Vietnam War: Diem’s Rule & Rise of the Vietcong (1954–1963)

Question 1

What methods did Diem use to maintain power from 1955 to 1963?

Answer 1

• Refused to hold 1956 elections (agreed at Geneva) — feared Ho Chi Minh would win.
• Used ARVN and secret police to imprison or kill political opponents — over 12,000 suspected communists arrested.
• Appointed family members to top roles — e.g., brother Ngo Dinh Nhu led brutal secret police.
• Pushed Strategic Hamlet Program (1962): moved peasants to fortified villages to stop Vietcong influence — often backfired.
• Backed by $1.6 billion in US aid between 1955–1961, mainly for military and propaganda.

Question 2

How did Diem gain power over Emperor Bao Dai in 1955?

Answer 2

• Bao Dai was viewed as a French puppet with little popular support post-independence.
• Diem held a rigged referendum in October 1955 — claimed 98.2% support, even 605,000 votes in Saigon (only 450,000 registered voters).
• With US backing, Diem abolished the monarchy and declared the Republic of Vietnam with himself as president.
• Claimed Bao Dai was corrupt and anti-nationalist — appealed to US anti-communism.
• Established a personalist regime, not a democracy — loyalty to Diem > ideology.

Question 3

Why did Diem face growing opposition in South Vietnam?

Answer 3

• Strong bias toward Catholics (only ~10% of population) — Buddhists denied jobs, army posts.
• Harsh suppression of protests — including Buddhist monks (e.g. the 1963 Hue Phat Dan incident, 9 killed, Thich Quang Duc). due to Catholics being preferred and Diem had implemented anti-Buddhist policies
• Land reform failed: Diem sided with landlords; peasants remained poor and angry.
• The Strategic Hamlet Program (1962) uprooted villages — turned peasants toward the Vietcong.
• By 1963, thousands of South Vietnamese were secretly supporting or joining the Vietcong.

Question 4

How did the conflict between North and South Vietnam escalate into civil war?

Answer 4

• In 1959, Ho Chi Minh approved sending weapons and support to anti-Diem fighters in the South.
• The Ho Chi Minh Trail was constructed through Laos and Cambodia — crucial for supplies.
• Vietcong (Southern communists) launched guerrilla attacks on government forces and officials.
• ARVN proved ineffective; US sent 11,000 “advisors” by 1962 to support Diem.
• By 1960, Vietnam was in a de facto civil war, though the US framed it as fighting communism.

Question 5

What led to the fall and assassination of Diem in 1963?

Answer 5

• Buddhist protests escalated after Hue massacre (May 1963) and self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc (June).
• US media coverage shocked Americans — Diem seen as brutal and unstable.
• Diem’s brother Nhu’s raid on Buddhist pagodas (Aug 1963) alienated even loyalists.
• The US (under JFK) gave a green light to a military coup — Diem and Nhu were executed on Nov 2, 1963.
• Diem’s death led to political instability — 9 governments in 2 years, paving the way for deeper US involvement.

Question 6

What was the Vietcong and how did it emerge?

Answer 6

• Founded in Dec 1960 as the National Liberation Front (NLF) — mostly southern fighters.
• Aimed to overthrow Diem, reunify Vietnam, and win peasant support.
• Supported by North Vietnam with weapons, leadership, and funding.
• Built strong networks in the countryside — often better organized than the ARVN.
• Appealed to rural poor through promises of land reform and anti-corruption.

Question 7

Who supported the Vietcong and why?

Answer 7

• Rural peasants, who hated Diem’s rule, saw the Vietcong as the only hope for change.
• Promised fair land distribution, unlike Diem who favoured landlords.
• Used propaganda and community aid to build loyalty — helped with farming and education.
• In some areas, support was coerced — villages punished for refusing.
• Women and children also contributed — e.g., carried supplies, acted as lookouts.-

Question 8

What tactics did the Vietcong use during the early war years?

Answer 8

• Used guerrilla warfare: surprise attacks, ambushes, sabotage — avoided direct battles.
• Constructed over 250 km of tunnels (e.g., Cu Chi) with living quarters, weapons storage.
• Booby traps like punji sticks, tripwires, and hidden mines caused ~10–15% of US casualties.
• Blended in with civilians — made it hard for US/ARVN to identify enemies.
• Knowledge of terrain gave them a huge advantage — US forces often demoralized.

Question 9

What were the 1956 elections, and why were they never held?

Answer 9

• The Geneva Agreement (1954) said national elections would be held in July 1956 to reunify Vietnam.
• Ho Chi Minh (North) was expected to win easily — even US intelligence estimated he’d get 80% of the vote.
• Diem (South Vietnam), backed by the USA, refused to hold elections, claiming they wouldn’t be free or fair.
• The US feared a communist victory and supported Diem’s rejection to contain communism (Domino Theory).
• The failure to hold elections made war more likely, as peaceful reunification was blocked.

Question 10

What was Diem’s “secret mission” in 1956 and what did it reveal?

Answer 10

• Diem sent agents to investigate the strength of communist resistance in rural South Vietnam.
• The mission revealed that Viet Minh networks were still active and gaining local support.
• It warned that US military intervention would not be welcomed by many peasants.
• Highlighted that resistance was political and social, not just military — force alone wouldn’t win.
• Despite this, Diem ignored the findings and increased repression — pushing more people to support the Vietcong.

Question 11

What were Strategic Hamlets and why were they introduced?

Answer 11

• Introduced in 1962 under Diem’s government with US support.
• Aimed to relocate rural peasants into fortified villages, protected by fences, guards, and watchtowers.
  Purpose:
• isolate villagers from Vietcong influence, and stop them giving food or shelter to guerrillas.
• Each hamlet was meant to be self-sufficient, with schools and medical care to win “hearts and minds”.
• Over 4,000 hamlets were built by the end of 1963, covering millions of people.
• 2/3 of rural population in hamlets

Question 12

Why was the Strategic Hamlet Program unsuccessful?

Answer 12

• Forced relocation: Peasants were moved from ancestral homes against their will.
• Promised services (schools, protection) were rarely delivered, causing resentment.
  Corruption:
• Officials often stole money and supplies, worsening living conditions.
• Vietcong easily infiltrated the hamlets anyway — many peasants still supported them.
• By late 1963, the program collapsed — it increased support for the Vietcong instead of reducing it.

Question 13

How did the failure of Strategic Hamlets increase pressure on JFK?

Answer 13

• It proved that Diem’s government was unpopular and ineffective, especially in rural areas.
• Despite US financial and military aid, the program backfired — more villagers supported the Vietcong.
• US officials realized that the “hearts and minds” strategy had failed — Diem couldn’t win over his own people.
• By 1963, the US had sent over 16,000 military advisors — but things were getting worse, not better.
• JFK was under growing pressure at home and abroad to either intervene more forcefully or rethink support for Diem, leading to the US-backed coup in November 1963.