A monumental movie
On April 30, 2025, Vietnam celebrated the 50th anniversary of Reunification Day. It commemorates the fall of Saigon in 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War and the unification of the nation. This momentous occasion is a display of strength and liberty that makes citizens proud across various generations.
There are parades, fireworks, and movies that make history fun. One such film is Tunnel: Sun in the Dark, which features the Cu Chi tunnels and Vietnam’s long history. It’s a milestone work of art, well-suited to the 50th anniversary of Reunification Day. Its box-office success, true story, and all-star cast make it a must-see for fans of history and drama.
Released in 2025, Tunnel: Sun in the Dark marks the directorial and writing debut of Bùi Thạc Chuyên, who also produced the movie. Starring a list of popular Vietnamese actors—Thái Hòa, Quang Tuấn, Hồ Thu Anh, Diễm Hằng Lamoon—the movie follows a guerrilla team led by Bảy Theo (portrayed by Thái Hoà) as they protect a key intelligence unit and their Cu Chi tunnel system from the Americans.
Loosely adapted from a short film released in 2014, the movie took almost a decade to produce, surviving delays to begin production in 2022 with private funding—Vietnam’s first war movie without state financing.
Tunnel: Sun in the Dark opened nationwide on April 4, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam. It was highly praised and grossed 162 billion VND in the box office.
Honoring a worthy sacrifice
The film’s release coincides with Vietnam’s Reunification Day on April 30, marking the 1975 fall of Saigon, when North Vietnamese forces ended the Vietnam War and unified the country. The 50th anniversary in 2025 amplifies its significance, with celebrations and visits to sites like the Cu Chi Tunnels celebrating national pride.
The movie honors the war’s sacrifices, resonating with the holiday’s themes of unity and progress, and serves as a cultural bridge between generations, reflecting Vietnam’s journey from conflict to a thriving nation.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are the heart of the movie—the symbol of Vietnamese ingenuity and resilience during the Vietnam War. Spanning over 250 kilometers beneath Cu Chi, 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, this vast underground network served as a base for Viet Cong guerrillas.
Built from the 1940s and expanded through the 1960s, the tunnels housed living quarters, hospitals, and command centers, enabling stealth attacks against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. Their narrow, claustrophobic passages—often just 0.8 meters wide—housed fighters who endured harsh conditions, from flooding to disease, showcasing their unbreakable spirit.
The film immerses viewers in the gritty reality of Cu Chi guerrillas’ lives, weaving intense combat with poignant moments of love, loss, and camaraderie, all heightened by masterful sound design and authentic visuals.
Critics celebrate it as a “gem” of Vietnamese cinema, avoiding clichés and poised for international accolades, making it an unmissable experience for anyone craving powerful storytelling.
The Reunification Day as a national concert
Movies such as Tunnel: Sun in the Dark concentrate on endurance and sacrifice, coupling remembrance with pride in the progress of Vietnam. The love for independence can be found among young Vietnamese, who crowded major streets and overnight camping, to witness the army’s largest-ever parade. The youth refer to this event as the biggest national concert, celebrating love for country and freedom.
Tunnel: Sun in the Dark is a testament to the spirit of Vietnam. Reunification Day, as seen in the movie, represents Vietnam’s hard-won independence and unity after centuries of war and colonization. It remembers millions of individuals who suffered, encouraging ongoing reconciliation for some within the diaspora.
Photos courtesy Fellini Rose
