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The Tunnels of Cu Chi: A Remarkable Story of War Paperback – 13 Oct. 2005

by Tom Mangold (Author), John Penycate (Author)

4.4 1,119 ratings

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The story of an extraordinary campaign in the Vietnam War - fought in a 200-mile labyrinth of underground tunnels and chambers.

The campaign in the tunnels of Cu Chi was fought with cunning and savagery between Viet Cong guerrillas and special teams of US infantrymen called 'Tunnel Rats'. The location: the 200-mile labyrinth of underground tunnels and secret chambers that the Viet Cong had dug around Saigon.

The Tunnel Rats were GIs of legendary skill and courage. Armed only with knives and pistols, they fought hand-to-hand against a cruel and ingenious enemy inside the booby-trapped blackness of the tunnels. For the Viet Cong the tunnel network became their battlefield, their barracks, their arms factories and their hospitals, as the ground above was pounded to dust by American shells and bombs.

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Book Description

The story of an extraordinary campaign in the Vietnam War - fought in a 200-mile labyrinth of underground tunnels and chambers.

About the Author

Tom Mangold has been a senior investigative reporter and war correspondent for BBC TV News and Current Affairs for thirty years and has won numerous awards for his work. He is the author of four bestselling books (THE FILE ON THE TSAR, THE TUNNELS OF CU CHI, COLD WARRIOR and PLAGUE WARS). He is married and lives in West London.

John Penycate is a television and print journalist. He has reported regularly on-screen for BBC The Money Programme and Panorama over the past twenty years from dozens of countries around the world, and interviewed major political and business leaders. Earlier, he was a globe-trotting Panorama producer. He has written articles for the national press, and co-wrote the non-fiction book PSYCHOPATH. He is a visiting lecturer at the journalism departments of London and Westminster Universities. He lives in London, and is active in institutes and societies concerned with the media and public affairs.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W&N (13 Oct. 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 030436715X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0304367153
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.8 x 2.2 x 19.6 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 180,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 123 in Vietnam War Biographies (Books)
- 22,837 in History (Books)

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4.4 1,119 ratings

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Tom Mangold

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Tom Mangold is a British broadcaster, journalist and author. He worked in Fleet Street on the Sunday Mirror and the Daily Express before joining BBC TV News as an investigative reporter. He covered seven wars before joining Panorama the BBC's landmark current affairs programme where he remained for twenty-six years. Mangold has been described in The Times as ‘the doyen of broadcasting reporters’. His memoirs, published in November 2016 have been described by the broadcaster Anne Robinson as a `dazzling read -- raucous, riveting and revelatory'. Two of his previous books became international best sellers; one `The Tunnels of Cu Chi' is scheduled to be made into a film in early 2017.

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Customers find the book informative and well-researched. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Vietnam War from both sides, with individual stories and wider context. The writing style is described as thriller-like, with vivid descriptions of the tunnels and great detail. Overall, customers feel the book provides a balanced and humanized view of the conflict from both sides.

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Readability Informative Narrative quality Writing style Pacing

36 customers mention ‘Readability’36 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the balanced account of both sides being well-represented. The story provides a good account of underground battles fought to combat hidden threats.

"...All in all, I would very much recommend reading this book, even if you skim in and out of genres and this isn't your usual forte, it's interesting..." Read more

"Certainly a good read, having visited the tunnels reading this you can appreciate what conditions were like for all concerned...." Read more

"...I felt it was a very balanced book as both sides were well represented, but at the end of the day, it was America with 'all the gear and no idea' as..." Read more

"...An unbelievable read." Read more

32 customers mention ‘Informative’32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative. They appreciate the thorough research and context it provides for visiting the tunnels. The book provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of tunnel life, including technical details and real-life stories. It allows events to be understood on a time scale from both sides' perspectives.

"...The book goes into detail about the Cu-Chi district of South Vietnam, telling stories from both sides of the conflict and humanising both as well as..." Read more

"...were so effective during the war and it did just that, very informative about all aspects from how the viet cong put them to use, to how the tunnel..." Read more

"...work and psychology of the occupants and the "GI Tunnel Rats" but very informative and moving...." Read more

"...After reading this book, it is clear that the tunnels were of extreme importance and played a very significant role in the war...." Read more

19 customers mention ‘Narrative quality’19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a comprehensive overview of the battles fought in Vietnam. It contains individual stories as well as wider context about the war. Readers say it's an excellent historical account and gripping account of those who have fought there.

"...about the Cu-Chi district of South Vietnam, telling stories from both sides of the conflict and humanising both as well as giving a chronology that..." Read more

"...importance of the tunnels to the Vietnamese and their ability to repel the American forces...." Read more

"...I felt it was a very balanced book as both sides were well represented, but at the end of the day, it was America with 'all the gear and no idea' as..." Read more

"...The narrative is engaging, if not sophisticated, and it's pleasing that the author hasn't gone overboard with military detail as many do...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Writing style’11 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging. They appreciate the vivid descriptions of the underground scenes, which create a sense of claustrophobia. The author provides a fair portrayal of both sides' lives, without going overboard with military details. The emotional descriptions are interlaced with personal recollections.

"Great detail, not just of the tunnels per se but also of all aspects surrounding their creation, destruction and impact on all sides of the French..." Read more

"...research, an absence of partisan sentimentality and a fair representation of the lives lived by both sides mean you come away with a taste for how..." Read more

"I bought this book after visiting the tunnels in Vietnam and it is a well written and informative book...." Read more

"...if not sophisticated, and it's pleasing that the author hasn't gone overboard with military detail as many do...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. They say it highlights the sides of the conflict well, with no embellishments. The book is described as factual and straightforward, depicting a real-life David and Goliath battle.

"...The data and facts on both sides of the conflict were overwhelmingly stunning and the underground descriptions so vivid as to create a feeling of..." Read more

"...Highlights very well just how commited the VC were and just how difficult it was for the Americans. Worth the price." Read more

"Factual, as it was with no embellishments A real life David and Goliath struggle seen from both sides of the battlefield." Read more

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Amazon Customer
Great read even for the uninitiated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 August 2017
Verified Purchase
I originally read this book for my A level as we were studying the Vietnam war and my teacher brought in books that we could borrow to read at home. The book was a good enough read that after returning it, I wanted to get my own copy years later now to re-read recreationally.

The book goes into detail about the Cu-Chi district of South Vietnam, telling stories from both sides of the conflict and humanising both as well as giving a chronology that the reader can follow, you don't need to have a great understanding of the Vietnam war to read this which is great. As well as this, lines of argument are made to explain why Americans had such trouble against the guerilla forces and how this failure and the Vietnamese tactics contributed to their eventual withdrawal from the region. It's filled with individual stories as well as wider tidbits of information regarding operations, statistics, etc.

This is also a newer edition than the hardback I read with a new foreword written in 2005 (the original was written in the 80s) worth mentioning as it describes some of the changes that a Communist, united Vietnam has gone through since unifying in the 70s.

All in all, I would very much recommend reading this book, even if you skim in and out of genres and this isn't your usual forte, it's interesting to read perspectives from those that you are unaware of.

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4 people found this helpful

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N Morrall
Very good book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2014
Verified Purchase
Wanted more information about how the tunnels were so effective during the war and it did just that, very informative about all aspects from how the viet cong put them to use, to how the tunnel rats where created and weaponry that was used (but mostly ineffective) to try and destroy the tunnels.

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Phillip C
Brilliant View of the Vietnam War(s) from all Sides
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2024
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Great detail, not just of the tunnels per se but also of all aspects surrounding their creation, destruction and impact on all sides of the French and American led war efforts. A lot of narrative on the work and psychology of the occupants and the "GI Tunnel Rats" but very informative and moving. The reader is left in no doubt that the tenacity and culture of the Vietnamese fighters, the lack of backbone of the ARVN soldiers and the significant part the tunnels played, made these unwinnable wars

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M. Hamann
Excellent and thorough
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 October 2011
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I had heard of underground tunnels being used during the Vietnam War, though I was not aware of the extent to which they were used. More importantly, the I was made aware of the importance of the tunnels to the Vietnamese and their ability to repel the American forces. The tunnels were--until now--a footnote in my understanding of the Vietnam War. After reading this book, it is clear that the tunnels were of extreme importance and played a very significant role in the war. This book covered all areas relevant to tunnels and tunnel warfare. Most impressively, the book strayed from post-war propaganda; instead, the authors interviewed people engaged in tunnel warfare on opposing sides.

The book is divided into (22) chapters: War Underground, Chu Chi District, Operation Crimp, The Guerillas of the Viet Cong, The Tunnels, Survival Underground, Born in a Tunnel, The Tunnel Rats, Not Worth a Rat's Ass, Stop the Americans!, Animals, Cu Chi Base Camp, Pham Sand-The Story of an Entertainer, Operation Cedar Falls, Dr. Vo Hoang Le-Tunnel Surgeon, Psychological Operations, Fighting Science, Rat Six and Batman, Vo Thi Mo-The Girl Guerrilla, Tunnel Rat Squad, Winners and Losers, Hindsight.

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Lazy Shopper
Certainly a good read, having visited the tunnels reading this you ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2015
Verified Purchase
Certainly a good read, having visited the tunnels reading this you can appreciate what conditions were like for all concerned. However, if you have not visited the tunnels I'm unsure if this book really gives you the feeling of what actually took place, it's extremely detailed, maybe having been a visitor I read it and expected something different.

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Very Hardly
Why the US lost their war
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2024
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Very interesting, readable, informative. Answered a lot of questions for me.

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Amazon Customer
Very Interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2023
Verified Purchase
Having just visited the tunnels I was pleased to find more information.
How clever they were!
Unfortunately Hamas seems to have copied their once unique form of warfare.

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peter knowles
excellent condition for price
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2024
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very good condition for price and good delivery

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Top reviews from other countries

Eleonor Rigby
intresting
Reviewed in Italy on 10 June 2023
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I really liked this book, it gave a diffrent outlook on the topic at least for me. I found it very intresting and I recommend it.

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tinky
Fascinating Read.
Reviewed in Canada on 19 January 2020
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I read this book because i am visiting the Cu Chi tunnels next month as one of many stops in SE Asia. I am so glad i picked up this book. I was a kid during the Vietnam war, and am not a war buff - so my history on this topic was not the best. I found this to be a fascinating read on the the military tactics of the Vietnam guerrillas against the US who were holy unprepared for an underground war. it gave me a greater appreciation for Vietnam culture and their ties to the soil and earth. And i have much empathy for the American soldiers or "tunnel rats" who faced the unknown in the dark - the enemy, spiders, bats, snakes, booby traps - each time one of them had to enter a tunnel. There are no winners in war.

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Fabio
Ok
Reviewed in Spain on 14 June 2020
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Ok

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mandy barnard
Vietnam tunnels
Reviewed in Australia on 28 August 2024
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Purchased this to read before my upcoming visit to Vietnam so it would enlighten me to the history of the tunnels . Fascinating book

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Chuck Robuck
The INCREDIBLE Tunnels of Cu Chi!
Reviewed in the United States on 28 November 2016
Verified Purchase
I served in Vietnam in 1967-68 in a support role, and was always amazed by the resilience of the Viet Cong in facing off against the most powerful military on earth.

This book is AMAZING! It explains why and how the Vietnamese were able to endure unbelievable hardships to outlast the greatest power on earth. When I was in Saigon during the Tet Offensive, I marveled at how the Viet Cong could muster the forces needed to attack so many cities at the same time......the tunnels provide one answer...

There are many lessons to be learned from this book......some which should have been learned much earlier by American Leadership. The key lesson for me was that TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY doesn't always result in eventual victory. History is replete with this lesson, going back to our own Revolution, when the British had the most powerful military on the planet, but eventually lost the American colonies. More recently, the Russians learned their hard lesson when they took on the Afghanistan people and eventually had to withdraw in spite of overwhelming military advantages. America could have avoided many of the lives lost in Vietnam had the leadership of the time remembered the lessons of the past.

However, as evidenced by the more recent occupation of Iraq, when the leadership attempted to occupy a totally fractured country with too few troops, it took us over ten years to untangle ourselves from a mess we helped to create......in fact we are STILL embroiled there.

The other lesson I've learned is this.....While I'm very supportive of HELPING other nations protect themselves, but THEY MUST TAKE THE LEAD in their own defense......if the populous isn't willing to do that, any regime we prop up will eventually fail.

Lastly, I salute the soldiers who bravely fought this "underground war". They are truly among the very few who would be willing to do a job that most of us would never do. They deserve the special recognition that I believe this book delivers.

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