LEARNING INTENTIONS

• Describe the military tactics of the Viet Cong

• Explain the factors which forced American withdrawal from Vietnam

In the 1960s and 1970s, the USA was one of the world’s great superpowers. Why then could they not defeat the Viet Cong and win in Vietnam?

The Viet Cong (also known as the National Liberation Front) was an army from South

Vietnam.

It fought the US and South Vietnam

government during the Vietnam War.

The Viet Cong engaged in guerrilla war.

This means that they generally did not take part in major battles,

rather attacked in small groups then

disappeared back into the jungle.

Operation Ranch Hand aimed to destroy

jungle to prevent the Viet Cong from hiding.

This involved using Agent Orange to

destroy plantation – but it also caused

major health problems.

As the Viet Cong were from Vietnam, they knew the country better than the

Americans.

This allowed them to hide in places they could not be found.

They also looked just like ordinary Vietnamese.

The Viet Cong also had a tunnel network that allowed them to hide

from attack.

There were so many tunnels, it was

impossible for the American soldiers to

find them all.

The Viet Cong were only amateur fighters. However they had support from a

professional army.

The Viet Cong received weapons and training

from the North Vietnamese Army. They in turn were supported

by China.

The Tet Offensive (February 1968) was one

of the most famous events of the Vietnam

War.

The Viet Cong launched a surprise attack in 35

towns across South Vietnam on Tet (the

Vietnamese New Year).

80,000 Viet Cong fighters (supported by

North Vietnam soldiers) attacked

various sites, including the US

Embassy in Saigon.

Almost half the Viet Cong were killed, but it is still seen as a

victory for them.

The Viet Cong’s ability to attack even the US Embassy shocked

Americans.

More and more people realised America could not win, and so wanted the USA to withdraw

from Vietnam.

Anti-war views in America also made it hard for the US to

win.

As more and more Americans opposed the war, the US government found it hard to keep going (in terms of money and military

deaths)

The US also struggled because it didn’t have

other countries’ support.

America wanted soldiers from other countries to

join the fight, but only a small number did

(South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand).