{"id":10803,"date":"2022-03-24T16:54:47","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T08:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=10803"},"modified":"2022-03-24T17:54:42","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T09:54:42","slug":"espionage-hideouts-in-saigon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/espionage-hideouts-in-saigon\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Vietnam War Espionage Hideouts in Saigon: From A Workshop To A Chillout Cafe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Espionage hideouts in Saigon<\/h2>\n
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The Vietnam War ended in 1975, putting an end to a 30-year complicated conflict. Since then, Saigon\u2019s appearance has <\/span>changed dramatically<\/span><\/a>. However, there are still many historical places where you can come to explore the city\u2019s past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among them, <\/span>you can also visit some hideouts of the <\/span>Bi\u1ec7t \u0111\u1ed9ng S\u00e0i G\u00f2n<\/span>, or Special Task Force (STF), a special force of the National Liberation Front in southern Vietnam that hid in urban areas to plan and execute special missions or support massive attacks.<\/span> In this article, we will list out <\/span>7 of these Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon<\/b>\u00a0that you can still explore today. <\/span><\/p>\n

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1. 122\/8-10 Ng\u00f4 Gia T\u1ef1 Street – a printing house hidden under a cottage<\/h3>\n
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\"Printing
\nTo hide the secret activities happening in the cellar underneath, the owner of this house turned it into a musical instrument workshop.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Ph\u00e1p Lu\u1eadt<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t know much about the Vietnamese resistance against the French during the 1950s in Saigon, visit this printing house in District 10<\/strong> to deepen your understanding of it. However,<\/span> look carefully because on the surface, it just looks like any other country cottage in southern Vietnam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Printing
\nThe door to the tunnel is inside a wardrobe.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Ph\u00e1p Lu\u1eadt<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On 26th October 1947, the H\u1ed9i \u1ee7ng h\u1ed9 V\u1ec7 qu\u1ed1c \u0111o\u00e0n (National Guard Support Association) was established in Saigon to collect intel, raise funding, and cater to the <\/span>national guards, the precursor force of the Vietnamese People\u2019s Army.<\/span> To create secret spaces for these activities, the association built two Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon – namely called Tunnel A and Tunnel B in English.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1951, the members of the association dug the first cellar at 23\/122 Ng\u00f4 T\u00f9ng Ch\u00e2u Street, renamed as N\u01a1 Trang Long Street<\/strong> after 1975, located in B\u00ecnh Th\u1ea1nh District. They called this secret place Tunnel A<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as the position of Tunnel A was on the outskirts of Saigon, the members faced difficulties transporting food, medicine, and even ammunition from neighbouring provinces to the city center. Hence, in 1952, the construction of a new cellar, Tunnel B<\/strong>, began at <\/span>122\/8-10 Ng\u00f4 Gia T\u1ef1 Street<\/strong> (formerly 122\/351 Minh M\u1ea1ng Street).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Printing
\nMany important documents were composed and printed under this house before being spread across Saigon.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Ph\u00e1p Lu\u1eadt<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The cellar was under a cottage that was divided into two parts. The inner part was for living and cellar construction while the outer part was camouflaged as a musical instrument workshop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The house and the cellar are connected by a ladder hidden inside a wardrobe. The main cellar is 3.5 metres long, 3.2 metres wide, and 1.7 metres tall, while the cellar’s ceiling was 1.8 metres thick. The whole underground system can contain up to 20 people and is ventilated by a tunnel connected to a well in the house\u2019s front yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tunnel
\nThe diagram of Tunnel B<\/em>
\nImage credit: Ph\u00e1p Lu\u1eadt<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In this cellar, association members composed, copied, and printed numerous important documents and leaflets<\/span> supporting the resistance to both the fighters and the public<\/span> until the French were defeated in 1954. In 1957, it was <\/span>filled with soil <\/span>until restoration after 1975.<\/span><\/p>\n

Secret Tunnel B<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address: <\/b><\/span>122\/8-10<\/span> Ng\u00f4 Gia T\u1ef1 Street, Ward 8, District 10, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. 287 Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u Street – an alley house with tons of ammunition beneath<\/h3>\n
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\"Nguyen
\nThe arsenal was hidden under an ordinary alley house in downtown Saigon<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Vietnamnet<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The T\u1ebft Offensive in 1968, one of the most important battles in the Vietnam War, could not have happened had it not been for secret arsenals in Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon, scattered across the city. The biggest of all was a secret tunnel under<\/span> a small house in alley 287<\/b>, <\/span>Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u Street (<\/b>formerly Phan \u0110\u00ecnh Ph\u00f9ng Street<\/b>)<\/span>, Ward 10, District 3.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nguyen
\nYou can enter the tunnel by pulling up specific tiles on the floor.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Thanh Ni\u00ean<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The owner of this house was Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Lai, who was publicly known at that time as Mai H\u1ed3ng Qu\u1ebf – a wealthy contractor who was responsible for the furniture in the <\/span>Independence Palace<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In early 1966, he bought three houses in a row along the alley as they were adjacent to the two main roads of the city, and started to build a secret cellar under them. Because the construction had to be secretive, the excavation was conducted at night and all the dug-out soil was transported by cars to the suburbs.<\/p>\n

\"Nguyen
\nThis was one of the largest arsenals of the special task force in Saigon. At its peak, it contained about 2 tonnes of weapons.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Thanh Ni\u00ean<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Today, one of the three houses has been converted into a historical site. The house is quite small, only 14.9 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. The <\/span>cellar<\/span> beneath it is 8 metres long, 2 metres wide, and 2.5 metres high.<\/span><\/p>\n

From 1966 to 1968, the special task force used this cellar as an arsenal, keeping more than 2 tonnes of ammunition in preparation for the Independence Palace attack during the T\u1ebft Offensive. TNT and C4 explosives, AK rifles and carbines, as well as grenades were once stored here.<\/p>\n

\"Nguyen
\nIn case of emergency, STF members could escape through the drainage pipes connected to these round exits (now filled with concrete)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

After the offensive, Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Lai\u2019s double identity got exposed. The house was confiscated but neither the then-South Vietnamese government nor new owners were aware of the cellar. After 1975, the house was returned to Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n Lai\u2019s family.<\/span><\/p>\n

T\u1ebft Offensive Secret Arsenal (District 3)<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address:<\/span> <\/b>\u00a0287\/70 Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u Street<\/span>, Ward 5, District 3, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. 183\/4, 3 th\u00e1ng 2 Street, Ward 11, District 10 – a cellar in the miltary quarter of Saigon<\/h3>\n
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\"3-2
\nThe cellar was built right under the living room.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>VnExpress<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Apart from the cellar on Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u Street, there was another one built right among the most important military buildings of the Saigon government to prepare for the T\u1ebft Offensive.<\/span><\/p>\n

The house owner was \u0110\u1ed7 V\u0103n C\u0103n, also known as Ho\u00e0ng M\u1ea1nh L\u1ea1c, or Ba M\u1ee7, a special task force member doubling as a cobbler. The house<\/strong> is 12 metres long and 5 metres wide, and located at 3 th\u00e1ng 2 Street, District 10<\/strong> today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before 1975, its location was called 183\/4 Tr\u1ea7n Qu\u1ed1c To\u1ea3n Street, District 3, and was near major then-South Vietnamese military organisations such as Capital Military District, and the Vietnamese Rangers Corp Headquarters. Plus, the National Administrative Academy and a Korean soldier\u2019s residence were adjacent to the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"3-2
\nCompared to the tunnel on Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u Street, this one is smaller.<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit: <\/span><\/i>VnExpress<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

In 1965, to prepare for the offensive, he first took his family back to their hometown for safety reasons. Upon returning to Saigon himself, he started to excavate a cellar to store medicine and weapons. The tunnel is right under the house\u2019s living room.\u00a0 It is 2.2 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, and 1.7 metres tall.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the T\u1ebft Offensive, the house was checked multiple times by the then-South Vietnamese <\/span>police but they could not find the cellar<\/span>. In April 1975, the cellar was planned to be used as an arsenal in another attack but it became unnecessary after the Fall of Saigon.<\/span><\/p>\n

T\u1ebft Offensive Secret Arsenal (District 10)<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address: <\/b><\/span>\u00a0183\/4, 3 th\u00e1ng 2 Street, Ward 11, District 10<\/span>, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. The Special Task Force Museum – learn about these fighters through virtual reality<\/h3>\n
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\"Tran
\nThe interior is restored as they were during wartime.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>VnExpress<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you want to see as many artefacts of the <\/span>STF<\/span> as possible, <\/span>the Special Task Force Museum<\/b> is the place. Unlike other Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon, this is a private apartment without any hidden underground chamber.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Built in 1963 on Tr\u1ea7n Quang Kh\u1ea3i Street in District 1, the house used to be a gathering place of the special task force. The owner of this place was no other than Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Lai, <\/span>the person who built the abovementioned cellar on Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u Street.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tran
\nThis old elevator will bring you to the museum on the second floor.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>VnExpress<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Now, the apartment has been transformed into a museum solely attributed to the activities of the special task force. To this end, Tr\u1ea7n V\u0169 B\u00ecnh, Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Lai\u2019s son, has collected artefacts from numerous sources.<\/span><\/p>\n

Within the apartment of around 100 square meters, you can find many valuable images and objects from the Vietnam War: tables and chairs, a Solex moped, a Vespa, a typewriter, and so on. Interactive screens and VR glasses have also been set up to provide you with further information about the artefacts.<\/p>\n

This is also the first private museum of this kind in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

Special Task Force Smart Museum<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address: <\/b><\/span>\u00a02nd Floor, 145 Tr\u1ea7n Quang Kh\u1ea3i Street, T\u00e2n \u0110\u1ecbnh Ward, District 1<\/span>, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Nhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng Cafeteria – inside the Saigon Zoo<\/h3>\n
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\"Nhan
\nNhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng Cafeteria with an old-style signboard<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>VnExpress<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You may be surprised that artifacts of the <\/span>STF<\/span> may even appear at famous attractions in the city such as the Saigon Zoo<\/a> and Botanical Gardens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1967, Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n T\u1eedng used his own money to open <\/span>Nhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng<\/b>, a cafeteria named after his late wife, on an area of Saigon Zoo as the headquarters of the special task force in Saigon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, this was such a daring move because the zoo not only was a popular place but also situated facing the Independence Palace. Despite this, the true purpose of this cafeteria was perfectly hidden till the end of the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n

\"Nhan
\nThe re-enactment of the Nhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng Cafeteria before 1975 with statues<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit: <\/span><\/i>VnExpress<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Additionally, in an area of about 100 square metres, many secret spaces were used to store weapons, medicines, and important documents. For example, there were also small cellars underneath the cashier\u2019s counter and behind the cafeteria to store weapons.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n T\u1eedng also employed his own family members to work at this cafeteria to avoid being suspected of espionage activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nhan
\nNhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng Cafeteria before 1975<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>manhhai<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Today, in Saigon Zoo, you can still find the Nhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng cafeteria with its original settings with tables, chairs, tableware, and so on. Apart from that, you can also see many artefacts used by the <\/span>special force<\/span> when doing their missions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nhan H\u01b0\u01a1ng Cafeteria in Saigon Zoo<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address: <\/b><\/span>\u00a02 Nguy\u1ec5n B\u1ec9nh Khi\u00eam Street, B\u1ebfn Ngh\u00e9 Ward, District 1<\/span>, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Ph\u1edf B\u00ecnh – T\u1ebft Offensive Headquarter in an ordinary ph\u1edf restaurant<\/h3>\n
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\"Pho
\nPh\u1edf B\u00ecnh restaurant today<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Thanh Ni\u00ean<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The T\u1ebft Offensive was a game-changing event, but not all people know where it started was actually an ordinary ph\u1edf stall that is still open today. That place is <\/span>Ph\u1edf B\u00ecnh<\/b>, a <\/span>ph\u1edf <\/span><\/i>restaurant located on L\u00fd Ch\u00ednh Th\u1eafng Street (formerly known as Y\u00ean \u0110\u1ed7 Street), District 3, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first owner of this ph\u1edf restaurant is Ng\u00f4 Duy \u00c1i, also known as Ng\u00f4 To\u1ea1i. In 1946, he moved from Nam \u0110\u1ecbnh, a province in northern Vietnam, to Saigon and opened this restaurant with his speciality ph\u1edf recipe. After twenty years, his <\/span>ph\u1edf <\/span><\/i>restaurant had become a favourite eating spot among locals, especially US experts working nearby. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pho
\nThe second floor of Ph\u1edf B\u00ecnh is for exhibiting pictures and artefacts of the special task force.<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit: <\/span><\/i>Thanh Ni\u00ean<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

In 1963, Ph\u1edf B\u00ecnh was selected as a communications hub and a gathering place for the <\/span>STF<\/span> in Saigon. This was also the place where the offensive during the 1968 T\u1ebft Holidays was kickstarted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, you can enjoy the flavour or northern-style <\/span>ph\u1edf<\/span><\/i> at this restaurant.<\/span> The price of each bowl varies from <\/span>VND60,000 (~USD2.62)<\/b> to<\/span> VND75.000 (~USD3.28)<\/b>. The second floor is the exhibition space where you can find many pictures and artefacts related to the special task force, particularly their activities during the T\u1ebft Offensive.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Ph\u1edf B\u00ecnh<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address: <\/b><\/span>\u00a07 L\u00fd Ch\u00ednh Th\u1eafng Street, Ward 8, District 3<\/span>, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. C\u00e0 ph\u00ea \u0110\u1ed7 Ph\u1ee7 – chill-out cafe next to a top general\u2019s house<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Ca
\nC\u00e0 ph\u00ea \u0110\u1ed7 Ph\u1ee7 – c\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n is noticeable with a National Liberation Front flag on the second floor\u2019s balcony<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Voice of Vietnam<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you think establishing Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon’s crowded zoo or next to a military academy is already risky, building the tunnel next to a top South Vietnamese general is even more daring. This is the case for the<\/span> C\u00e0 ph\u00ea \u0110\u1ed5 Ph\u1ee7 – C\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n<\/b>, a cafe on \u0110\u1eb7ng Dung Street, District 3, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ca
\nThe door to the tunnel is hidden inside a wardrobe on the second floor<\/span><\/i>
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit: <\/span><\/i>Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Just like the other Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon on Nguy\u1ec5n \u0110\u00ecnh Chi\u1ec3u and Tr\u1ea7n Quang Kh\u1ea3i Streets, this house belonged to Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Lai. To avoid suspicion, Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Lai asked his reliable partner, \u0110\u1ed7 Mi\u1ec5n, to take care of this estate. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>So \u0110\u1ed7 Mi\u1ec5n and his family opened a cafe and cafeteria on the front-facing section of the house, while they turned the inside into a communications hub and a secret storehouse of the <\/span>STF.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ca
\nA secret mailbox hidden under a house pillar<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Thanh Ni\u00ean<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A cellar was built under the cafe to store medicines and weapons. You can access this cellar through a secret door inside the wardrobe on the second floor. In case any <\/span>Special Task Force<\/span> member got exposed, they could follow a tunnel to escape to Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n Nguy\u1ec5n and Tr\u1ea7n Quang Kh\u1ea3i streets nearby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, you can tour a secret attic, a mailbox hidden under a house pillar, and a storage space under a wooden plank on the floor. Although he lived next door, General Ng\u00f4 Quang Tr\u01b0\u1edfng, a top leader of the Army of the then-Republic of Vietnam, didn\u2019t know anything about the cellar and tunnels.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Com
\nC\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n was a favourite of many South Korean soldiers in wartime.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>C\u00e0 ph\u00ea \u0110\u1ed5 Ph\u1ee7 – C\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Apart from the exhibits and cellars related to the STF, C\u00e0 ph\u00ea \u0110\u1ed7 Ph\u1ee7 – C\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n also attracts many visitors thanks to its two specialities. The first is <\/span>c\u00e0 ph\u00ea b\u01a1 Ph\u00e1p<\/span><\/i>, cleverly combining the strong bitter flavour of Vietnamese filtered coffee with the richness of French bretel butter. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The other is <\/span>c\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n<\/span><\/i>, or a South Korean broken rice dish. It is a fusion of a Vietnamese broken rice dish cooked with an original recipe with kimchi. During the Vietnam War, South Korean soldiers usually came to this cafe and order <\/span>c\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n,<\/span><\/i> hence the name. The prices of these dishes vary were around <\/span>VND45.000 (~USD1.97).<\/b><\/p>\n

C\u00e0 ph\u00ea \u0110\u1ed7 Ph\u1ee7 – C\u01a1m t\u1ea5m \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0n<\/b>
\n<\/b>Address: <\/b><\/span>\u00a0113A \u0110\u1eb7ng Dung Street, T\u00e2n \u0110\u1ecbnh Ward, District 1<\/span>, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n

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Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon<\/h3>\n
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There are more Vietnam War hideouts in Saigon than what we\u2019ve mentioned in this article. However, until those are fully renovated and open to the public, you can have a visit to the spots above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visiting these places will deepen your understanding of Saigon\u2019s history before 1975 as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n