Vietnam: Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnel

Cao Dai Temple

After a breakfast of Ban Mi (again), of we went to see the Great Temple or the Cao Dai Temple which is the center of the Cao Dai sect. It took about 2 hours to get to the temple and from afar we could already see this very colorful and ornate building in the middle of a beautiful garden. We were told that there would be a ceremony in 30 minutes so we should take pictures of the great hall now because later all the guests must go upstairs and watch the ceremony from the inner balcony. You have to remove your shoes before going inside the temple. Also you are not allowed to step on the tiles with ornate designs, outsiders can only step on the plain colored tiles which form the outermost path along the walls of the temple. The center area of the great hall is only for the members of the sect. When the ceremony started, the members of the sect started entering the great hall and kneeling on the floor in straight rows. Most of the laymen were in white robes although there were a few who were in blue, red and yellow robes. I think they were the priests and bishops and occupied a higher rank especially since they were positioned in front.

Priests and Laymen during the mass

Temple grounds

Inside the Cao Dai Temple

Lunch was at a roadside restaurant on the way to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The kitchen was open and located near the entrance of the restaurant and you can hear the cooks and servers speaking in loud voices and appearing very frazzled and cranky and practically at each other’s throats. But I guess that’s really just how they speak and also knowing that the tour group has a schedule to follow they have to make sure that all our orders are delivered promptly. I forgot what we ordered but there was chicken and fried rice and lots of vegetables. It was surprisingly very delicious.

Open Kitchen where everyone was so intense

Next stop is the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which is basically an underground network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong guerillas as their hiding spots, hospitals, living quarters etc. The Cu Chi Tunnels are located in the middle of a thick forest which served as a perfect backdrop to cover all the trap doors and booby traps in case the Americans venture near their hideouts. There were some trap doors “modified” for tourists meaning it was enlarged a bit and yet only kids and really thin adults could fit in it. Goes to show how small the guerillas were. We went down inside one of the tunnels. It was really small and dark although the first 20 meters was already adjusted and made bigger for the tourists. My friend and I decided to continue for another 20 meters and man did claustrophobia start to set it. There were no floor lights anymore and the walls were practically hugging me on both sides. I was still crouching and not crawling on the floor but my backpack was practically scraping the tunnel ceiling. After a few minutes a bright light shone on my face then I saw this guide telling me to exit as they have blocked off the rest of the tunnel. I did 40 meters of the tunnel and that’s enough for me.

Trap doors that can only fit kids or very thin adults

Booby traps in case american soldiers attack. Those metal spikes are about 2 feet long!

Back in HCMC we asked to be dropped off in the street where we saw this shoe store the day before that I wanted to go back to. Afterward, we did a quick trip back to Saigon Square because at the last minute my friend decided she also wanted a TNF backpack like mine. Dinner was at the Ben Than Night Food Market. Tomorrow we are heading off to Siem Reap in a 12 hour bus ride. Exciting.

Ben Than Market at night