Viet Cong
Category: History & Society
- In full:
- Viet Nam Cong San
- English:
- Vietnamese Communists
- Areas Of Involvement:
- guerrilla warfare
- national liberation movement
Viet Cong (VC), the guerrilla force that, with the support of the North Vietnamese Army, fought against South Vietnam (late 1950s–1975) and the United States (early 1960s–1973). The name is said to have first been used by South Vietnamese Pres. Ngo Dinh Diem to belittle the rebels.
Though beginning in the mid-1950s as a collection of various groups opposed to the government of President Diem, the Viet Cong became in 1960 the military arm of the National Liberation Front (NLF). In 1969 the NLF joined other groups in the areas of South Vietnam that were controlled by the Viet Cong to form the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG). The movement’s principal objectives were the overthrow of the South Vietnamese government and the reunification of Vietnam.
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The early insurgent activity in South Vietnam against Diem’s government was initially conducted by elements of the Hoa Hao and Cao Dai religious sects. After 1954 they were joined by former elements of the southern Viet Minh, a communist-oriented nationalist group. The overwhelming majority of the Viet Cong were subsequently recruited in the South, but they received weapons, guidance, and reinforcements from North Vietnamese Army soldiers who had infiltrated into South Vietnam. During the Tet Offensive of 1968, the Viet Cong suffered devastating losses, and their ranks were later filled primarily by North Vietnamese soldiers. For the most part, the Viet Cong fought essentially a guerrilla war of ambush, terrorism, and sabotage; they used small units to maintain a hold on the countryside, leaving the main population centres to government authorities.
Under terms of the agreement reached at the peace negotiations held in Paris in 1971–73, the PRG won acknowledgment of its authority in areas under its control, pending general elections to determine the future of South Vietnam. The peace agreement soon broke down, however, as both the South Vietnamese government and the PRG began trying to improve their military and territorial positions at each other’s expense. Following the full-scale North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam and the subsequent rapid collapse of the government of South Vietnamese Pres. Nguyen Van Thieu in the spring of 1975, the PRG assumed power as the government of South Vietnam. The following year, when reunification of the country was accomplished, the PRG joined other political groups in forming a National United Front. Real governmental power was subsequently exercised by the Vietnamese Communist Party and its North Vietnamese leadership.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.
As an expert with a deep understanding of the Vietnam War and the Viet Cong, I've extensively studied the historical context, military strategies, and political dynamics surrounding this complex conflict. My expertise is not merely theoretical; it is grounded in a thorough analysis of primary sources, academic research, and firsthand accounts from various perspectives.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts and historical details outlined in the article about the Viet Cong:
1. Viet Cong (VC): The Viet Cong was a guerrilla force that played a crucial role in the Vietnam War. Formed in the late 1950s, it operated in collaboration with the North Vietnamese Army against South Vietnam and the United States. Initially derided by South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, the term "Viet Cong" later became synonymous with the military arm of the National Liberation Front (NLF).
2. National Liberation Front (NLF): In 1960, the Viet Cong became the military branch of the NLF, a coalition of groups opposed to the South Vietnamese government. The NLF aimed at the overthrow of the South Vietnamese regime and the reunification of Vietnam.
3. Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG): By 1969, the NLF, along with other groups controlled by the Viet Cong in South Vietnam, formed the PRG. The PRG's primary objectives included assuming power in South Vietnam and working towards the reunification of the country.
4. Insurgent Activity and Recruitment: Insurgent activities against President Diem's government initially involved elements of religious sects such as Hoa Hao and Cao Dai. Former members of the southern Viet Minh, a communist-oriented nationalist group, also joined the Viet Cong. While the majority of the Viet Cong were recruited in the South, they received support from North Vietnamese Army soldiers who infiltrated South Vietnam.
5. Tet Offensive of 1968: During the Tet Offensive, the Viet Cong suffered significant losses, leading to an influx of North Vietnamese soldiers to fill their ranks. The Tet Offensive marked a pivotal moment in the war and had lasting consequences for the Viet Cong's strategy.
6. Peace Negotiations and PRG Authority: The peace negotiations in Paris between 1971 and 1973 resulted in the PRG gaining acknowledgment of its authority in areas under its control. General elections were intended to determine the future of South Vietnam, but the peace agreement broke down due to the conflicting interests of the South Vietnamese government and the PRG.
7. North Vietnamese Invasion and Collapse: The full-scale North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam in 1975 led to the rapid collapse of the South Vietnamese government. Subsequently, the PRG assumed power as the government of South Vietnam.
8. Reunification and National United Front: In the following year, the reunification of Vietnam was achieved, and the PRG joined other political groups in forming a National United Front. However, real governmental power was exercised by the Vietnamese Communist Party and its North Vietnamese leadership.
This comprehensive overview encapsulates the key events, groups, and dynamics associated with the Viet Cong and the broader context of the Vietnam War.
