THE REAL

CAUSES OF
THE VIETNAM
WAR WHICH
LASTED FROM
1945 TO 1975
By Wayne M Worrell, BA, MA © 2019
The assassinations of the southern leader in Saigon by his generals “Ngo Dinh Diem“ on the 2nd November 1963 which
was backed by the CIA, then the U.S president John F Kennedy on the 22nd November 1963 which opened the path to a
longer and unnecessary war, later Robert F Kennedy who believed in his brother’s beliefs that all American troops
should be pulled out of Vietnam was himself assassinated on the 6th of June 1968 whilst running for U.S president.

The causes of the Vietnam War were derived from the symptoms, components and consequences of the Cold War. The
causes of the Vietnam War revolve around the simple belief held by America that communism was threatening to
expand all over south-east Asia.

Neither the Soviet Union nor the United States could risk an all-out war against each other, such was the nuclear military
might of both. However, when it suited both, they had client states that could carry on the fight for them. In Vietnam,
the Americans actually fought – therefore in the Cold War ‘game’, the USSR could not. However, to support the
Communist cause, the Soviet Union armed its fellow Communist state, China, who would, in turn, arm and equip the
North Vietnamese who fought the Americans.

Vietnam before World War Two

Before World War Two, Vietnam had been part of the French Empire. During the war, the country had been overrun by
the Japanese. When the Japanese retreated, then on the 2nd of September, 1945, the people of Vietnam took the
opportunity to establish their own government lead by Ho Chi Minh. However, after the end of the war, the Allies gave
back South Vietnam to the French while the north was left in the hands of the non-communist Chinese. The Nationalist
Chinese treated the North Vietnamese very badly and support for Ho Chi Minh grew. He had been removed from power
at the end of the war. The Chinese pulled out of North Vietnam in 1946 and the party of Ho Chi Minh took over – the
Viet Minh.

Vietnam after World War Two

In October 1946, the French announced their intention of reclaiming the north which meant that the Viet Minh would
have to fight for it. The war started in November 1946, when the French bombarded the port of Haiphong and killed
6,000 people. The French tried to win over the people of the north by offering them ‘independence’. However, the
people would not be allowed to do anything without French permission. A new leader of the country was appointed
called Bao Dai. The Russians and Eastern Europe refused to recognise his rule. They claimed that Ho Chi Minh was the
real ruler of Vietnam.

The French had got themselves into a difficult military position. Despite huge American help, the French could not cope
with the Viet Minh’s guerrilla tactics. The Viet Minh were by now receiving help from Communist China – Mao Zedong
had taken power of China in 1949. The fact that two opposing sides had developed was classic Cold War history. The
country was meant to be ruled by Bao Dai who was supported by the west. Ho Chi Minh was supported by the Russians,
Chinese and Eastern Europe – all communist.

In November 1953, the French sent men from their crack Parachute Regiment to Vietnam. It was naturally assumed by
the French that this unit would defeat the untrained Viet Minh guerrillas. They were sent to Dien Bien Phu in the north.
In May 1954, the regiment was attacked by the North Vietnamese and surrendered, which came as a terrible blow to the
French people. The French pulled out of Vietnam in the same month.

Vietnam divides into North and South

In April 1954, the world’s powers had met at Geneva to discuss Vietnam. In July 1954, it was decided to divide the
country in two at the 17th parallel. Bao Dai was to lead the south and Ho Chi Minh the north. The meeting also decided
that in 1956, there would be an election in both the north and south to decide who would rule the whole country. The
election would be supervised by neutral countries. This election did not take place and the split had become permanent
by 1956.

By Wayne M Worrell, BA, MA © 2019

North Vietnam had a population of 16 million. It was an agricultural nation. The Viet Minh trained guerrillas to go to the
south to spread the word of communism. Their weapons mostly came from communist China. To the surprise of the
South Vietnamese, those Viet Minh who went to the south helped them on their farms and did not abuse them. They
had become used to fearing soldiers. Instead, the Viet Minh were courteous and helpful.

South Vietnam also had a population of 16 million. Its first proper leader was Ngo Dinh Diem who was a fanatical
Catholic. As communism hated religion, Diem hated all that communism stood for. This is why he got America’s support
– he had a poor record on human rights but his rule was in the era of the “Domino Theory” and anybody who was anti-
communist in the Far East was likely to receive American backing – regardless of their less than savory background. Ngo
ruled as a dictator along with his brother – Nhu. Their government was corrupt and brutal but it was also backed by
America.

After the non-election of 1956, the Viet Minh became more active militarily. Their guerrillas – now called the Viet Cong –
attacked soft targets in the south. They used the Ho Chi Minh Trail which was a 1000 mile trail along the border with
Laos with heavy jungle coverage so that detection from the air was very difficult. The Viet Cong were trained by their
commander Giap who learned from the tactics used by the Chinese communists in their fight against the Nationalist
Chinese forces. He expected his troops to fight and to help those in the south. He introduced a “hearts and minds” policy
long before the Americans got militarily involved in Vietnam.

From 1950 to 1965 America had over 23.000 military advisors in Vietnam and in 1950 gave $10 million of military
equipment to support French legionnaires in their effort to combat Viet Minh forces. By 1953 the amount of U.S.
military aid had jumped to over $350 million and by 1965 this had jumped to a staggering $12 billion.

In Geneva in 1954 world powers came together and signed the “Geneva Accords” on 20 July 1954, dividing Vietnam into
north and south at the 17th parallel and establishing a 6 mile wide DMZ. Ho Chi Minh's Communist government
controlled the north, while a U.S. sponsored Bao Dai government ruled in the south.

Next from across the world in Cuba came “the cold war” between Russia and the USA.

Russia had placed missiles in Cuba to protect the country from another attempted invasion from the USA, then between
the 17th and 20th April 1961. American CIA led an attempted coup known as "The bay of the pigs"

By October of 1963 John F Kennedy’s feelings about Vietnam went far beyond mere qualms: he had already reached a
decision and had acted on it. In a “national security action memorandum 263”, dated the 11th of October 1963,
John F Kennedy articulated his decision to withdraw all US military forces from Vietnam by the end of 1965 — with the
withdrawal to be completed after the 1964 election. This was the formal policy of the United States government on the
day he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on the 22nd of November 1963.

After his assassination (Which is strongly believed by many was due to the 10’s of billions of dollars being paid to military
contractors to keep the war going)

“Economic Cost to the American tax payers”.

The Department of Defense (DOD) reports that the United States spent about $168 billion (worth around $1.2 trillion in
2018) in the entire war including $111 billion on military operations (1965 – 1972) and $28.5 billion on economic and
military aid to Saigon regime (1953 – 1975). At that rate, the United States spent approximately $168,000 for an
“enemy” killed. However, $168 billion was only the direct cost. According to Indochina Newsletter of Asia Resource
Center, the United States spent from $350 billion to $900 billion (worth around $2.5 trillion to $6.43 trillion in 2018) in
total including veterans’ benefits and interest.

America then stepped up its actions in Asia as they saw themselves as the peacekeepers of the world and the number 1
super power and on the 8th March 1965 the first U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam as 3500 Marines landed at

By Wayne M Worrell, BA, MA © 2019

China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang. They joined over 23,000 American military advisors already in
Vietnam.

Then in 1968 John F Kennedy’s brother Robert F Kennedy was running for president of the U.S to fulfill his brother’s
pledge to pull out all American troops from Vietnam when he was also assassinated as people knew the country would
back him, and with him silenced the war continued for another 7 years.

Ho Chi Minh is constantly blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million people but millions of people around the world have
asked these next questions:

What if France had left Vietnam alone?

What if the U.S and CIA had not backed South Vietnam?
What if John F Kennedy’s pledge had been followed through?
What if Robert F Kennedy had become president of the USA?

If these if’s had been replaced, how many people would have died and how long would the war have really lasted for?
We will never know, we can only surmise.

By Wayne M Worrell, BA, MA © 2019