The Viet Cong were able to effectively engage in guerrilla warfare against US forces due to their intimate knowledge of the Vietnamese terrain and ability to blend in with the local population. They used tunnels, booby traps, and surprise attacks to wear down US troops over time. While the Tet Offensive resulted in heavy losses for the Viet Cong, it demonstrated they could strike even the most fortified US positions and shocked the American public, increasing anti-war sentiment and calls for withdrawal. Combined with a lack of broad international support, these factors made it difficult for the US to achieve victory and ultimately forced their withdrawal from Vietnam.

3. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe the military tactics of the
Viet Cong
• Explain the factors which forced
American withdrawal from Vietnam

4. 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?

5. The Viet Cong (properly
called the National
Liberation Front) was an
army from South Vietnam.
It fought the US and
South Vietnam government
during the Vietnam War.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The Vietcong used a
variety of weapons to
attack US troops.
Mines were placed around
villages, causing
injuries to many
soldiers. Heavy machine
guns were used to target
US helicopters.

10. Many soldiers trained in
Texas in desert
conditions. The USA
struggled because their
soldiers were not trained
for jungle warfare.
Also the soldiers’
average age was 22, (not
19) meaning many were
inexperienced.

11. 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.

12. Many Viet Cong were only
amateur fighters. However
they had support from a
professional army.
The Viet Cong received
backing from the North
Vietnamese Army. North
Vietnam was helped by
China and the USSR.

13. 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).

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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)

17. 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).