What was the Viet Cong?

The Viet Cong slowly developed in the aftermath of World War II, when Vietnam was fighting for independence from French colonial rule.

A local leader called Ho Chi Minh led a group known as the Viet Minh, which a communist movement that played a crucial role in this struggle.

By 1954, the Geneva Accords had divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel. This created two states: North and South Vietnam.

In the North, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, sought to reunify the country under communist control. 

Due to increased political and military pressure from the South, the North Vietnamese government supported the formation of the National Liberation Front (NLF) in December 1960.

In rural areas, this group recruited peasants and local militias to join their cause. The NLF, which is what became known as the Viet Cong, stated that their aim was to completely overthrow the South Vietnamese government. 

On an international level, countries like China and the Soviet Union supplied significant aid. Between 1965 and 1968, China provided over 320,000 guns and large quantities of ammunition.

From the Soviet Union, they received advanced weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles.  

The Viet Cong's ideology was based upon communist principles that aiming to establish a unified, socialist Vietnam free from foreign influence.

Influenced by Marxist-Leninist thought, they sought to overthrow the capitalist regime in South Vietnam. Their leaders, such as Ho Chi Minh and Le Duan, emphasized the importance of national liberation and social revolution.

In their view, the struggle against imperialism and colonialism was intertwined with the fight for socialism. 

To achieve their goals, the Viet Cong employed a strategy known as "protracted warfare." This approach focused on gradually wearing down the enemy through various guerrilla tactics, while simultaneously building political support among the rural population.

For the Viet Cong, the support of the peasants was crucial. Promises of future land reforms and social justice were given to the people.

This helped them to win the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese peasantry. Subsequently, they hoped that this would erode the legitimacy of the South Vietnamese government. 

They also used propaganda and psychological warfare, which effectively weaken the resolve of both South Vietnamese and American forces.

They used broadcasts and leaflets to spread their message and encourage defections. As a result, in 1966, it was reported that nearly 80% of the rural population in some provinces actively supported the Viet Cong.  

At the very top of their command chain was the Central Office for South Vietnam (COSVN). This body directed overall strategy and coordinated major operations.

It reported directly to the North Vietnamese government. Underneath the COSVN, regional commands divided South Vietnam into distinct military zones.

Each zone had its own command hierarchy, which managed local operations and recruited fighters from surrounding villages. In these regions, local committees handled day-to-day activities, including propaganda, recruitment, and intelligence gathering.

These decentralized units allowed the Viet Cong to maintain a significant presence throughout South Vietnam. 

However, at the very grassroots level, the Viet Cong always relied heavily on village cells. Such cells were often composed of a few trusted individuals that were trusted with conducting surveillance, gathered vital supplies, and carrying out small-scale attacks.

In each village, these cells had to opportunity to blend into the local population. This made it difficult for South Vietnamese and American forces to identify and eliminate them.  

To sustain their operations, the Viet Cong developed an extensive supply network. This was achieved through a combination of local resources and supplies from the North; they kept their forces well-equipped.

For instance, the Ho Chi Minh Trail was a critical supply route, which allowed the North to send weapons, food, and medical supplies to the South.

According to some estimates, over 100,000 tons of supplies were sent annually via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In 1967 alone, over 10,000 bicycles, each carrying 300 pounds of cargo, traversed this route.

By using ingenious methods, they managed to evade detection and maintain a steady flow of resources. 

The Viet Cong frequently utilized hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and booby traps to inflict maximum damage on their enemies while minimizing their own casualties.

By using the dense jungle for cover, they could strike swiftly and then disappear, frustrating American and South Vietnamese forces. 

One of the most effective tools for this was the construction of extensive tunnel systems throughout the thick jungle terrain of Vietnam.

These tunnels served multiple purposes: hiding spots, supply routes, and even basic living quarters. They eventually became so elaborate that they enabled the Viet Cong to withstand sustained attacks and launch surprise offensives.

Many of these underground networks also provided a location for the storage of weapons, or a place to treat the wounded.

For some locations, there were rooms big enough for leaders to meet and plan operations. In particular, the Cu Chi Tunnels near Saigon are among the most famous examples. 

During the Tet Offensive of 1968, the Viet Cong launched simultaneous attacks on cities and military bases across South Vietnam.

For many observers, the surprise and intensity of these attacks highlighted how far their tactical sophistication had come.

Although they suffered heavy losses, the offensive was a significant psychological victory for the communists, which undermined American public support for the war.  

The Viet Cong’s ability to blend with the civilian population made them an elusive enemy, complicating efforts by American and South Vietnamese forces to combat them effectively.

This ambiguity often led to devastating consequences for civilian areas, which fueled local resentment against the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government.

In turn, this resentment increased support for the Viet Cong, creating a vicious cycle that strengthened their position. 

In rural areas, the Viet Cong's strategies disrupted agricultural production and infrastructure. They frequently targeted South Vietnamese military installations, roads, and bridges, aiming to cripple the government's logistical capabilities.

As a result, the South Vietnamese economy suffered, exacerbating the government's difficulties in maintaining control and legitimacy. 

On the international stage, the persistent threat posed by the Viet Cong influenced diplomatic relations and foreign policy decisions.

For instance, the protracted nature of the war led to increased anti-war sentiment globally, affecting America's standing and credibility.

In particular, due to significant operations like the Tet Offensive in 1968, American public opinion shifted dramatically, and put pressure on the U.S. government to seek a resolution to the conflict. 

The decline of the Viet Cong began to take shape following the Tet Offensive in 1968. Despite the initial shock and success of the offensive, the Viet Cong suffered heavy casualties, losing a significant portion of their experienced fighters.

This loss weakened their operational capacity and forced them to rely more on the North Vietnamese Army for direct combat roles.

Consequently, their ability to conduct independent large-scale operations diminished. 

By the early 1970s, the combined effects of U.S. military strategies, including the Phoenix Program and heavy aerial bombardment, further eroded the Viet Cong's strength.

The Phoenix Program aimed at dismantling the Viet Cong infrastructure and resulted in the capture or elimination of many key operatives.

Additionally, relentless bombing campaigns disrupted their supply lines and sanctuaries. As a result, their organizational structure became increasingly fragmented and less effective. 

In 1973, the signing of the Paris Peace Accords called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. For the Viet Cong, this shift in the conflict dynamics offered a temporary reprieve.

However, the accords also led to intensified fighting between the North and South Vietnamese forces. With the U.S. military presence significantly reduced, the Viet Cong continued their support role, but their influence and numbers had already been severely depleted. 

After the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, the Viet Cong's role transitioned from a guerrilla force to part of the newly unified Vietnamese state.

South Vietnam's collapse is considered the end of the war and the beginning of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For many former Viet Cong members, integration into the new government and military structures followed.

Despite their diminished status, their contributions during the war were recognized by the new regime.