Vietnam War: Application of Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” by Viet Cong

Abstract

The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The conflict was intensified by the ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. 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. Opposition to the war in the United States bitterly divided Americans, even after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973. Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975. When considering about two main reason for defeat of U.S and victory of Vietnam, Sometimes reason is North Vietnam Viet Cong’s military strategy is strong or U.S military strategy is week or it can be a result of these both incidents. When explaining the different situation of the Sun Tzu and Vietnam War it shows many similarities. This thesis reviews the hidden factors what are the strategies used by Viet Cong guerillas to achieve their military objectives. What are the strategies followed by Viet Cong learn from the Sun Tzu’s Art of War to achieve their military objectives. The methodology of study includes quantitative data including a content analysis. It’s a case study and this paper concludes that how Vietcong applied Sun Tzu’s Art of war in Vietnam War and outcome of it.