District 1). The speedboat departs the pier at approximately 8:30 AM.
– Return to hotel: approximately 2:00–3:00 PM, depending on river conditions and hotel location.
The speedboat
– This is a shared speedboat departure — you join other guests on the same vessel. The boat is covered with open sides, with seating along both sides of the cabin. Life jackets are available on board.
– The ride is active — the boat moves at speed on a working river. Guests who are sensitive to motion on water should take note. Under normal conditions the river is calm and the ride is comfortable.
– Light refreshments (fruit, snacks, water) are served on board during the outward journey.
– Bring a light jacket or rain layer in the wet season (May–October). The river breeze is cool at 8:30 AM.
Cu Chi Tunnels — physical requirements
– The tunnel crawl is optional. Guests with claustrophobia, back problems, or limited mobility can observe from above ground and receive the full guide explanation.
– The site involves approximately 1–1.5 kilometres of walking on jungle paths with uneven ground and tree roots. Closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended — sandals are not suitable.
– Not recommended for guests with serious mobility limitations, severe claustrophobia, or recent back or joint injuries.
What to wear and bring
– Closed-toe shoes with grip
– Light, breathable clothing
– Hat and sunscreen
– Insect repellent
– Light rain layer for the boat (wet season May–October)
– Camera
– Small amount of Vietnamese dong or USD for the optional shooting range and personal purchases
Weather
– The tour operates daily year-round. In the wet season (May–October) afternoon rain is common on the return journey — the boat is covered. If TNK cancels due to severe weather or unsafe river conditions, guests receive a full refund or the option to reschedule.
Related tours
– Cu Chi Tunnels half day by road (CC): small group morning or afternoon tour — road transfer, Ben Duoc site
– Cao Dai Temple & Cu Chi Tunnels private full day (CD-CC): Cao Dai noon ceremony in Tay Ninh + Cu Chi Tunnels, private tour
– Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels full day (PGT-CTCC): Saigon city highlights in the morning + Cu Chi in the afternoon
– Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta full day (CMK): Cu Chi in the morning + Mekong Delta river cruise in the afternoon
Itinerary
Half day — Hotel → Bạch Đằng Pier → Saigon River → Bến Đình Cu Chi Tunnels → Saigon River → Hotel | Refreshments on board
The vehicle collects the group from your hotel in District 1. Please be ready in the lobby at 7:45 AM. The transfer to Bạch Đằng Pier is a short drive within the district.
~8:30 AM Depart Bạch Đằng Pier by speedboat
The group boards the speedboat at Bạch Đằng Pier on the Saigon River waterfront. The boat heads northwest, upstream. Within 15 minutes the city infrastructure gives way to open riverbank: rice fields, floating fish farms, wooden houses on stilts, and fishing villages. Light refreshments are served on board. Your guide introduces the history of the Saigon River as a wartime supply route. Journey time to Bến Đình: approximately one hour.
~9:30 AM Arrival at Bến Đình — Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site
The boat docks at the Bến Đình pier. The group disembarks and begins the site visit. Bến Đình is the main publicly accessible section of the Cu Chi tunnel network, situated directly on the Saigon River.
~9:40 AM Wartime documentary
A short documentary (~20 minutes) covers the construction and use of the Cu Chi tunnel network, daily underground life, and the military campaign in the Cu Chi district. Your guide adds context before the outdoor exploration begins.
~10:05 AM Guided exploration — tunnels, traps & optional crawl
The guide leads the group through the site on foot: concealed trapdoor entrances in the jungle floor, booby trap displays, bomb craters, and underground sections (kitchens, meeting rooms, storage). The optional tunnel crawl — a widened section of the original system — is available for those who want the full underground experience. Cassava and hot tea tasting follows the exploration.
~11:30 AM Optional shooting range
Period weapons available at the on-site shooting range (AK-47, M-16, and others). Approximately $1–2 USD per bullet, minimum 10 bullets, payable on site. Entirely optional.
~12:00 PM Depart Bến Đình — return speedboat to Ho Chi Minh City
The group re-boards the speedboat for the downstream return to Bạch Đằng Pier. Journey time approximately 50–60 minutes.
~1:00–2:00 PM Arrival at pier — vehicle transfer to hotel
The boat docks at Bạch Đằng Pier. The vehicle transfers the group back to hotels in District 1. End of tour.
Price & Bookings
Prices are per person in USD. Small group join-in tour — daily departure at 8:00 AM.
| Ticket type | Regular price | Holiday price |
| Adult | $88 USD | $100 USD |
| Child (4–10 years) | $66 USD | $75 USD |
| Child (under 4) | Free | Free |
Children under 4 travel free and share a seat with their parents. Children aged 4–10 pay the child rate. Guests aged 11 and above pay the adult rate.
Public holidays — holiday pricing applies
If your departure date falls on or within any of the periods below, the holiday price applies automatically at booking.
| Holiday | Dates |
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 |
| Lunar New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán) | 15 February – 3 March 2026 |
| Hung Kings’ Festival | 26 April 2026 |
| Reunification Day & International Labour Day | 30 April – 1 May 2026 |
| Vietnam National Day | 1 – 2 September 2026 |
What’s included
- Vehicle transfer hotel ↔ Bạch Đằng Pier (District 1)
- Shared speedboat — Bạch Đằng Pier to Bến Đình and return
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Entrance fees — Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site (Bến Đình)
- Guided exploration: tunnel entrances, booby trap displays, optional crawl section
- Cassava and hot tea tasting
- Light refreshments on board (fruit, snacks, water)
- All taxes and service charges
What’s not included
- Optional shooting range (approx. $1–2 USD per bullet, minimum 10 bullets — payable on site)
- Travel insurance
- Additional food and beverages beyond included refreshments
- Personal purchases and souvenirs
- Tips for guide, driver, and boat crew (optional, appreciated)
Why TNK Travel
TNK Travel is a Vietnam-based inbound tour operator licensed since 2000. We run daily departures from Ho Chi Minh City and have taken over 1,000,000 travellers on tours across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
- Ranked #3 on TripAdvisor among Ho Chi Minh City tour operators
- 24,000+ verified reviews across TripAdvisor, Viator, and Klook
- Viator Top-Rated Operator badge
- 94% of travellers recommend our tours
- Licensed operator: International Tour Operator Licence No. 79-102/2010/TCDL-GP LHQT
Frequently asked questions
Why take the speedboat instead of road?
The river route is genuinely more scenic and more comfortable than the highway. The Saigon River transitions from city waterfront to open countryside within 15 minutes — the views of fishing villages, floating farms, and rural riverbanks are a worthwhile experience on their own. The boat also arrives at Bến Đình before the main wave of bus tour groups, so the site is quieter on arrival. For guests who have already done a road transfer to another site, the speedboat is a noticeably different experience.
What is Bến Đình (Ben Dinh)?
Bến Đình is the main publicly accessible section of the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site, located on the bank of the Saigon River in Cu Chi District — which makes it the natural destination for the speedboat route. The site is well-maintained and covers the full range of wartime tunnel features: concealed entrances, booby trap displays, bomb craters, underground living spaces, and the optional crawl section. It is the closer of the two publicly accessible tunnel sections (the other being Bến Dược, further from the river and less visited).
Is the tunnel crawl mandatory?
No. The tunnel crawl is entirely optional at both sections of the Cu Chi site. Guests with claustrophobia, mobility issues, or simply no interest in crawling can observe from the exit point while the guide explains the tunnel dimensions, construction, and use. The above-ground exploration — tunnel entrances, booby traps, bomb craters, and the documentary — is the main programme and does not require entering any tunnels.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, with some considerations. The river journey and the tunnel site are both engaging for older children. The wartime documentary contains footage that may not be suitable for very young children — parents can step outside during the film. The tunnel crawl is optional. The jungle path walking is flat and light. Children under 4 travel free; children 4–10 pay the child rate.
What if it rains?
The tour operates in rain. The speedboat is covered — guests stay dry during the journey. The Cu Chi tunnel site is partially sheltered. Light rain at the site is manageable with a small umbrella or rain layer. In the event of severe weather or unsafe river conditions, TNK will contact guests directly and offer a reschedule or full refund.
Can I book a private speedboat tour instead?
Yes — TNK also operates this tour as a private departure for groups who want the speedboat and guide exclusively for themselves. Contact TNK directly for private speedboat pricing based on group size.
Book your Cu Chi Tunnels speedboat tour
Small group half-day tour from Ho Chi Minh City. Daily departures at 8:00 AM. Hotel pickup District 1, speedboat both ways, English guide, all entrance fees and on-board refreshments included.
- Online: tnktravel.com — booking form on this page
- WhatsApp: +84 938 195 445
- Email: booking@tnktravel.com
- Walk in: 90 Bui Vien Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
International Tour Operator Licence No: 79-102/2010/TCDL-GP LHQT
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