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North Vietnamese Strengths
How did the strengths of North Vietnam contribute to the US defeat?
The geographical, cultural, political, economic, and military strengths of North Vietnam, all contributed to the failure of the US in Vietnam.
What were the cultural strengths of North Vietnam?
There were four important cultural strengths North Vietnam had over the USA.
- ❖ The North Vietnamese knew the landscape, culture and language of the South.
- ❖ They knew about, and could use, the tunnel system that had been developed during the war with the French.
- ❖ Many North Vietnamese fighters were originally from the South, before the 1954 Geneva Accords, and so had family and contacts they could use.
- ❖ The Vietnamese had a history of fighting foreign invaders: France and Japan.
What were the political strengths of North Vietnam?
There were four important political strengths North Vietnam had over the USA:
- ❖ North Vietnam's government did not allow any opposition to the war.
- ❖ The Vietcong were already well established in the South, so North Vietnam could work with them, and send supplies using the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
- ❖ Between 1954 and 1967, China and the USSR sent $3 billion in aid, weapons, and equipment.
- ❖ Laos and Cambodia allowed the Ho Chi Minh Trail to run through their countries, and there was little the US could do to stop this without starting more wars.
What were the military strengths of North Vietnam?
There were 6 important military strengths North Vietnam had over the US:
- ❖ The North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops were used to fighting in jungle conditions.
- ❖ They used guerrilla tactics and fought small skirmishes, although they could also fight large battles. These tactics were perfect for the jungle terrain of Vietnam.
- ❖ The Vietcong used a system of tunnels and bases to move supplies, troops and equipment. They were well-organised and experienced.
- ❖ Their military was well experienced having fought the French and Japanese for decades.
- ❖ The North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops were fighting for their country. Therefore they had a clear motive to achieve victory, and fought with fierce determination to defend their nation.
- ❖ The Vietcong had significant support from their neighbour China and the USSR including weaponary.
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