The South Vietnamese government faced several weaknesses that contributed to the USA's defeat in Vietnam: 1) The government of Ngo Dinh Diem was extremely corrupt and discriminated against Buddhists who made up the religious majority, dividing the country. 2) The South Vietnamese army was poorly trained and disciplined, with many soldiers deserting. They distrusted their leaders and relied too heavily on the Americans. 3) Forced relocation of peasants into "strategic hamlets" angered the population and caused some to join the Viet Cong, depriving the US of local support. These weaknesses denied the US a path to victory.

1. The Cold War
1945-1989
Weaknesses of
South
Vietnam
Reasons the USA lost the Vietnam War

2. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
In today’s class I am learning to:
• Describe problems faced by the
government of South Vietnam
• Analyse the extent to which these
led to the USA’s defeat in
Vietnam

3. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
In the early years of
the Vietnam War,
South Vietnam was led
by Ngo Dinh Diem.
Diem’s government was
seen as extremely
corrupt; at times it
refused to hold
elections and was
staffed by members of
Diem’s family.

4. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
South Vietnam was
religiously divided.
Although most people
were Buddhist (70%-
90%), Diem and
members of the
government were
Catholic.
The government often
discriminated against
Buddhists.

5. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
For instance, Diem’s
government allowed
Catholic flags to be
flown, but not
Buddhist flags.
Catholics were also
favoured in
employment and
promotions, land
distribution and tax
breaks.

6. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
Diem’s government
faced many revolts,
including self-
immolation.
Diem imposed harsh
measures to try and
stop this, including
mass arrests and
killings of religious
and political
opponents.

7. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
Diem’s government led
to a divided South
Vietnam, and meant
ordinary people would
not support him, or
the USA.
Losing the support of
the majority of
Vietnam’s population
made US victory
impossible.

8. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
However Diem’s
actions eventually
ended his rule. A
Buddhist rebellion in
1963 led to Diem’s
assassination.
The US CIA were
involved the killing,
hoping a new
government would be
better supported.

9. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
Many South Vietnam
Army generals were
poorly trained, or
acted without
following orders.
Many South Vietnam
Army soldiers
deserted (left) the
army: 113,000 did
this in 1965.

10. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
American officials
criticised South
Vietnam’s army,
saying they were:
“weak in dedication,
direction, and
discipline”
“content to let the
Americans do the
fighting and dying”

11. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
South Vietnam army
soldiers did not
trust their military
leaders, leading to
desertions, making it
harder for remaining
soldiers to fight.
Better motivated
Communist forces then
found victory easier
to achieve.

12. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
However, South
Vietnam’s army was
still larger than
North Vietnam’s army
(late-1960s, SVA,
850,000; NVA,
690,000).
South Vietnam should
still have been able
to win the war.

13. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
To stop the Vietcong
hiding amongst
peasants, the South
Vietnam government
introduced Strategic
Hamlets.
8600 armed villages
were set up across
Vietnam, with
peasants forced to
move there.

14. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
Being forced to live
in the Hamlets
angered people for
many reasons.
It was often further
from their rice
fields, forcing them
to travel. Others
resented leaving
behind their
ancestors’ graves.

15. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
South Vietnamese
peasants were very
angry at being forced
to move from their
homes.
This led to them not
helping US forces, or
even joining groups
like the Vietcong,
hurting US chances of
Vietnam victory.

16. Weaknesses of South Vietnam
Despite the Strategic
Hamlet programme
causing peasant
anger, it did it make
it harder for the
Vietcong to hide.
This limited the VC’s
ability to fight,
until the project was
ended in 1964.