"South" Vietnam

The Domino Effect and the Cu Chi Tunnels...

40,934 Killed in Action / 5,299 Died of Wounds / 1,085 Missing in Action / 116 Captured, Declared Dead / 10,786 Non-Hostile Deaths /58,228; Total Deaths in Theater…

153,303 Wounded …

7% of females and 11% of males diagnosed with PTSD …

300,000 US Troops and 400,000 Vietnamese troops and civilians died due to exposure to Agent Orange.

Our Vietnamese guide near the 29 April 1975 evacuation site from 22 Gialong Street.

Domino Effect

If you are as old as me or have studied 20th Century American history you have heard of the Domino Effect.

The “domino effect” appears to mean that when one nation falls to communism the impact is such as to weaken the resistance of other countries and facilitate, if not cause, their fall to communism. Most literally taken, it would imply the successive and speedy collapse of neighboring countries, as a row of dominoes falls when the first is toppled—we presume that this degree of literalness is not essential to the concept. Most specifically it means that the loss of South Vietnam and Laos would lead almost inevitably to the communization of other states in the area, and perhaps beyond the area. — Office of the Historian 6/1964, US Govt.

As I was researching the Domino Effect, I found point # 2 (the one immediately following point #1, above) most interesting:

We do not believe that the loss of South Vietnam and Laos would be followed by the rapid, successive communization of the other states of the Far East … With the possible exception of Cambodia, it is likely that no nation in the area would quickly succumb to communism as a result of the fall of Laos and South Vietnam. Furthermore, a continuation of the spread of communism in the area would not be inexorable and any spread which did occur would take time—time in which the total situation might change in any of a number of ways unfavorable to the Communist cause. — Office of the Historian 6/1964, US Govt.

Okay, I was in high school and college, and as a female, I did not have to worry about the draft … perhaps I wasn’t paying close attention. But somehow, I don’t remember anyone in government emphasizing point #2. Do you?

As it turns out, there are only five communist countries in the world: China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea. Communism has been in China since 1949, Cuba since 1959, North Korea since 1949, and Laos’ communist struggles began in 1959. So like WMDs in Iraq … it seems we got this one wrong.¹

A fairly petite woman accessing the tunnels.

Cu Chi Tunnels

If you visit what we once called South Vietnam you will have the opportunity to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.² The Ben Duoc Tunnel is approximately a 90-minute drive outside of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Designated as a National Monument since 1979, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a major tourist attraction. Expect large crowds unless you go on a summer afternoon.

While I had some recollection of the Viet Cong utilizing tunnels during the war, I learned:

1. Openings to the tunnel were about the size of a placemat. While the Vietnamese are pretty small people, during the war, they were also extremely malnourished. The average ration was 1 bowl of rice every third day.

   

   Kitchen smoke escapes from the tunnel below.

2. The tunnel system had three levels, at 3, 6, and 12 meters below ground. It was not only a place to hide or shelter during the bombing but included communication centers, field hospitals, food storage, kitchens, etc. As luck would have it, the earth in this area is extremely hard clay, allowing multi-level tunnels to be built without reinforcement.

   

3. Tunnels were dug by hand, and you needed to find someplace to hide the dirt. The dirt formed fake termite mounds, camouflaging small air holes.

4. The tunnel system was constructed by first digging shafts down approximately 3 meters. To connect the shafts a zigzag tunnel was dug. This increased the likelihood of intersecting with another “shaft”, and also offered a strategic advantage. Should enemy combatants enter the tunnel system, they could be more easily killed.

5. Sections of the tunnels have been expanded to allow “western” visitors access.³

   

6. A variety of traps based on animal traps were also constructed in this area. The goal was to injure a soldier as they knew that American and Allied soldiers would attempt to evacuate the injured. Instead of killing one soldier, you effectively took 3 or 4 out of combat.⁴

While in Ho Chi Minh City, we also visited the Central Post Office (built by Gustave Eiffel), the Reunification Palace⁵, the Ben Thanh Market, and the Museum of Fine Arts. While we spent two lovely hours in the art museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels were the most memorable part of our visit to Ho Chi Minh City.⁶

Na próxima semana, o maravilhoso Angkor Wat, Até lá fica bem

Nanc

1. When I read back what I have written, I find the “we” and realize that I am still an American deep in my soul.

2. If you suffer from any trauma related to wartime or gunfire sounds, I suggest you not go. There is a firing range beside the tunnel complex. For a small fee, you can fire rifles (including automatic weapons). The sound of gunfire as you walk through the jungle is quite disturbing. On a sad note, the rifles are now fixed in place, allowing very little movement. Our guide told us that a tourist once used this facility to commit suicide. After the incident, the rifles were permanently attached to the bench.

3. I am 5’3” and 125 pounds. It was tight traversing the 15-meter section of the tunnel I accessed.

4. Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines also sent soldiers to Vietnam.

5. A complete waste of American taxpayer dollars.

6. Ho Chi Minh City’s Notre Dame Cathedral was being restored during our visit. It is expected to reopen in 2027.