A Vietnam Gap Year is an eye opener in many ways, but for me, one of the most “makes you stop and think” moments comes after a visit to the Chi Chi Tunnels. The Tunnels were started long before the USA invaded Vietnam, because they were first used by the Vietnamese in the battle with the French. During the war with the USA, they were greatly expanded to accommodate tens of thousands of troops, who lived underground away from the reach of Napalm bombs and B52s.

To say the tunnels are cramped is an understatement even though they have been widened to accommodate a european ass, there is no chance your average citizen of the USA today will be able to fit in one.

Visit them you must, (they are located not far from Ho Chi Ming City) because it is a really educational experience. As well as learning about the tacics used by the Vietcong, (my personal favorite was we were told by our guide that the vietnamese made reversible flip flops so the US soldiers could not tell which way their tracks were heading), you can check out some of the remaining battlefield hardware left lying around in the jungle. Sherman Tanks, Crashed Aircraft and Bomb craters litter the Scene.

You learn and see first hand some of the grizzly traps left for the GI´s and at the end, if you are up for it, you can get you hands on an M16 or Ak47 and blast the shit out of targets at a firing range. (They are pictures of Polar bears by the way – don´t ask what the Vietcong have against polar bears, but they don´t like them).

Want to go FULL AUTO, then get your trigger happy fingers on an M60 MAchine gun. Not for the faint of heart though, and definaely do not do it at home.