Ho Chi Minh city invests over US$7.5 million to protect Cu Chi Tunnels

The Ho Chi Minh City Municipal People’s Committee has approved a project on building embankments to protect the historical relic of Cu Chi Tunnels from erosion, with a total investment of VND155 billion (over US$7.5 million).

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner visits Cu Chi Tunnels in 2013. (Credit: VNA)

The project’s first phase will work on the 2.3km tunnel from Trang Bang district, Tay Ninh province to the end of the relic site, in order to prevent expanding erosion from undermining part of the site in Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh areas.

After finishing the first phase and based on assessment of the situation, necessity and the city’s budget, the People’s Committee will make a decision on the second phase, which plans to build nearly 1.6km of embankment from the relic site to Ben Suc bridge.

The People’s Committee assigned the city’s Departments of Transportation and Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies to carry out the project.

The complex of tunnels was originally built between 1946 and 1948 during the resistance war against French colonialism.

During the war against American imperialism, the tunnels, built on the so-called “Iron Land” in southern Vietnam, were used as hospitals, communication and supply routes, and living quarters for Vietnamese soldiers.

Source : dtinews[dot]vn