Understanding what "Chu" means here
"Chu" is an ambiguous name, and it is worth being clear about which place a visitor is likely heading to. In Vietnam, the name most commonly attaches to Chũ, a town and district capital in Bắc Giang Province in the country's northeast. It also appears as the name of rivers — the Lục Nam River is also known as the Chũ River, and the Nam Sam River is sometimes called the Chu River in Vietnam's North Central Coast region.
Separately, many travellers searching for "Chu" in Vietnam are actually looking for the Củ Chi area near Ho Chi Minh City, famous for its wartime tunnel network. Because the practical transport information available concerns getting to Củ Chi by public bus from Ho Chi Minh City, this guide focuses on that journey, while noting the distinction above.
How visitors get around
In this part of Vietnam, day-to-day movement for visitors relies heavily on public buses, taxis and ride-hailing, and walking once you reach your destination. There is no metro, tram, or urban rail network serving the Củ Chi area — the practical options are road-based.
For longer trips, especially to outlying sites like the Củ Chi tunnels, the bus is the cheapest and most commonly used option, and it is feasible for independent travellers without a tour.
Rail, metro and tram
There is no rail, metro, or tram service described for reaching Củ Chi or for getting around the area itself. Visitors should plan on road transport — buses, taxis, or ride-hailing — rather than expecting a train or metro connection.
Buses and public transport
Public buses are the backbone of budget travel to the Củ Chi tunnels, and the route is straightforward enough for visitors to manage independently.
- Bus 13 departs from the Công Viên 23/9 bus terminal in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (at 210Bis, 7 Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1). It runs to the end of the line in Củ Chi suburban district. The ride takes roughly one and a half to two hours depending on traffic, and the fare is 10,000 dong each way.
- Bus 79 is the connecting service. You transfer at Củ Chi and ask the driver to stop at Ben Duoc; the ride takes about 30–45 minutes and costs 6,000 dong each way. Drivers routinely help foreign passengers with the correct stop.
- Both buses are air-conditioned, and the total round-trip bus cost comes to 32,000 dong.
- The full one-way trip involves two buses and takes around 2.5 hours.
Buying tickets: fares are paid in cash on board — there is no advance booking or pass described for this route. Carry small change in dong.
Timing tips: allow a full day (roughly 6–8 hours) for the round trip. A 10 a.m. departure typically means returning around 5–6 p.m. The wait for a return bus was observed at about 10 minutes, and the last return bus is reportedly around 7 p.m., though this should be confirmed locally on arrival. Heavy Ho Chi Minh City rush-hour traffic on the return can add 30–45 minutes of standstill, so departing earlier in the day is advisable.
Taxis and ride-hailing
For visitors who prefer not to navigate the two-bus route, taxis and ride-hailing apps are the natural alternative for reaching Củ Chi and for local trips. The source material does not detail specific operators, fares, or app availability, so treat these as a general fallback rather than a documented option — confirm locally and agree on the fare or use an app before setting off.
Walkability
Walking is a practical way to cover the final stretch at the destination, but it comes with caveats.
- From the bus stop at Ben Duoc, follow the signs — it is about a 10-minute walk to the start of the tour.
- Two roads lead to the entrance, and buses may drop passengers at the farther one, requiring a walk back to the lower entrance.
- The guided tour route itself is a flat, easy walk through woods, though it includes several short tunnels and a longer tunnel at the end that claustrophobic visitors may wish to skip.
- In Ho Chi Minh City, be alert: motorbikes commonly drive on the sidewalks during rush hour, so keep your wits about you when walking.
Getting from the airport into the city
The source material does not describe airport transfers, so no specific airport bus, taxi, or rail service can be confirmed here. As a general approach, visitors arriving by air should plan to reach central Ho Chi Minh City first — where the Công Viên 23/9 bus terminal in District 1 is the departure point for Bus 13 toward Củ Chi — and then continue by bus, taxi, or ride-hailing from there.
Practical tips for the journey
- Download an offline map (Maps.me is recommended) before you go, since you may not have reliable data en route. Drivers also announce the stop.
- Bring water and snacks. There are small shops and a restaurant at the entrance and bus stop area, but prices are higher than elsewhere.
- Keep your backpack with you. Bags cannot be left outside at the tunnels for safety reasons, so you will carry them through.
- Budget for the entrance fee of 90,000 dong, in addition to bus fares.
- Expect to be hunched over for much of the tunnel passage — the tunnels are tight.
- Start early. An earlier departure avoids the worst of the return rush-hour traffic.