Viet Cong facts for kids
The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF) was a group of fighters in South Vietnam. They were also known as the Viet Cong (Việt Cộng). People often called them V.C. or even Charlie. This group fought against the government of South Vietnam and the United States during the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
The Viet Cong were made up of people from both South and North Vietnam. They used a fighting style called guerrilla warfare. This included surprise attacks, ambushes, and sometimes bombings. The group is well-known for a big attack in February 1968 called the Tet Offensive. During this attack, they launched assaults on many cities in South Vietnam. The Viet Cong worked closely with the government of North Vietnam. North Vietnam eventually took control of South Vietnam in 1975.
The NLF's fight was partly a response to the actions of the South Vietnamese government. This government was supported by the United States. The NLF believed they were waiting for elections that were promised in 1954.
Images for kids
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Soldiers and civilians took supplies south on the Ho Chi Minh trail (1959)
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Situation of the Communist forces in South Vietnam in early 1964
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U.S. Air Force Douglas A-1 Skyraider drops a white phosphorus bomb on a Viet Cong position in South Vietnam in 1966.
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Viet Cong soldier stands beneath a Viet Cong flag carrying his AK-47 rifle.
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General Hoàng Văn Thái, a Viet Cong leader during the time the U.S. army was involved in the Vietnam War (1967-1973). He was a main leader of the Tet Offensive. From 1973 to 1975, he helped plan the fall of Saigon in 1975.
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Viet Cong soldiers carry an injured American POW to a prisoner swap in 1972. The VC uniform was a floppy jungle hat, rubber sandals, and green fatigues without rank or insignia.
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The alleged 1966 martyrdom of Viet Cong soldier Nguyễn Văn Bé is much celebrated in Vietnam, even though he later turned up alive.
See also
In Spanish: Frente Nacional de Liberación de Vietnam para niños
