GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM LOSS OF POPULAR CONFIDECOE FOLLOWING VIET CONG TET OFFENSIVE IN PHU VINH CITY, CAPITAL OF VINH BINH PROVINCE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06786725
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: March 11, 1968

Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06786725
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This material contains information affecting the NaUonal Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C.
Secs. 793 and 794. the transmissionor revelation of which la any manner to an unauthorised person is prohibited by law.
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THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT. NOT FINALLY EVALUATED iNacLUGENCE.
inNEDENT476
; COUNTRY
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SOUTH VIETNAM
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DOI 30 JANUARY - 29 FEBRUARY 1,..6S-�
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DIST 12 KARCH 1968
:GOVERNMENT CF VIETNAM :1:0SS-,'Or POPULAR CONFIDECOE
FOLLOWING ,VIET. CONG. TET OFFENSIVE IN PHU VINH CITY,
AC Q
SOURCE
CAPITAL OF VINH BINH PROVINCE
3.5(4
3.3(h)(2)
1. THE VIET .CONG /VC/ LUNAR NEW YEAR ATTACK ON PHU VINH CITY,
. ��
CAPITAL OF VINH. B iNH PROVINCE, OVERRAN THE CITY SO QUICKLY THAT
THE PEOPLE HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT OF
VIETNAM /GVN-/ AND NOW SPEAK OF A PROBABLE VC VICTORY AGAINST THE
GVN .
. 2. IN CONTRAST TO: THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE GVN THE
PEOPLE PRAISED r THE DEFENSE CONDUCTED BY THE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
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3.5(c)
OFVIETNAtI illiVN/.GARRISON, WHICH -OFFERED THE ONLY ORGANIZED
'RESIS/ANCE TO VC' IN THEATTACIC.A MAJOR PART OF THE POLICE
FORCE WAS WIPED OUT. BY THE INITIAL VC ATTACK IN WHICH THEY TOOK
OVER THE MAIN STREET INTERSECTIONS TIROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE
PROVINCE CHIEF FLED HIS POST EARLY IN THE
BATTLE AND WAS NOT SEEN AGAIN ;WHICH LEFT THE DEFENDING FORCES
WITHOUT AN 'OVERALL .COMMANDER � THE 'POLICE' STATION WAS QUICKLY
� .�
,OVERRUN AND BY DAWN ON 30 JANUARY THE VC tiERE EFFECTIVELY IN
CONTROL OF'THE CITY.
COMPOUND WHICH THE
THAT THE VC HEAVILY
�
THE .ONLi:Pi.ACE WHICH HELD OUT WAS THE AR VN
VC WERE UNABLE: T.O. , CAPTURE DESPITE THE FACT
OUT NUMBERED THE'AR VN SOLDIERS. THE
. .
PEOPLE CREDITED THE -CONTINUOUS ARVN .DEFENSE'WITH PREVENTING THE
2. -
VC FROM EXECUTING MORE THAN*A FEW DOZEN PERSONS:
3 THE VC DRAMATIZED THEIR DEFEAT OF THE. GVN WITH THEIR
TAKEOVER OF�T HE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES THE MORNING OF
30 JANUARY. THEY FOR CED A LAR GE PART OF THE POPULACE TO
ASSEMBLE BEFORE THE ADMINISTRAT/ON BUILD/NG TO WITNESS THE VC
TAKEOVER OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVINCE AND TOLD THE PEOPLE
THAT TOTAL "LIBERATION" OF THE COUNTRY WAS A CERTAINTY
WITHIN A SHORT TIME. AT THIS TIME IT WAS NOTED THAT MANY OF THE
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3.5(c)
CADRES .SPOKE CAMBODIAN. IT WASsNOT ..UNTIL TWO DAYS LATER
3.3(h).(2)
3.5(c
COMBAT
IT WAS
VN- FORCES REENTERED THE CITY,AND IT REQUIRED 18 DAYS OF
5 4
TO REMOVE THE LAST VC PRESENCE FROM THE CITY, DURING WHICH
BADLY DAMAGED BY ARTILLERYAND AER IAL BOMBARDMENT.
. BY.THE END OF FEBRUARY POPULAR MORALE WAS ST ILL EXTREMELY
LOW'�' THE PEOPLE FEAR ED ANOTHER VC"ATTACK AND DOUBTED THE GVN 'S .
t�y"
ABILITYTO DEFEND THEM. LOCAL- GVN ;ADMINISTRATION WAS STILL DIS�
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CRGANIZED NO ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF LOCAL DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES HAD
BEEN MADE, AND NO EFFORT TO CLEAR AWAY THE DEBRIS OR TO REASSURE
THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN ATTEMPTED
DOUBTED
RESTORE POPULAR
THAT ANYfHING THE.
CONFIDENCE
COMMENT--
GVN MIGHT SAY OR DO COULD
:THE' GYN./
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3.3(h)(2)
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