What really happened in Vietnam?

More than 3 million people (including over 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. … Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the following year.

Why did the US lose the war in Vietnam?

The reasons behind the catastrophic defeat are very clear. Firstly, the Americans were poorly equipped for a war in Vietnam. The country was covered by dense jungle that made it extremely difficult for the American soldiers to find both the enemy and their way around.

What did the US do wrong in Vietnam?

Failures for the USA

The brutal tactics used by US troops often drove more Vietnamese civilians to support the Vietcong. In 1968 American soldiers, searching for Vietcong guerrillas, raided the village of My Lai, killing around 300 civilians, including children.

Why did the Communists win the war in Vietnam by 1975?

In May 1975, the Vietcong forces succeeded in reunifying Vietnam under a communist government. … The Vietnamese Communist Party won the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people and was preferred to the democratic model that the US backed South Vietnamese model tried to impress upon the country.

Is Vietnam still communist?

Government of Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a one-party state. A new state constitution was approved in April 1992, replacing the 1975 version. The central role of the Communist Party was reasserted in all organs of government, politics and society.

What were the benefits of the Vietnam War?

Vietnam War veterans are eligible for benefits that are open to all U.S. military veterans, including but not limited to disability compensation for service-connected disabilities, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and amputations; pension; health care; loans; and insurance.

Did any American soldiers stay in Vietnam after the war?

More than 40 years after the end of the Vietnam war, dozens of ageing former American soldiers have gone back to the country to live. … Others have gone back in the hope of atoning for wrongs they believe were committed during the war.

Why were Vietnam veterans often treated badly when they returned home?

Many American soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals during their time in Vietnam. Upon returning home, some of these veterans began to experience health problems that they blamed on their exposure to herbicides.

Did Kennedy get us into Vietnam?

The Kennedy Administration debated internally about introducing U.S. combat troops into South Vietnam, but Kennedy decided against ground soldiers.
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Which country started the Vietnam War?

The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was fought between communist North Vietnam, backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam, supported by the United States. The bloody conflict had its roots in French colonial rule and an independence movement driven by communist leader Ho Chi Minh.