Vietnam - That Place in Southeast Asia Quiz

Answer: 938

Vietnam had gained self-rule by A.D. 938, but it had not obtained independence at that time. Several dynasties and hundreds of years later, the French were destined to enter the region, as they looked for rubber plantations to support their country's modernization.

By that time, Vietnamese "infighting" had become a notorious and integral part of that country's self-identity, if not their national pastime.

Answer: Japan

Quite naturally, the riches of Vietnam's rubber plantations, along with the resources of wealth owned by its near neighbors were exploited in turn by Japan to aid its own war-making capabilities.

After WWII, the French returned ...

Answer: Ho Chi Minh

Also known as Nguyen Sinh Cung, Nguyen Tat Thanh, and Nguyen Ai Quoc, "Nguyen the Patriot", he later chose the name Ho Chi Minh, "He Who Enlightens".

In 1912, "Uncle Ho" had lived in New York and in Boston. In 1913, he moved to London and lived in various places there until about 1919. He then lived in France from 1919 to 1923.

After WWI he asked Woodrow Wilson, the President of the US, for help in removing the French from Vietnam and setting up a nationalist government, but his pleas went unheeded.

The U.S. and China both offered their support to him in an effort to route the Japanese from the region during WWII.

Later, he repeatedly petitioned American President Harry Truman for support in obtaining Vietnamese independence, but again, was ignored.

After the Geneva Accords of 1954, however, the U.S. became South Vietnam's chief sponsor and financial backer, and thus it entered into an uneasy alliance that it really had no interest in, other than its stated goal of attempting to stem the tide of worldwide communism. Specifically, as far as Vietnam was concerned, that meant opposing Ho's forces led by General Giap.

Answer: South Vietnam

Although Hue lies along the Perfume River just south of Quang Tri Province, it actually was located in South Vietnam. The Battle of Hue occurred in 1968, during the Tet offensive, and this was a very long, bloody and costly fight. Following a resounding defeat for the alliance of Americans and the South Vietnamese Nationalists, American sentiment back home concerning U.S. involvement took a drastic turn and calls to end the war grew much louder.

Answer: proximity to Ho Chi Minh Trail and providing base for attack on the South

The Battle of A Shau was fought in 1966.

Primarily, it served as an additional boon to the already existing Ho Chi Minh Trail, which was an extensive supply line that ran from North Vietnam, through Laos, and then into South Vietnam.

Later, during the Tet offensive of 1968, the A Shau Valley provided the Communist troops with an important base from which they were able focus their firepower onto the cities in the South.

Answer: Massacre at My Lai

The Massacre at My Lai, (loosely pronounced Me Lie), occurred on 16 March 1968, just after the Tet Offensive. Somewhere between 400 and 500 Vietnamese civilians were killed. Another 90 to 100 civilians were murdered in the village of Co Luy at the same time. The only person imprisoned because of these actions was Lieutenant William Calley, the platoon leader.

Answer: NVA

Between 23 October and 20 November 1965, North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops virtually slaughtered U.S. soldiers. Of the bodies that were eventually recovered, most had been shot in the head or in the back. In other locations during the two-part battle, wounded American soldiers had been tied to trees, tortured and later murdered.

Answer: All of these

Wow!

While some of these countries, like Canada, were never involved in an "official" capacity, all of them invested troops, equipment or training; becoming involved in some way or another.

Answer: Ngo Dinh Nhu

The family name is 'Ngo'. Nhu was known as an opium addict and was a power-hungry despot.
Nhu's wife, the infamous "Dragon Lady", who came from an aristocratic family, was quite possibly as despotic as her husband.

She is quoted as saying that "Power is wonderful. Total power is totally wonderful."

She also once told a group of American Congressmen, "I'm not exactly afraid of death. I love power and in the next life I have a chance to be even more powerful than I am."

Answer: Gerald Ford

President Gerald Ford, in a televised speech on 23 April 1975, declared an end to the Vietnam War, as well as all U.S. aid that was being given to the country of South Vietnam.