Tet Offensive

In the Vietnam War, a prolonged attack mounted by the Vietcong against Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and other South Vietnamese cities and hamlets (including the US Marine base at Khe Sanh), which began on 30 January 1968. Although the Vietcong were finally forced to withdraw, the Tet Offensive brought into question the ability of the South Vietnamese army and their US allies to win the war and added fuel to the antiwar movement in both the USA and Australia. From this political perspective, the Tet Offensive might be considered the watershed of the Vietnam War.

Of 84,000 communist Vietcong who took part in the offensive, 32,000 were killed by mid-February. The fighting in Saigon was especially fierce, and in Hué, which the Vietcong controlled for almost a month, 3,000 civilians were executed. The US Marine base at Khe Sanh was besieged for almost three months, and although the Vietcong were finally repulsed with heavy losses, the USA later abandoned the base.

By 1967, it had become apparent to the Vietcong leaders that American popular support for the war in Vietnam was faltering, and they therefore planned a web of offensive operations against major cities, towns, and districts throughout southern Vietnam early 1968. The offensive was preceded by the operation at Khe Sanh, and the operation launched simultaneous attacks 31 January on 150 different targets, from Saigon to small villages. US and ARVN reaction was swift and ruthless and the offensive was repulsed. However, subsequent television reports of death and destruction made a considerable impact upon the US public, especially since a Presidential election was in the offing. Questions were asked about the worth of US involvement in Vietnam, political debate on the subject increased, and the search began for a negotiated settlement.