THE TET OFFENSIVE OF 1968 IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM’S RECORDS
Main Article Content
Abstract
The Tet Offensive of 1968, also known as the General Offensive and Uprising of Tet Mau Than, was a historic event that marked a key turning point, changing the course of the war that the U.S. waged in Vietnam. This article chooses an approach to the Tet Offensive of 1968 based on the records of the Republic of Vietnam as a research direction. By employing historical and logical methods, combined with data analysis and comparison, the article aims to organize and summarize the documents issued by the Republic of Vietnam relating to the Tet Offensive of 1968. Based on the review, the article will comment on the preparation and response of the Republic of Vietnam before the 1968 Tet Offensive and Uprising of the enemy. The article also clarifies the surprise and passivity of the Republic of Vietnam as well as the disadvantages on the diplomatic aspects of the 1968 Tet.
Keywords
Republic of Vietnam, resistance against the U.S, Tet Offensive
Article Details
References
Doan, T. (1989). Viec tung ngay 1968 [Daily work 1968]. California: Xuan Thu Publisher.
Nguyen, C. K. (1990). Chung ta đa thua tran o Viet Nam nhu the nao? [How We Lost the Vietnam War?]. Hanoi: Thong tin Publisher.
Nguyen, P. D. (2009). Tai sao Mi thua o Viet Nam [Why did the US lose in Vietnam?]. Hanoi: Lao Dong Publisher.
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Vietnam National Archives II. Phieu chuyen (kin - thuong khan) so 00377/TTM/02/KTB ngay 17/02/1968 ve tong ket tinh hinh trong cuoc tong tan cong cua Viet Cong tai Biet khu Thu do chinh quyen Sai Gon, Bo Tong Tham muu Quan luc chinh quyen Sai Gon [The form sent (confidential - urgent) No.00377/TTM/02/KTB dated February 17, 1968 on the summary of the situation during the Viet Cong's general offensive in the Saigon government's Capital Special Zone, the General Staff of the Army Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16175.
Vietnam National Archives II. Cong van so 0140/QĐ3/TM/P2/I/K cua Phong 2, Bo Tham muu, Quan doan III, Quan luc Viet Nam Cong hoa ngay 5/3/1968 [Official Dispatch No. 0140/QD3/TM/P2/I/K of Division 2, General Staff, III Corps, Army of the Republic of Vietnam dated March 5, 1968]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16096.
Vietnam National Archives II. Cong van so 0140/QĐ3/TM/P2/I/K ngay 5/3/1968 cua Phong 2 Bo Tham muu Quan doan III, quan luc Viet Nam Cong hoa ve cuoc tan cong xuan Mau Than cua Viet Cong tai vung 3 chien thuat [Official Dispatch No. 0140/QD3/TM/P2/I/K dated March 5, 1968 of the 2nd Division of the General Staff of III Corps, Army of the Republic of Vietnam on the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive in the 3rd zone]. Font of the Presidential Palace of the Second Republic, File No.277.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong ket tinh hinh hang tuan tu ngay 17 den ngay 23/02/1968 so 005096/TCSQG/S1/A/K ngay 23/02/1968 cua Nha Tong giam doc Canh sat quoc gia, Bộ Noi vu chinh quyen Sai Gon [The weekly summary of the situation from February 17 to February 23, 1968, No. 005096/TCSQG/S1/A/K dated February 23, 1968 by the Director General of the National Police, Ministry of the Interior, Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.163.
Nguyen, C. K. (1990). Chung ta đa thua tran o Viet Nam nhu the nao? [How We Lost the Vietnam War?]. Hanoi: Thong tin Publisher.
Nguyen, P. D. (2009). Tai sao Mi thua o Viet Nam [Why did the US lose in Vietnam?]. Hanoi: Lao Dong Publisher.
Pham, V. S. (1968). Cuoc tong cong kich – Tong khoi nghia cua Viet cong Mau Than 1968 [General Offensive – General Uprising of the Viet Cong Mau Than 1968]. Vietnam National Archives II.
Tran, V. D. (1989). Hoi ki chanh tri - Viet Nam nhan chung [Political memoirs - Vietnam witnesses]. California: Xuan Thu Publisher.
Tran, V. T. (1982). Ket thuc cuoc chien tranh 30 nam [The end of the 30 year war]. Ho Chi Minh City: Van nghe Publisher.
Vietnam National Archives II. Bao cao Tong ket hoat đong hanh quan (mat) De Nhat tam ca nguyet (tu thang 1-3), De Nhi tam ca nguyet (tu thang 4-6), thang 11, thang 12 nam 1967 cua Trung tam Hanh quan, Bo Tong Tham muu quan luc chinh quyen Sai Gon [Operational Summary Report (confidential) of the First Quarter (January-March), Second Quarter (from April-June), November, December 1967 of the Operations Center, The General Staff of the Saigon government forces]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.15828, 15829.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban bao cao tong ket tinh hinh hang tuan tu ngay 28/10 den ngay 03/11/1967 cua Nha Tong Giam doc canh sat quoc gia chinh quyen Sai Gon [The report summarizing the weekly situation from October 28 to November 3, 1967 by the Director General of the National Police Department of the Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16044.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong ket tinh hinh hang tuan tu ngaу 04 den ngay l0/11/1967 cua Nha Tong Giam doc Canh sat quoc gia chinh quyen Sai Gon [The weekly summary of the situation from November 4 to 10, 1967 by the Director General of the National Police Department of the Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16044.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong ket tinh hinh hang tuan tu ngay 09 den ngay 15/12/1967 cua Nha Tong Giam doc canh sat quoc gia chinh quyen Sai Gon [The weekly summary of the situation from December 9 to 15, 1967 by the Director General of the National Police Department of the Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16044.
Vietnam National Archives II. Phieu gui (mat - thuong khan) so 240 QP/ST/M ngay 24/01/1968 ve Ban tom luoc tinh hinh quan su tu ngay 19 den ngay 25/01/1968 cua Bo Quoc phong chinh quyen Sai Gon [The form sent (confidential - urgent) No. 240 QP/ST/M dated January 24, 1968 on the summary of the military situation from January 19 to January 25, 1968 of the Ministry of Defense of the Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16105.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong hop tinh hinh quan su tu ngay 20 den ngay 28/02/1968 cua Bo Quoc phong chinh quyen Viet Nam Cong hoa [A summary of the military situation from February 20 to 28, 1968 of the Ministry of National Defense, government of the Republic of Vietnam]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16105.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong ket hoat dong hanh quan tu ngay 3/2 den ngay 8/3/1968 cua Trung tam Hanh quan Bo Tong Tham muu quan luc Viet Nam Cong hoa [Summary of operations from February 3 to March 8, 1968 of the Operations Center of the General Staff of the Republic of Vietnam Army]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16105.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tom luoc hoat dong trong De Nhat tam ca nguyet nam 1968 cua Bo Quoc phong chinh quyen Viet Nam Cong hoa [Summary of activities in the first quarter of 1968 of the Ministry of National Defense, government of the Republic of Vietnam]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16105.
Vietnam National Archives II. Kiem diem hoat dong cua dich (tuc quan Giai phong) tai mien Nam Viet Nam nam 1968 [Report on the activities of the enemy (the Liberation Army) in South Vietnam in 1968]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No. 16458.
Vietnam National Archives II. Bien ban tom tat buoi hop Hoi Dong Tong truong ngay 25/1/1968 (tai lieu Toi mat) [Minutes of the meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 25, 1968 (Top Secret)]. Font of the Presidential Palace of the Second Republic, File No.34.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong ket hoat dong thang 3/1968 cua Trung tam Hanh quan, Bo Tong Tham muu quan luc Viet Nam Cong hoa [A summary of activities in March 1968 of the Operations Center, General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16201.
Vietnam National Archives II. Phieu chuyen (kin - thuong khan) so 00377/TTM/02/KTB ngay 17/02/1968 ve tong ket tinh hinh trong cuoc tong tan cong cua Viet Cong tai Biet khu Thu do chinh quyen Sai Gon, Bo Tong Tham muu Quan luc chinh quyen Sai Gon [The form sent (confidential - urgent) No.00377/TTM/02/KTB dated February 17, 1968 on the summary of the situation during the Viet Cong's general offensive in the Saigon government's Capital Special Zone, the General Staff of the Army Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16175.
Vietnam National Archives II. Cong van so 0140/QĐ3/TM/P2/I/K cua Phong 2, Bo Tham muu, Quan doan III, Quan luc Viet Nam Cong hoa ngay 5/3/1968 [Official Dispatch No. 0140/QD3/TM/P2/I/K of Division 2, General Staff, III Corps, Army of the Republic of Vietnam dated March 5, 1968]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.16096.
Vietnam National Archives II. Cong van so 0140/QĐ3/TM/P2/I/K ngay 5/3/1968 cua Phong 2 Bo Tham muu Quan doan III, quan luc Viet Nam Cong hoa ve cuoc tan cong xuan Mau Than cua Viet Cong tai vung 3 chien thuat [Official Dispatch No. 0140/QD3/TM/P2/I/K dated March 5, 1968 of the 2nd Division of the General Staff of III Corps, Army of the Republic of Vietnam on the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive in the 3rd zone]. Font of the Presidential Palace of the Second Republic, File No.277.
Vietnam National Archives II. Ban tong ket tinh hinh hang tuan tu ngay 17 den ngay 23/02/1968 so 005096/TCSQG/S1/A/K ngay 23/02/1968 cua Nha Tong giam doc Canh sat quoc gia, Bộ Noi vu chinh quyen Sai Gon [The weekly summary of the situation from February 17 to February 23, 1968, No. 005096/TCSQG/S1/A/K dated February 23, 1968 by the Director General of the National Police, Ministry of the Interior, Saigon government]. Font of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, File No.163.