Vietnam War: Causes, Tactics, and Impact

Posted on Mar 31, 2025 in History

The Vietnam War: A Deep Dive

The American military was poorly equipped for the dense jungle, making it difficult to find the enemy. The Viet Cong (VC) jungle advantage allowed them to attack and retreat using Guerrilla Warfare tactics. The Americans retaliated by attempting to find bases and cut supply routes, using herbicides like Agent Orange to defoliate 10% of the land. This killed trees but proved futile in destroying bases and the Ho Chi Minh Trail (HCMT). The destruction of crops aimed to starve the VC, but it also caused birth defects and widespread resentment among the Vietnamese civilian population (VCIV). The HCMT, a network of paths hidden through the jungle, served as a crucial route for both the VC and VCIV. It passed through Laos and Cambodia to avoid US bombing raids and was constantly relocated to move troops, weapons, and supplies without risking American detection.

Tunnels were extensively used by the VC for hiding, communication and supply routes, hospitals, food storage, weapon caches, and even homes for soldiers. These hidden tunnels stretched for miles, frustrating the American forces. The VC’s advantages highlighted the poor, ineffective, and inhumane tactics employed by the Americans. President Johnson initiated Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965, dropping bombs on towns to decrease morale, reminiscent of tactics used in World War II. The use of foot soldiers in Search and Destroy missions led to the destruction of entire villages and the killing of innocent civilians (VCVS). This did not decrease morale; instead, people despised the Americans. The US would destroy VC villages only to later help rebuild them, inadvertently increasing support for the VCVS. The Americans also used Napalm, a flammable fluid that burns anything, believing they had found VC bases. However, it often hit VCVS, including children, leading to serious controversy at home. These brutal tactics ruined the American reputation.


The Vietnam War (1955-1975) pitted the North (communist, supported by the Soviet Union and China) against the South (democratic, supported by the USA). The aim was to stop the spread of communism from North Vietnam (VC) and North Vietnam (NV). The US provided military aid, economic support, and troops, but the war was controversial, with significant opposition and protests in America. The conflict resulted in over 2 million Vietnamese civilian deaths and 58,000+ US soldier deaths. The US withdrew in 1973, and the war ended in 1975 with a communist victory.

Causes of the Vietnam War

  1. Civil war between North and South Vietnam, aiming to unite Vietnam under a communist government.
  2. US containment policy to prevent the expansion of communism and limit its control, driven by the domino theory, which justified intervention in Korea and Vietnam.
  3. The failure of the 1954 Geneva Accords, which provisionally divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel with Ho Chi Minh leading the government in the North. The accords stipulated elections in 1956 to unite the country, but these elections never occurred.

Key Factors Leading to Escalation

  1. Ngo Dinh Diem’s refusal to prepare for elections, influenced by the US, aimed to prevent the spread of communism, violating the Geneva Agreement.
  2. Ngo Dinh Diem’s unpopular policies, including his Roman Catholic background, land reforms, corruption, and reliance on American influence.
  3. The formation of opposition groups in 1960, such as the National Liberation Front (NLF), advocating for a democratic national coalition government, reforms, and national unity. They launched a guerrilla campaign against the government.
  4. Buddhist monk protests, including self-immolations, highlighted the government’s suppression of dissent.
  5. Increased US military involvement to protect South Vietnam from communism.
  6. North Vietnam’s support for the VC with weapons, justified by the Geneva Agreement. Ngo Dinh Diem requested US military assistance to suppress communism.

Escalation Under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson

KENNEDY (1961-63) increased US involvement with 16,000 advisors and technology. The safe village policy aimed to isolate peasants in fortified villages, but in reality, it alienated villagers, who continued to support the VC. JOHNSON (1963-69) escalated the war further. By 1964, 40% of South Vietnam was under NLF control. He initiated bombing campaigns in North Vietnam in 1965, assuming it would weaken Ho Chi Minh. After seven years of bombing, similar in scale to World War II, the VC controlled 80% of South Vietnam, leading to hopelessness among Americans and growing opposition to the war.

Nixon’s Vietnamization

NIXON (1969-74) implemented the policy of Vietnamization.

The Role of Media and Public Opinion

The media played a significant role in shaping public opinion by showing the brutalities of the war. Search and Destroy missions did not decrease VC morale but alienated American citizens. Anti-war campaigns gained momentum. The Tet Offensive in 1968, including attacks on the US embassy, significantly impacted public opinion. The VC and NLF received support from the Vietnamese civilian population, who saw the Americans as encouraging the spread of communism. The VC’s expertise in guerrilla warfare and their ability to merge with the local population led to frustration among American soldiers.

My Lai Massacre and US Withdrawal

The My Lai Massacre, where US soldiers killed innocent civilians, sparked public outcry and further eroded support for the war. In 1969, Nixon initiated Vietnamization, aiming for ‘peace with honor’ by withdrawing US troops while continuing military support. The Vietnamese experienced the true horror of war. The VC aimed to unite Vietnam and achieve independence. The US left in 1973 but continued military support until 1975, when South Vietnam’s military collapsed, and the country was united under communism.