Vietnam War

Question 1

KEY PLAYERS

Question 2

Ho Chi Minh

Answer 2

the leader of the Viet Minh (Vietnamese Independence League) and the founder of Vietnam’s Communist Party

Question 3

Ngô Đình Diệm

Answer 3

Former President of the Republic of Vietnam

Question 4

Ngo Dinh Nhu

Answer 4

younger brother and chief political advisor of South Vietnam’s first president, Ngô Đình Diệm

Question 5

John F Kennedy

Answer 5

35th US president

Question 6

Lyndon B. Johnson

Answer 6

36th U.S. President

Question 7

Richard Nixon

Answer 7

37th U.S. President

Question 8

nature and significance of the North Vietnamese military campaign

Question 9

Viet Cong (VC):

Answer 9

Irregular forces in South Vietnam
Guerrilla fighters: No uniforms, blend into the local population during the day
Role: Insurgency, sabotage, small-scale attacks
Significance: Played a key role early in the war; led the Tet Offensive (1968) but were largely decimated by its aftermath

Question 10

North Vietnamese Army (NVA):

Answer 10

Regular military force of North Vietnam
Role: Conventional warfare, large-scale attacks, and defenses
Significance: Took over leadership of military operations after the Tet Offensive and led the Easter Offensive (1975), which resulted in the collapse of South Vietnam
Used Russian support: tanks, trucks, weapons

Question 11

People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN):

Answer 11

Grew from the Vietnam Liberation Army (VLA)
Originally military wing of the Indochinese Communist Party
Overlap with NVA; eventually became the main military force of Vietnam after unification

Question 12

Military Actions and Strategies:

Question 13

Tet Offensive (1968):

Answer 13

Coordinated effort between the Viet Cong and NVA
Aimed to trigger a popular uprising and overthrow the South Vietnamese government
Result: Viet Cong decimated, reduced to a support role; NVA assumed the main role in military actions

Question 14

1975 Overthrow of the Saigon Regime:

Answer 14

Led by the NVA with conventional tactics, involving motorized infantry and armor
Final event that led to the unification of Vietnam under communist control

Question 15

To understand why this fighting method was used by the Viet Cong

Answer 15

The Viet Cong used guerrilla warfare to their advantage because they knew the terrain of South Vietnam and could blend into the local population. Their lack of resources compared to the Americans made guerrilla tactics a necessary and effective method for combat. The Viet Cong’s goal was to weaken the enemy and create instability, avoiding direct confrontation when they were outnumbered or outgunned.

Question 15

Guerrilla Warfare

Answer 15

Guerrilla warfare is a form of warfare used by smaller, more mobile forces, often civilians or irregular military forces, against a larger and more traditional army. These forces do not fight in traditional battles but instead rely on ambushes, sabotage, and traps.