Quá trình đấu tranh giữ gìn và xây dựng lực lượng cách mạng, tiến tới đồng khởi ở nam bộ (1954 1960) tt tiếng anh

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY
OF EDUCATION
Wor
--------------------------

THAI VAN THO

THE PROCESS OF STRUGGLING TO PRESERVE AND BUILD REVOLUTIONARY
FORCES TOWARD DONG KHOI IN THE NAM BO (1954 - 1960)

Major: History of Vietnam
Code: 62 22 03 13

THE SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS ON HISTORY OF VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh City, 2020


THE THESIS WAS COMPLETED AT
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

The scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Son Dai

Reviewer 1: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Long - Vietnam Military History Institute
Reviewer 2: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thuan - The University of Social Sciences and Humanities Vietnam
National University Ho Chi Minh City
Reviewer 3: Dr. Le Van Dat - Ho Chi Minh City University of Education

The thesis will be protected at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Council
at………… hours ……… .date ……… .month ……… 2020

The thesis can be found at the library:
- National Library of Vietnam
- Library of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education
- General Science Library of Ho Chi Minh City


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The lessons that the army and people of the Nam Bo created during the process of
struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi in the years
1954 - 1960.
3.2. Scope of research
In time, the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces, toward
Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo from 1954 to 1960.
In terms of space, which was the Nam Bo region in the administrative boundary at
the time and the provinces in the Nam Bo at the present.
4. Rationale and research methods
4.1. Rationale
Thesis was based on the basic viewpoints of Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh
Thought; views, policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the revolutionary war
and the people's war.
4.2. Research Methods
During the research process, we use the method of historical and logical method is
mainly:
Historical method, to revitalize basically and vigorously the process of vigorous
struggle to preserve, build and develop the revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi in

the Nam Bo in the period 1954 - 1960 based on the documents history published.
Logical method, conduct analysis and evaluation of the requirements and urgent
tasks of the revolution in Nam Bo before the urgent demands at that time; analyzes
creative and unique ways of fighting of the army and people of the Nam Bo; the results
of the process of struggling to preserve and build the revolutionary forces, toward Dong
Khoi in the years 1954 - 1960. At the same time, also analyzed the characteristics, roles,
limitations and lessons of the army and people of the Nam Bo in practical revolutionary
struggle in the period 1954 - 1960.
In addition, we also use a combination of other research methods such as analysis,
evaluation materials, etc to implement the thesis with depth and generalization of the
research problem.
5. Research resources
Published sources, including documents of the Communist Party of Vietnam, works
of President Ho Chi Minh, leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam; the memoirs of
politicians who led and directed in the Anti-American Resistance for National Salvation
in the early years in the Nam Bo; published domestic and foreign research works and
articles published in newspapers, magazines, etc related to the Vietnam war in general
on the Anti-American Resistance for National Salvation of the people in the Nam Bo
provinces, in particular.
Sources of archives, including reports, summaries, resolutions, official letters,
directives, etc. Party committees, authorities, and revolutionary organizations being
archived at the Provincial Archives Center, Propaganda Department of the Provincial
Party Committee, Military Command, Museums of provinces in the Nam Bo; Libraries


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of universities, Institutes in the Nam Bo region, Information and Documentation
Department of the Vietnam Military History Institute and the Party Central Office
Archive Office, Military Science Division Military Zone 7, Department of Science

Military Studies Military Zone 9 and resources from the U.S agencies and the Saigon
government archived at the Vietnam National Archives Center, Ho Chi Minh City, etc.
6. The contributions of the thesis
The thesis presents and analyzes the historical context and causes leading to the
need to carry out the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces
toward Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo (the Eastern and Western Nam Bo at the present) in
the period 1954 - 1960. Restoring basically and vividly the process of struggling of the
army and people of the Nam Bo to preserve and build revolutionary forces, toward
Dong Khoi in the period 1954 - 1960.
The thesis analyzes and shows clearly diverse struggle activities, creative and
unique ways of struggling which were used by the army and people of the Nam Bo in
the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi
in the locality (1954 - 1960).
The thesis contributes to the explanations why Dong Khoi movement broke out
strongly in the Nam Bo, achieved more resounding victories than other localities of
South Vietnam and it is considered the hometown of Dong Khoi movement throughout
South Vietnam.
The thesis presents and analyzes clearly the characteristics, roles, limitations and
lessons learned in the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces,
toward Dong Khoi of the army and people of the Nam Bo region in the period 1954 1960.
The thesis provides and introduces a large number of documents that can be used
for reference, research or teaching local history of Nam Bo region. At the same time, it
also added a scientific document to serve the study and historical research related to the
process of revolutionary struggle in the Nam Bo in the period 1954 - 1960.
7. Structure of thesis
In addition to the introduction, references, appendices, and content of the thesis
include 4 chapters:
Chapter 1: Overview of research related to the thesic topic
Chapter 2: The people of the Nam Bo struggling to preserve and build revolutionary
forces in the years 1954 - 1959

Chapter 3: Development of revolutionary forces toward Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo
(1959 - 1960)
Chapter 4: Some remarks and evaluation of the process of struggling to preserve
and build revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo (1954 - 1960)


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Chapter 1
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH RELATED TO THE THESIC TOPIC
1.1. Concepts used in the thesis
1.1.1. Revolutionary forces
The revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo in the early stages of the Anti-American
Resistance (1954 - 1960) includes the political forces of the masses with the people's
armed forces of revolution. In the political force, there exists the development and mass
organization of mass organizations such as the youth, the farms, the patriarchs, the
women, the children, the forces of the religion, the parties, etc and the base, a secret
revolutionary organization operating in the locality. Revolutionary armed forces
including regular army, local army, guerrilla militia exist and develop in many different
forms and it was originally formed from anti-robbery teams, anti-robbery guards,
separatist armed forces, propaganda armed forces, etc then, it was strengthened, built
and developed on a large scale by the Nam Bo Regional Committee to meet practical
requirements of the revolutionary struggle.
1.1.2. The struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces
The concept of “the struggling to preserve and build the revolutionary forces”
presented in this thesis is the process of struggling of the army and people of the Nam
Bo to preserve revolutionary forces that were previously arranged by the revolution
after the Geneva Accords, 1954 (including organizations, locality Party, associations,
mass organizations and even revolutionary cadres, party members, etc) as well as the
process of rebuilding and developing revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo to suit the

situation of new revolutionary struggle. The process of struggling to preserve and build
the revolutionary forces took place in the period from the last months of 1954 to the end
of 1960 in the whole Nam Bo region.


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1.1.3. The Dong Khoi
The Dong Khoi was the process of the army and people of South Vietnam in
general and in the Nam Bo in particular from 1959 to 1960 “simultaneously uprising”
struggling for the government, to attack directly on the dominant grip system of the
Saigon government at the local level is strongly, continuous, widespread, experiencing
many waves, the spirit of vigorous struggle and achieves great victories, control in most
of the rural areas, making the army and the Saigon government at the local wobbly,
numbness.
1.2. History of problem research
1.2.1. Group general scientific works on the Anti-American Resistance for national
salvation of the people of Vietnam
1.2.1.1. The research works of foreign authors
The Anti-American Resistance for national salvation of the people of Vietnam
(1954 - 1975) was interested by many foreign researchers to research, and published in
many valuable scientific works and typical scientific works such as Viet Cong, The
organization and techniques of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam by
Douglas Eugene Pike was Publisher Massachusetts Institute of Technology published in
1966; The Two Vietnams: A Political and Military analysis by Bernard B. Fall published
by Westview Press, 1984; The U.S government and the Vietnam war, part I, 1945 - 1961
published by the US Government Office, 1984 in Washington; Ronald H. Spector's
Advice and Support, published, 1985; Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon
papers by Daniel Ellsberg published by National Political Publishing House, 1985;
Vietnam: A history by Stanley Karnow was published by Penguin Books, 1997; Robert

Strange McNamara. (1995). In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam
published by Random House Publishing House; Anatomy of a war by Gabrien Kolko,
translated by Nguyen Tan Cuu, was published by the People's Army Publishing House,
2003; Vietnam Declassified: The CIA and Counterinsurgency of Thomas L. Ahern Jr
was published by the University of Kentucky Press, 2010; Hanoi's road to the Vietnam
war, 1954-1965 by Pierre Asselin was published in 2013 by the University of California
Press; Misalliance: Ngo Dinh Diem, the United States, and the Fate of South Vietnam
by Edward Miller published by the National Political Publishing House - Truth, Hanoi,
2016, etc.
1.2.1.2. The research works of domestic authors
Research works, articles and summaries of the anti-American resistance for national
salvation of the people of Vietnam have been published by many domestic researchers
over the past time including outstanding works such as those of authors Cao Van Luong,
Bui Dinh Thanh, Nguyen Cong Binh, Bui Huu Khanh and Hoang Luong. (1962). Eight
years of heroic and arduous struggle of the people of South Vietnam. Institute of
History; the works, the in-depth analysis of the struggle against America of the people


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of South Vietnam are typical of the research works of professor Tran Van Giau. (1964).
South Vietnam kept strongly resilience, 5 episodes. Social Sciences Publishing House,
Hanoi; Bui Dinh Thanh. (1964). The struggling to liberate South Vietnam with a
combination of political struggle and armed struggle. Journal of Historical Studies, No.
64; M.N. (Tran Van Giau). (1966). Three front attack in people's the anti-American
resistance and henchmen in South Vietnam. Journal of Historical Studies, No. 86;
memoir No other way by Nguyen Thi Dinh (Women's Publishing House, 1969); To
Minh Trung. (1969). The first flag of the Dong Khoi movement in the whole South
Vietnam. Journal of Historical Studies, No. 118; Quynh Cư. (1980). Research about
“political forces” of the masses in South Vietnam revolution (1954 - 1975). Journal of

Historical Studies, No. 3; author groups of Cao Van Luong, Pham Quang Toan and
Quynh Cu. (1981). Research about the Dong Khoi movement in South Vietnam. Social
Science Publishing House, Hanoi; Nguyen Thi Đinh. (1985). Political struggle - A
basic form of struggle, a sharp offensive advance of the revolution and the
revolutionary war of South Vietnam. Journal of Social Science Information, No. 29; Cao
Van Luong. (1991). Revolutionary history of South Vietnam in the period 1954 - 1960.
Social Science Publishing House, Hanoi; Many authors. (1993). Under a common flag.
National Political Publishing House; The Steering Committee Summary of War under
the Politburo. (1995). Summary of the anti-American resistance for national salvation:
Victory and lessons. National Political Publishing House, Hanoi; Cao Van Luong.
(1995). Vietnamese History, 1954 - 1965. Social Science Publishing House, Hanoi; Tran
Van Tra. (2005). Ending the war 30 years. People's Army Publishing House; Tran Trong
Trung. (2005). The White House with the war of invading in Vietnam. National Political
Publishing House; Le Hong Linh. (2006). Wonderful the Dong Khoi in South Vietnam,
1959 - 1960. Danang Publishing House; Many authors. (2012). South Vietnam - 21
years of the anti-American resistance. Political Publishing House - Administration;
Vietnam Institute of Military History. (2013). History of the Anti-American Resistance
for National Salvation (1954 - 1975). National Political Publishing House - Truth,
Hanoi, etc.
1.2.2. The group of scientific works on the Anti-American Resistance in the Nam Bo
Relevant research works and articles on the Anti-American Resistance in the Nam
Bo localities have been published quite extensively, such as Viet Hong's author. (1974).
Overview of the armed struggle and armed forces in the Nam Bo before the Dong Khoi
(1959 - 1960). Journal of Historical Studies, No. 155; Le Quoc San. (1991). Miraculous
fighting. People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi; Vo Tran Nha. (1993). History of
Plain of Reeds. Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House; Command of Military Zone 9.
(1996). Military Zone 9 thirty years of resistance (1945 - 1975). People's Army
Publishing House; Steering Committee of historic the anti-American resistance of Zone
8 - Central Nam Bo. (1997). The Central Nam Bo plain the Anti-American Resistance
for National Salvation, episode 1; Command of Military Zone 9. (1998). Military Zone

8 thirty years of resistance (1945 - 1975). People's Army Publishing House; Steering


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Committee and Traditional Editorial Department of Western Nam Bo. (2000). Thirty
years of Western Nam Bo resistance (1945 - 1975); Propaganda Department of Tien
Giang Provincial Party Committee. (2003). Propagation Zone 8 - Central Nam Bo
(1959 - 1975), 2 volumes; Eastern Nam Bo Regional History Compilation Council.
(2003). History of the Eastern Nam Bo Party Committee led the Anti-French
colonialism Resistance and American imperialism (1945 - 1975). National Political
Publishing House; Military Zone 7. (2005). 60 years of armed forces military zone 7
(1945 - 2005); The history of Resistance of women in the Nam Bo was published by the
National Political Publishing House, 2006; In 2008, The history of the Western Nam Bo
Resistance, volumes 1 and 2, published by the National Political Publishing House; Ho
Son Dai. (2008). The Resistance (1945 - 1975) - viewed from the Nam Bo. National
Political Publishing House; Ha Minh Hong. (2008). The Nam Bo region (1945 - 1975):
Perspectives from the history of the Vietnam revolutionary war; Steering Committee for
Editing History of the Nam Bo resistance. (2010). History of the Nam Bo Resistance
(1954 - 1975), volume 2. National Political Publishing House; Institute of Police
History. (2010). Security history of Zone 8 - Central Nam Bo in the Anti-American
Resistance (1954 - 1975); Nguyen Quy. (2015). History of the Nam Bo Regional
Committee and the Central Office for South Vietnam (1954 - 1975). National Political
Publishing House - Truth, etc.
1.2.3. The group of scientific work directly referring to operations struggle to
preserve and build revolutionary forces and the Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo
The research works and articles directly related to the struggling to preserve and
build forces and Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo including typical works and articles of
agencies and authors, such as Quynh Cu. (1985). The Dong Khoi in Ben Tre. Ho Chi
Minh City Publishing House; Military Headquarters of Tien Giang province. (1988).

Thirty years of resistance of the army and people of Tien Giang; Military Headquarters
of Dong Thap province. (1990). Thirty years of resistance of the army and people of
Dong Thap (1945 - 1975); Long An Provincial Party Committee. (1993). History of
Kien Tuong the Anti-American Resistance for National Salvation (1954 - 1975); Tran
Hai Phung and Luu Phuong Thanh. (1994). History of Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh
Resistance (1945 - 1975). Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House; In 1994, Long An
Provincial Party Committee directed the compilation of History of Long An the AntiAmerican Resistance for National Salvation (1954 - 1975); Le Minh Dao. (1998). On
the plain battle, memoirs; In 1999, the People's Army Publishing House published The
armed forces of Vinh Long province for 30 years of Resistance (1945 - 1975); Nguyen
Minh Duong. (2000). Looking back, end of life. Propaganda Department of Tien Giang
Provincial Party Committee published; The armed forces of Tay Ninh province (1954 1975), Department of Military History and Science of Tay Ninh Province was
published, 2001; Trinh Thi Hong Hanh. (2010). Political struggle in the Anti-American
Resistance for National Salvation. Journal of Party History, No. 6; Ho Son Dai. (2010).
History of the people's armed forces of Binh Duong province (1945 - 2005). Ho Chi


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Minh City General Publishing House; In 2010, the People's Army Publishing House in
Hanoi published History of the armed forces of Military Zone 7 (1945 - 2010);
Command of Military Zone 9. (2011). History of U Minh base - 30 Resistance (1945 1975). People's Army Publishing House; Lam Quang Lang. (2012). The Dong Khoi
movement in An Giang. National Political Publishing House - Truth, Hanoi; History of
the armed forces of Ho Chi Minh City (1945 - 2015) published by People's Army
Publishing House, 2016; Doctoral thesis The process of construction and operation of
revolutionary armed forces in South Vietnam from 1954 to 1965, by Le Dinh Hung
(Academy of Social Sciences, 2016), etc.
1.3. Contents of inheritance and issues posed for the thesis
1.3.1. General comments on the research situation related to the thesis
The documents and research works have been published in various forms from
books, memoirs, theses, and researches to domestic and foreign articles and magazines,

contents on the process of struggling to preserve and build the revolutionary forces in
the Nam Bo in the basic general form. The undertakings, comments, policies and
struggling ways of the Vietnam revolution in the period 1954 - 1960, were synthesized
and published quite fully through Party documents. In addition, official dispatches,
official messages, directing the war and the guidelines of anti-Communist struggle of
the Saigon government were also announced, making an important contribution to help
us carry out the implementation the thesis has depth, multidimensional, objective and
general of research object.
1.3.2. The content of inherited thesis
The published scientific documents and arguments, issues on policies and ways of
struggle of the Vietnam Workers Party to directing in the struggling to preserve and
build the revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1960, we consulted,
selectively inherited to carry out the thesis with depth and analyzed the most objective
and full research object.
1.3.3. Thesis issues need to be solved
On the basis of acquiring and inheriting published studies, the thesis continues to
analyze in depth and explanations to clarify the following issues:
- The thesis presents and analyzes in depth the historical context, the causes lead to
the requirements and tasks to carry out the process of the struggling to preserve and
build the revolutionary force, toward Dong Khoi in the Nam Bo (1954 - 1960).
- The restoring fully and honestly the process of struggling to preserve and build the
revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi of the army and people of the Nam Bo in the
years 1954 - 1960 in the locality.
- The analyzes the diverse, creative and unique ways of struggling of the Nam Bo


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army and people in the process of struggling to preserve and build the revolutionary
force, toward Dong Khoi in the period 1954 - 1960.

- The explanations why the Dong Khoi movement broke out strongly in the Nam
Bo, achieved more resounding victories than other localities of South Vietnam and it is
considered the hometown of the Dong Khoi movement throughout South Vietnam.
- The analyzes the important, impact and influence of the Dong Khoi movement in
the Nam Bo to South Vietnam’s localities.
- The analysis of characteristics, roles, results, limitations and lessons in the process
of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi of the army
and people of the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1960.

Chapter 2
THE PEOPLE OF THE NAM BO STRUGGLING TO PRESERVE AND
BUILD REVOLUTIONARY FORCES IN THE YEARS 1954 - 1959

2.1. Conspiracies and activities of the U.S - Diem and the situation of revolutionary
forces in the Nam Bo after the Geneva Accords, 1954
2.1.1. Historical context and conspiracy, the activity of the U.S - Diem
2.1.1.1. Historical context
After the Geneva Accords, 1954, the situation in the Nam Bo had many changes.
With the support of the U.S government, Ngo Dinh Diem was appointed Prime Minister
of the National of Vietnam on July 7, 1954. Ngo Dinh Diem gradually turned Saigon
into the capital of the new government in South Vietnam. After 1954, in parallel with
the process of actively preparing necessary works for the establishment of Ngo Dinh
Diem's new regime in Saigon, the U.S government also forced the French colonists to
withdraw their troops as soon as possible out of South Vietnam.
The political situation in the Nam Bo after the Geneva Accords, 1954 has had very
complicated changes. Partisan forces, sects, pro-French forces are trying to occupy
certain territories and the competition for political influence is very fierce here. The
strengthening of U.S “special advisory” forces and the greatest possible efforts from the
Washington government for the early formation and standing of the Republic of
Vietnam regime in the Nam Bo made the political situation here is more complicated.

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2.1.1.2. Conspiracy and activity of the U.S - Diem
After the French colonial defeat, forced to sign the Geneva Accords, 1954 and in
turn withdrawing troops according to the signed agreement, the US quickly jumped in to
replace France and plotted to turn South Vietnam into an “anti-Communist outpost”, a
new type of colony to prevent the “red wave” from flowing into Southeast Asia. In fact
since the end 1954, the U.S government has stepped up its support and assistance
activities for the solid shaping process of the Ngo Dinh Diem government in South
Vietnam. After the strong and determined statements made by U.S officials in the
Pentagon and the White House, millions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of tons of
modern warfare weapons and U.S “special advisors” was brought to South Vietnam to
help Ngo Dinh Diem “build a new nation”.
From the end of 1954 to the end of 1955, receiving the support from the U.S
government, Ngo Dinh Diem quickly controlled and won leadership in the Nam Bo.
From the Prime Minister of the National of Vietnam through a false “referendum”, Ngo
Dinh Diem gradually eliminated Chief of State Bao Dai and automatically became
President of the Republic of Vietnam government on October 26, 1955. In parallel with
the destruction of the remaining pro-French generals in the Nam Bo, the Saigon
government also eradicated denominations and organizations. Since the Geneva
Accords, the political situation in the Nam Bo has experienced rapid and complicated
changes. The increase of the aggression of the U.S government as well as the power
struggle and influence of parties, denominations in various occupy and control localities
and political interests are considered agents the main causes make the situation of the
Nam Bo more tense and increasingly chaotic. All of the drastic activities of the Ngo
Dinh Diem government in Nam Bo clearly revealed the conspiracy and the permanent
determination to permanently divide Vietnam from the U.S government.
2.1.2. The situation of revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo

2.1.2.1. Activities of gathering and transferring troops to the North of Vietnam
On September 7, 1954, the Politburo of the Party Central Committee convened a
Resolution on the new situation and new tasks. Deploying the Resolution of the
Politburo, in the Nam Bo under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Southern
Region, the movement of gathering troops and rearranging forces to prepare for the new
struggle just happened urgently, positive. Soldiers and cadres in Eastern Nam Bo moved
to temporary gathering in Xuyen Moc, Ham Tan area (80 days) and Cao Lanh (100
days). Soldiers and cadres from Western Nam Bo moved to temporary gathering in Ca
Mau area (200 days). In the days of gathering troops, the Party Committee and the
people of the Nam Bo strived to perfect and implement progressive policies, benefiting
the country and the people.
2.1.2.2. Arranging forces, hiding weapons and preparing for new struggles


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In order for the organizational apparatus to be compact and easy to operate in secret
conditions, the Politburo decided to dissolve the Central Office for South Vietnam,
establishing the Nam Bo Regional Committee and the Party Committees. Based on the
new task of South Vietnam revolution, the Central Committee and the Politburo decided
to strengthen the Party's leadership over South Vietnam. In October 1954, at Canal 13,
Vinh Thuan commune (Kien Giang) in canal Xang Chac Bang area, under the
chairmanship of Le Duan, a meeting to establish the Nam Bo Regional Committee
organized. In this conference, Le Duan was elected as a Secretary, at the same time
redistributing the Nam Bo to suit the new situation. The Nam Bo region boundary at
that time was divided into three inter-provinces: the Eastern Nam Bo inter-provincial
region, the Central Nam Bo inter-provincial region, the Western Nam Bo interprovincial region and the Saigon - Cho Lon Zone. The conference carried out the
dissolution of the Central Office for South Vietnam and the establishment of the Nam
Bo Regional Committee. The Nam Bo Regional Committee is a central level, directly
leading the South Vietnam revolution movement. In addition, the Regional Committee

Office and specialized departments were also established and moved to the inner city of
Saigon to direct the struggle movement at the hideout of the Saigon government.
In case the Saigon government does not enforce the agreement, a number of cadres,
mostly district and commune cadres and local soldiers, are arranged to stay in operation.
Weapons are stored for use when needed. Secret provinces are appointed by the Nam Bo
Regional Committee. The Provincial Party Committees designate the District Party
Committees and the District Party Committees reassign the sub-committees. The
executive committees of the district and communal committees are consolidated,
reduced in number, enhanced in quality to ensure leadership struggles in the new
situation. Cadres and party members in the Nam Bo are educated on the new situation of
duties. Previously, the mass political organizations were dissolved and replaced by
disguised associations such as mutual-aid team, mass education, parent-student
associations, relief teams, sports teams, pagoda communal groups, etc. Party members
firmly grasp the masses of the people, organize and lead the masses of the people
according to the core and core system.
2.2. The people of the Nam Bo struggled enforce to the Saigon government to
implement the Geneva Accords, 1954 and to preserve revolutionary forces in the
years 1954 - 1956
2.2.1. Struggling to enforce the Saigon government to implement the Geneva Accords
After 1954, the Saigon government has not complied with the provisions of the
Geneva Accords and trampled on the international law when they repeatedly acted
blatantly in violation of the agreement. In the movement to negotiate for negotiation, the
general election to unite the country has gathered a large number of people to participate
in vigorous and fervent fighting activities with various forms such as demonstrate,
meeting, the rally, no markets, etc. The struggles took place continuously and unified
the whole Nam Bo region with the slogan for negotiation, general election, and the


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Saigon government to strictly implement the Geneva Accords, against referendum, antiindividual parliamentary election of Ngo Dinh Diem, in close association with the
slogans demanding popular livelihood, democracy.
In parallel with the movement to protect peace in Saigon - Cho Lon in many
localities of the Nam Bo, the political struggle movement to celebrate peace, demanding
the implementation of the Geneva Accords took place vigorously, loudly and attracted
the public participation. The movement to claim the Saigon government to enforce the
Geneva Accords in the Nam Bo has spread from urban to rural areas and is in close
association. There are many large-scale people's struggles in Saigon - Cho Lon and
towns across the region. Thousands of people gathered to rally, protesting for the Sai
Gon government to accept the proposal of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Government to normalize relations between the South and the North Vietnam and to
organize consultation. In July 1955 to advance to the unified general election of the
country in July 1956. From October 20, 1955 to February 26, 1956, the entire army and
people of the Nam Bo region unified to launch a movement to struggle against
Individual constitutional elections of the Saigon government and negotiations, general
elections in accordance with the Geneva Accords. The fighting movement takes place
vigorously and strongly and attracts a large number of people to participate in various
forms such as rally, meeting, etc. In many towns and towns small businesses stay in no
markets, shops, factories close.
The army and people of the Nam Bo deftly and creatively promoted suitable
movements and enlisted a part of the sectarian faction to the revolution against the Ngo
Dinh Diem government. The army and people of the Nam Bo fought hard against
oppressive and terrorist activities from the Saigon government, and at the same time
expedited the process of struggling to preserve revolutionary forces with unique and
creative ways, suitable to the situation and characteristics of each locality.
2.2.2. Struggling the Anti-the Saigon government to terrorize, suppress and to
preserve revolutionary forces
The process of struggle against the policy of “Denounce the Communists”, antiterrorism and suppression by the Saigon government to protect cadres, localities
organizations and Party organizations took place quietly and drastically in each person,
every family, every hamlet, in enemy prisons and prisons in the Nam Bo and it is

conducted in many diverse forms. In parallel with the movement of struggle against
“Denounce the Communists”, the movement to struggle against land grabbing, evicting
houses and protecting the achievements of the revolution brought strongly and
widespread in the Nam Bo region. The movement to struggle against capture soldiers
and mobilize Saigon soldiers, including the sectarian forces, it has been focused and
strengthened by the revolution. The “troop proselytizing” (carry out agitation and
propaganda among enemy troops) was promoted and made an important contribution to
the victory of the army and people of the Nam Bo in the struggling to preserve and build
revolutionary forces in the localities in the years 1954 - 1956. The “troop proselytizing”


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was one of three struggle ways, including: the political attacks, armed attacks and
“troop proselytizing”, it exerts great efficiency and sharp “weapon” of the army and
people of the Nam Bo in the struggle against the Saigon government.
2.3. The army and people of the Nam Bo struggling to preserve revolutionary
forces in the years 1957 - 1959
2.3.1. Struggling against terrorism, suppress, promote “troop proselytizing”
operations and building “the battle array in the hearts of the people”
In the years 1957 - 1959, the fierce acts of repression and terrorism of the Saigon
government made the South Vietnam revolution in general and the Nam Bo region in
particular to face many difficulties and challenges. Party organizations and
revolutionary forces suffered great losses. During these years, with the dynamism,
creativity and also in response to the reality of the struggle, many localities in the Nam
Bo conducted armed defense and struggling activities to consolidate and conserve
forces revolutionary and took place “silently” in the style of “doing first report later”,
initially effective. In some localities of the Nam Bo region, political struggle
movements have been intensified and developed in parallel with activities to “the
extermination of traitors”. The raid to destroy Saigon army of the revolutionary forces

still takes place in many places in the Nam Bo and great effects: limiting the oppression,
fierce terror from the Saigon army; making the majority of minions, officals in
localities, and wicked people often feel confused, anxious and do not dare to cause more
crimes against the local people.
The movement against “Denounce the Communists”, anti-repression and terrorism
in the Nam Bo region is associated with the movement to struggle against capturing
soldiers, forcing people to build military bases, going to “Agrarian” and struggling
against land grabs in “Land Reform” in the Nam Bo by the Saigon government. The
movement of people struggling against tax increase, against land clearance, eviction,
emigration, demanding people's rights and democracy occurred strongly, vigorously
from rural to urban areas and achieved successes, causing great resonance in the Nam
Bo. During these years, the urban and rural struggles were tightly integrated. The
intensification of terrorism and repression by the government of the Republic of
Vietnam still failed to quell the strongly wave of political struggle of the army and
people of the Nam Bo. Political struggle movement of the people of the Nam Bo still
takes place in many rich and fierce forms.
The movements of struggling against terrorism and oppression of the people of the
Nam Bo took place vigorously and frantically throughout the whole region. The Saigon
public press force also contributed significantly to the struggle process of the army and
people of the Nam Bo during this time creating positive effects. The vigorous political
activities combined with the promotion of “troop proselytizing” activities of the army
and people of the Nam Bo contributed significantly to limiting the persecution and
attack fierce from the Saigon army, creating conditions for revolutionary forces in the
Nam Bo were strengthened and restored. The activities of restoring and building


14

revolutionary organizations and revolutionary bases in the Nam Bo region achieved
important results. At the same time, the Nam Bo Regional Committee for well building

the people's battlefields in the years 1957 - 1959, it also created an important premise to
help the process of rebuilding bases and revolutionary armed units take place quickly
and operate effective.
2.3.2. Re-establishing the base and the revolutionary armed forces
In the period 1954 - 1960, the bases in the Eastern Nam Bo were conducted to build
2 forest base areas in the Northeast (former D war zone) and Northwest (former Duong
Minh Chau war zone). In the Central Nam Bo region, Plain of Reeds base was fortified
and rebuilt from the French colonial period and in the Western Nam Bo, U Minh base
was also rebuilt and expanded. In 1957 and 1958, in response to the fierce suppression
and terrorism policies of the Saigon government, the revolutionary bases in the Nam Bo
were strengthened and expanded to meet practical requirements of struggling. In the
years 1959 - 1960, the two region of the Northeast and Northwest bases were
consolidated and expanded into a common base area of the Nam Bo battlefield, the
standing place of the leading agency (the Nam Bo Regional Committee). In the Central
Nam Bo and Western Nam Bo, firstly, based on the “people's heart” to survive, develop
the struggle and restore the old base area from the anti-French resistance war, such as
Plain of Reeds base and Nam Can (Ca Mau), U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha. In those
bases, armed units, popularized as companies, were organized, having party and
political bases, armed with propaganda, “the extermination of traitors”, and struggling
against the Saigon army sweeping and taking enemy troops to foster revolutionary
forces, bringing people into uninhabited places for self-sufficient production,
developing food purchasing establishments, production establishments, establishing
infirmaries and military factories, etc.
In parallel with the re-establishment of revolutionary bases, the process of building
up revolutionary armed forces has also been accelerated in the Nam Bo. From 1957 to
1958, most of the provinces in the Nam Bo built a revolutionary and popular armed
force at the company and platoon level. In the Western Nam Bo, there are many units
with the name of sect or coalition against the U.S - Diem such as battalion Ly Thuong
Kiet in Tra On, Sa Dec and Lap Vo areas; 4 battalions Ngo Van So, Dinh Tien Hoang,
Thanh Long and That Son (as regiment of Le Quang Vinh regiment) in Rach Gia; AntiAmerican coalition - Diem had 4 battalion-level units named: Quang Trung, Le Loi,

Nguyen Trung Truc and Phan Dinh Phung. These units operate mainly in the districts of
O Mon, Phung Hiep, Chau Thanh and Long My (Can Tho); Dinh Tien Hoang battalion
was also established and operated in Soc Trang, etc. In the Eastern Nam Bo, there was
Cao Dai Alliance 25th Company led by Nguyen Thanh Sang, a member of the Party.
The Nam Bo Regional Committee also advocated building a number of units
concentrated in the Eastern Nam Bo after restoring large bases in the Eastern Nam Bo,
five companies were established with the core from the Central Nam Bo and the
Western Nam Bo. In Rung Sac, the number of soldiers who escaped from Tan Hiep
prison (Bien Hoa) established the 12th Company.


15

These units, in turn, were born in the Western and the Eastern Nam Bo to carry out
propaganda activities, build and consolidate forces and revolutionary bases, and also it
carry out a number of battles “the extermination of traitors” to warn and to promote
prestige locally.
By the end 1957, there were “forest villages” in the Western Nam Bo acting as
“illegal bases” against the Saigon government. In order to avoid the oppression and
fierce terrorism from the Ngo Dinh Diem government, tens of thousands of people
flocked to U Minh forest to set up new villages to live and revolutionary activities. By
1959, the forest villages were increasingly expanded, thousands of young people fleeing
the Saigon army to take soldiers, and those who opposed the Ngo Dinh Diem
government also fled into the villages built in the forest to revolutionize their activities.
From October, 1957 onwards, when the Secretary of the Nam Bo Regional Committee
Nguyen Van Linh and the Standing Committee of the Party Committee had a policy of
restoring the Eastern Nam Bo bases, establishing the first concentrated armed unit of the
region: 250th Company, from here the trend of building armed forces in localities has
begun to recover. The Western and Central Nam Bo Inter-provincial Party Committees
re-established battalions under the Inter-provincial Party Committee. And many

provinces also consolidate and rearrange units that to suit the situation. In the Eastern
Nam Bo, most provinces have armed teams. In the inner city of Saigon, Districts 1, 4,
Thiec market area, Phu Tho racetrack have self-defense teams under the public name of
Fire Prevention and Fighting Team, Anti-Theft Stealing Team, etc. In the Nam Bo
provinces, most of them keep secrets and operate secretly. About the organization of the
armed forces: beginning to form three types of troops at a low level. Regarding local
forces: each province has a company but is called a battalion (in order to promote the
revolutionary prestige). Regarding the armed forces in the communes and hamlets: the
self-defense groups and platoons in the hamlets and villages are gradually consolidated
in many places in the Nam Bo.
In parallel with the organization of forces, during this period, armed activities were
promoted to support political struggle by the activities “the extermination of traitors” to
sustain the movement. In the years 1957 - 1959, in opposition to the fierce suppression,
terrorism campaigns of the Saigon government was the process of urgently promoting
the necessary activities to consolidate rebuilding revolutionary establishments and Party
organizations in the locality of the people and army of the Nam Bo. The reconstruction,
construction and expansion of bases during this time met the urgent requirements of the
revolution and made important contributions to accelerating the process of construction
and development of the revolutionary armed forces in the Nam Bo provinces. In most of
the provinces in the Nam Bo, the task of rebuilding revolutionary armed units operated
independently.
2.3.3. Coordinating political struggle with armed struggle and “troop
proselytizing” operations to build and develop revolutionary forces
After 1957 when the armed units were established, “the extermination of traitors”


16

movements took place more and more frequently in many localities of the Nam Bo. The
“extermination of traitors” movement not only contributed to building the prestige of

the revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo but also created favorable conditions for the
process of re-establishing and restoring the former revolutionary armed units the fierce
attacks and raids of the Saigon government. In the years 1957 - 1959, despite severe
oppression, persecution from the Ngo Dinh Diem government, the revolutionary forces
suffered serious losses but with the strongly will to fight, intellect and creativity, the
army and the people of the Nam Bo gradually overcame a dangerous situation to restore
and re-establish revolutionary armed forces besides the political struggle movement
which is still maintained and strengthened. The initial coordination between political
struggles and armed struggles and “troop proselytizing” operations during this time was
an important premise to help the army and people of the Nam Bo quickly rebuild and
develop revolutionary forces in localities, creating favorable conditions for the Dong
Khoi climax to take place strongly throughout the whole region thereafter.

2.4. Forms, unique and creative ways of struggle of the army and people in the
Nam Bo in the process of struggling to preserve and build the revolutionary forces
in the years 1954 - 1959
In the years 1954 - 1959, the army and people of the Nam Bo applied various forms
and ways of struggle to preserve and build the revolutionary forces. It is the flexibility
and creativity in activities enlisted forces breakaway sect against Diem, gather forces to
attack the Saigon government; establishing teams, groups of mass to operate publicly to
preserve and build revolutionary forces in localities; using self-made weapons to create
prestige, to preserve and build forces; established revolutionary bases and development
activities in remote areas of the Nam Bo to struggle against the Saigon government; set
up revolutionary facilities and expanding activities within the agencies of the Saigon
government from the local to the Central; applying diverse and coordinated ways of
struggle from political struggles to self-defense armed struggles and promoting “troop
proselytizing” operations combined in the localities, etc.

Chapter 3
DEVELOPMENT OF REVOLUTIONARY FORCES TOWARD DONG KHOI

IN THE NAM BO (1959 - 1960)

3.1. Historical context and the policies of the Vietnam Workers Party


17

3.1.1. The revolutionary situation in the Nam Bo in 1959
By the beginning 1959, the revolutionary struggle movement of the army and
people of the Nam Bo region entered a new era with important changes. The Sai Gon
government intensified the repression and fierce terror, causing a great mass of people
to be extremely indignant and ready to fight back. Through brutal repressive campaigns,
the Republic of Vietnam government also showed its failure in its ruling policies
throughout the South Vietnam in general and in the Nam Bo in particular. Especially in
rural areas, the dominance of the Ngo Dinh Diem government was no longer as solid as
in the years 1955 - 1958, but instead was bewildered, worried and wavered by the
majority of the main officials in the localities. The Saigon government was in crisis,
weakened, most government officials quit their jobs or were eradicated in the locality.
The revolutionary situation in the Nam Bo in early 1959 was really ripe. The brutal
suppression and terrorism of the Saigon government pushed the people of the Nam Bo
into a predicament and the endurance of them to the limit of explosion.
3.1.2. Resolution 15 of the Party Central Committee and the policy of the Nam Bo
Regional Committee
By early 1959, the revolutionary movement of the masses seething across the South
Vietnam in general and in the Nam Bo in particular. On January 12, 1959, in Hanoi, the
15th Conference of the Party Central Committee (Session II) was organized. The
Resolution of the 15th Conference is of great significance and historical significance.
The resolution correctly reflects and promptly resolves the urgent requirements of the
revolution in the Nam Bo in a really ripe situation, meeting the earnest aspirations of
cadres, soldiers and a large number of people in the Nam Bo at that time, creating an

important turning point in the development of South Vietnam revolution.
In November 1959, the Nam Bo Regional Committee organized the 4th Conference
to thoroughly grasp Resolution 15 and issue resolutions on the tasks of revolution in the
locality. In implementing the Party Central Committee's Resolution 15 and the 4th
Resolution of the Nam Bo Regional Committee, from late 1959 to mid-June 1960,
partial uprising activities took place strongly in many Nam Bo regions and achieve great
victories. To July, 1960, the 5th Conference of the Nam Bo Regional Committee set out
the policy of simultaneous uprising throughout the region in September, 1960, on the
anniversary of the Nam Bo resistance to launch the movement strongly and widespread
in all strata.
3.2. Development of revolutionary forces to prepare the Dong Khoi
3.2.1. Strengthening to build the Party organizations and the revolutionary mass
organizations


18

By October, 1959, the Nam Bo Regional Committee issued a resolution on
consolidating the Party cell in the new situation. In the first 6 months, 1960, the
strengthening of Party and Youth Union development achieved important results. The
Party Committees in turn were restored and promoted to develop in parallel with the
progress of the Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo in the years 1959 - 1960. By
November, 1960, the Nam Bo Regional Committee continued issuing instructions on
strengthening construction of Party organizations at the localities. Thus, in the years
1959 - 1960, the process of building and developing Party organizations and
revolutionary organizations was intensified in parallel with the Dong Khoi movement of
the army and people of the Nam Bo and achieved great victories.
3.2.2. Development of political forces and the armed forces, to strengthen “troop
proselytizing” operations
By early 1959, especially, with the Party Central Committee's Resolution 15 with

the spirit and suggestive content “allowing armed”, the movements of political struggle
and revolutionary armed force developing in the Nam Bo. From the middle of 1959
onwards, the political struggle movement of the people of the Nam Bo in both rural and
urban areas grew strongly. The people's direct struggles with the Saigon army at the
locality to struggle terrorism, against land grabs, demand the resignation of Saigon
government officials or force the above leader to dismiss officials below the evil
temperate caused many crimes to the people took place drastically. The struggles took
place throughout the provinces in the Nam Bo, creating a great impact and achieved
important results: in the Central Nam Bo, from early 1959 to early 1960, the process of
struggling to build and develop political forces and armed forces is strongly promoted.
In the Western Nam Bo, since mid-1959, the activities of struggling against
“extermination of traitors” and destroying the fort of the Saigon government took place
regularly in the provinces, making an important contribution to the process of struggling
to build and develop political forces and armed forces in the whole region. In the
Eastern Nam Bo, at the end of 1959 to promote the Dong Khoi movement and have
more weapons to quickly develop revolutionary forces, the Nam Bo Regional
Committee decided to attack and destroy Tua Hai base (Tay Ninh) of the Saigon
government. The battle of Tua Hai base ended with a resounding victory of the
revolutionary armed forces of the Eastern Nam Bo and shortly thereafter the Dong Khoi
movement takes place the Eastern Nam Bo in 1960.
From mid-1959 onwards, in parallel with political movements and armed struggles,
which were promoted in many localities of the Nam Bo region, highlighted the
important role of the “troop proselytizing” operations. The “troop proselytizing”
operations was conducted effectively in the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1960, making
an important contribution to preserve and build strongly revolutionary force in the
locality, creating a favorable premise for the revolutionary movement in Nam Bo to
develop. The “troop proselytizing” operations combined political struggle and armed
struggle helped the army and people of the Nam Bo achieve great victories in the Dong
Khoi movement from 1959 to 1960.

19

3.3. The Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo
3.3.1. The Dong Khoi in Ben Tre and provinces of Central Nam Bo and Western Nam
Bo
Strongly armed attacks in localities in late 1959 contributed to the explosion of the
Dong Khoi climax which erupted throughout the Central Nam Bo and Western Nam Bo,
the highest peak, most typical of the uprising mass movement to subvert the Sai Gon
government, control of the hamlet, it was strongly the Dong Khoi movement with the
intellect and creativity of the Ben Tre army and people in early 1960. On January 17,
1960, the Dong Khoi in Ben Tre province began and during the year of the Dong Khoi,
the army and the people of Ben Tre achieve great victories: destroying the forced
withdrawal of 210 fort, killing and injuring 1,700 soldiers, arresting 300 soldiers
disbanding with 1,800 soldiers, collecting 1,700 guns of all kinds, releasing basically 72
communes. In a total of 105 communes out of 300 hamlets out of a total of 500 hamlets
throughout the province, completely liberated 40,000 people out of a total of 63,000 in
1960. Constructing two companies of provincial army, two platoons of one platoon in
each district teams and communes have a guerrilla platoon, build and consolidate and
develop Party organizations in localities. From Ben Tre, the Dong Khoi movement
quickly spread to Central Nam Bo and Western Nam Bo provinces. The army and
people of the Central Nam Bo rebelled continuously, one after another in 1960. The
revolutionary forces of the region attacked, broke and collapsed most of the apparatus of
clamping, suppressing and terrorizing people of the Saigon government in the
countryside. The revolution liberated and dominated most of the vast rural areas,
creating a continuity between districts in the province, between provinces and interprovinces, regions, bases and corridors. The revolutionary forces of the Central Nam Bo
to develop strongly. In the Western Nam Bo, from the beginning of 1960 to before
September, 1960, the army and people in the local uprising to control many areas of 59
communes and 500 hamlets with 400,000 people. The resounding victory in the Dong
Khoi movement in Ben Tre not only contributes made the explosion of the Dong Khoi

movement in the provinces of the Mekong Delta, but also had a strongly impact on the
revolutionary movement in the Eastern Nam Bo.
3.3.2. The victory of Tua Hai and the Dong Khoi movement in the provinces of the
Eastern Nam Bo
The resounding victory in Tua Hai in early 1960 activated the Dong Khoi
movement to erupt throughout the Eastern Nam Bo with strongly struggling spirit. The
army and people of the Eastern Nam Bo simultaneously attacked, dealt a blow to the
Ngo Dinh Diem government's system of governance in the countryside and achieve
great victories. The Dong Khoi movement of the army and people of the Eastern Nam
Bo shook and collapsed a large segment of the domination system that controlled the
people at the locality of the Saigon government, liberating many communes and
hamlets. At the same time, it also created big change for the situation revolutionary in
Southeast then. And together with the Central Nam Bo and Western Nam Bo, the army
and people of the Eastern Nam Bo contributed greatly to the overall victory of the Dong


20

Khoi movement throughout South Vietnam.
After more than a year of conducting the Dong Khoi, by the end of 1960, the Dong
Khoi movement of the army and people of the Nam Bo region disintegrated most of the
rural base structure of the Saigon government. In 1,193 communes throughout the Nam
Bo, there were 895 communes with 10 million turns of insurgents breaking the grip,
establishing self-government. In many places in the Nam Bo, the Saigon government at
the commune exists but it is only a form and the power is reduced. In the course of the
Dong Khoi movement, liberating armed forces formed and developed. In the Dong Khoi
movement in the years 1959 - 1960, the army and the people of the Nam Bo also used
many unique and creative ways to struggle and it became the lessons of struggle for the
army and people of South Vietnam to study and apply in revolutionary struggle across
the region thereafter.

3.3.3. The impacts and effects of the Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo to South
Vietnam’s localities
The simultaneously uprising of the army and people of the Nam Bo (1959 - 1960)
not only achieve great victories but also had positive impacts and effects on localities
throughout South Vietnam. The Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo had a great
influence, strongly promoting the insurgency movement to attack the ruling system at
the base of the Saigon government throughout South Vietnam. The victory of the Dong
Khoi movement in the Nam Bo accelerated the upward movement of the army and
people in South Vietnam, notably in the provinces of Central Trung Bo, South Trung Bo
and Tay Nguyen. The Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo (1959 - 1960) have an
important role in the early stage of the Anti-American Resistance for National Salvation
of the people of Vietnam.
3.4. The forms and ways of creative struggle and unique in the Dong Khoi
movement in the Nam Bo
In the Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo, the army and people in the locality
have used many forms and methods of creative and unique struggle, consistent with the
position and power of each locality, creating positive effects, contributing to the great
victory of the Dong Khoi in the whole region. It is the use of pre-emptive military
strikes, posing and spearheading political movements of the masses in localities with
strong armed forces, or political struggles combined with armed struggles; creatively
apply the combination of three frontal attack: political, military and “troop
proselytizing” operations; “Reverse evacuation” a unique form of struggle in the Dong
Khoi movement in the Nam Bo; strong and drastic and effective struggle of “the LongHaired Army” (the Nam Bo women's force) with miraculous power makes the Saigon
government to be embarrassing to deal with; “struggling by arm to the Saigon army”,
“unarmed arms” struggling the enemy army; performing diversionary tricks to deceive
the Saigon army in the Dong Khoi movement in some localities of the Nam Bo, etc.


21

Chapter 4
SOME REMARKS AND EVALUATION OF THE PROCESS OF STRUGGLING
TO PRESERVE AND BUILD REVOLUTIONARY FORCES, TOWARD DONG
KHOI IN THE NAM BO (1954 - 1960)

4.1. Characteristics
4.1.1. The Nam Bo is the place the army and the Saigon government fought the most
fiercely, the revolutionary forces suffered the most damage
In the period 1954 - 1960, the Saigon government continuously launched terrorist
campaigns, swept, raided fiercely into the struggle movements and revolutionary bases
with high intensity and dense density throughout Nam Bo region. A series of fierce
sweeping and raiding campaigns of the Saigon army and government made the
revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo seriously damaged. From 1955 to 1958, in the Nam
Bo, about 70,000 cadres and party members were killed, nearly 900,000 cadres and
people were arrested, imprisoned, nearly 200,000 were tortured into injuries, only about
5,000 compared to the previous 60,000 party members. As a result of the fierce
suppression, terrorism and raid operations from the Saigon army and government, the
movement and revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo suffered great losses.
4.1.2. The Nam Bo is the place to contact early the policies of struggling to preserve
and build revolutionary force and armed struggle of the Vietnam Workers Party
The Nam Bo is the place the Nam Bo Regional Committee stands to work to lead
and direct revolutionary struggle movements in South Vietnam. Therefore, from the
very early days of the revolutionary struggle policies and methods directed by the Party
Central Committee, promulgated and disseminated to the whole South Vietnam,
especially the policies of revolutionary armed struggle, the Nam Bo is first contacted.
4.1.3. The participants in the struggling to preserve and build diverse revolutionary
forces consists of farmers, workers, intellectuals, students and soldiers both parties,
sects
The process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary force, toward Dong
Khoi in the Nam Bo (1954 - 1960) has a rich and diverse participant. The force

participating in the struggle against the army and the Saigon government includes many
strata in society from farmers, workers, intellectuals, students to the army of parties and
sects in the Nam Bo. Among those involved in the struggling, farmers and workers
account for the largest number and they are the core force of the revolution. In addition,
in the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces in the Nam Bo in
the years 1954 - 1960, there was the participation of a part of the armed forces of parties


22

and sects and through education by the revolution together to fight against the Saigon
government.
4.1.4. Forms of struggling to preserve and build rich revolutionary forces from the
political struggle, armed struggle, “troop proselytizing” operations to the struggling
of press publicity forces in Saigon
In the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces in the Nam
Bo in the years 1954 - 1960, there was richness, diversity and creativity in various
forms of struggle. The forms of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces of
the army and people of the Nam Bo are consistent with the characteristics, the position
and power of each locality and gradually improve the methods of fighting over time. In
the years 1954 - 1960, the Nam Bo is considered the first locality in South Vietnam,
where the birth and creative use of the method of political struggle combined with
“troop proselytizing” and armed support (also known as “three frontal attack”: political
struggle, armed struggle and troop proselytizing). The process of struggling to preserve
and build revolutionary forces of the army and people of the Nam Bo in the period 1954
- 1960 also took place vigorously and fiercely on the battle public press.
4.1.5. The culmination of the process of struggling to preserve and build
revolutionary forces is the Dong Khoi movement, contributing to creating a great
transition on the battlefield of South Vietnam.
The process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces of the army

and people of the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1959 led to the Dong Khoi climax
erupting with strong offensive spirit in the whole region in 1960 and achieve great
victories with important meanings. The victory of the Dong Khoi movement in the Nam
Bo is not only reflected in the liberation of many communes and hamlets, destroying
many fort of the Saigon government in localities, not only the recovery, consolidation
and development revolutionary forces, most importantly, the resounding victory of the
Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo, which has a large and widespread spillover effect
and strongly encourages the Dong Khoi movement taking place throughout South
Vietnam. The victory of the Dong Khoi movement in the Nam Bo in the years 1959 1960 not only opened a big turning point the revolutionary struggle in the local but also
contributed to created a big transition on the battlefield of South Vietnam: to preserve
revolutionary forces to attack.
4.2. Roles
4.2.1. Contributing to exposing the nature, conspiracy and tricks of the U.S
imperialism and the Saigon government, and at the same time limiting the loss of
revolutionary forces when the Saigon government did not implement the Geneva
Accords, 1954.
The process of struggling of the army and people of the Nam Bo after the Geneva


23

Accords contributed to exposing the nature, conspiracy and invasion tactics of the U.S
empire as well as the brutality of the Saigon government. Not only exposing the nature,
conspiracy, tricks and malevolent intentions of the U.S government, the process of
struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces, toward Dong Khoi of the army
and people of the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1960 also contributed to limiting the
losses of the revolutionary forces when the Saigon government stepped up terrorist
campaigns, suppressed and fiercely defeated the revolutionary movement in the locality.
4.2.2. Gathers numerous forces including farmers, workers, intellectuals, sectarian
soldiers, etc into a common front against the U.S - Diem

The process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces of the army
and people of the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1960 brought into play the combined
strength of many forces participating in the society from farmers, workers and
intellectuals to the soldiers of the sectarian. The numerous participation of these
components in the Nam Bo society creates a great synergy for the army and people of
the Nam Bo to not only struggling to conserve their forces against the fierce acts of
terrorism of the Saigon army but also create favorable conditions to promote the
development of revolutionary forces in the locality.
4.2.3. Creating a base system as a base to protect and develop forces and to be the
local revolutionary base for the revolutionary war in the Nam Bo
The reestablishment, expansion and systematic construction of revolutionary bases
in the Nam Bo, stretching from the Western Nam Bo to the Eastern Nam Bo in the years
1954 - 1960 is the most vivid evidence for flexibility, the creativity of the army and
people of the Nam Bo in the process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary
forces. The revolutionary bases, “illegal bases”, “forest villages” exist and operate
against the Saigon government in the localities, it is an important premise leading to the
recovery and rapid development of revolutionary forces as well as the rear become
revolutionary in place for revolutionary war in Nam Bo then.
4.2.4. Building revolutionary armed forces, create conditions for development of the
level three armed forces (the regular army, the local army and the guerrilla militia),
contributed to the transformation South Vietnam revolution from revolt to
revolutionary war
Activities struggling rich, vibrant and strong to preserve and develop the
revolutionary forces of the army and people of the Nam Bo in the years 1954 - 1960 to
create favorable conditions for the strong development of the level three armed forces
(the regular army, the local army and the guerrilla militia) throughout the Nam Bo
region then. The process of struggling to preserve and build revolutionary forces of the
army and people of the Nam Bo in these years led to the reestablishment and
development of the revolutionary armed forces, creating a great victory of the Dong
Khoi movement in the Nam Bo in the years 1959 - 1960, contributed to transforming