First Battle of Saigon

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Date	January 30, 1968 - June 8, 1969 during the Tet Offensive
Location	Saigon in South Vietnam
Result	Decisive ARVN tactical victory, equally decisive Communist strategic & psychological victory.

Combatants

South Vietnam
United States

North Vietnam
Viet Cong

Commanders

William Westmoreland

Vo Nguyen Giap

Strength

35 Battalions

Casualties

Vietnam War
Ap Bac – Binh Gia – Song Be – Dong Xoai – Ia Drang – Long Tan – Dak To – Tra Binh Dong –Ong Thanh – 1st Tet – Khe Sanh – 1st Saigon – Lang Vei – Hills 881 & 861 – 2nd Tet – Hamburger Hill – Binh Ba – Ripcord – Lam Son 719 – FSB Mary Ann – Easter '72 – An Loc – Kontum – Phuoc Long – Ho Chi Minh – Buon Me Thuot – Xuan Loc – 2nd Saigon – Barrell Roll – Rolling Thunder – Pony Express – Steel Tiger – Commando Hunt – Linebacker I – Linebacker II – Chenla I – Tiger Hound – Lima Site 85 – Tailwind – Chenla II – Cambodia

The First Battle of Saigon fought during the Tet Offensive was the coordinated attack by the NVA and VC, by which they attacked South Vietnam's Capital Saigon from all sides.

1 Background
2 The Plan
3 The Battle
4 Aftermath
5 Notes
6 References

[edit] Background

In 1968 the NVA and VC Launched the Tet Offensive. They attacked South Vietnam from all sides. North, South, East, West, this was made done largely by the undercover VC.

[edit] The Plan

Saigon was the main focal point of this offensive, but a total takeover of the capital, by military units, was not intended or feasible. They rather had six main targets in the city which 35 battalions of VC were to attack and capture, these were The Headquarters of the ARVN, President Thieu's office, The American Embassy, A Vietnamese Air base and their Naval Headquarters, and the National broadcasting station.

[edit] The Battle

Attacking from all sides of the capital Saigon, the NVA, and VC launched 35 battlions at Saigon. Sapper Bns and the local forces attacked the Presidential Palace, The National Radio Station, The US embassy and other principal targets. The 5th VC Division launched an attack on the military bases at Long Binh, and Bien Hoa. The NVA 7th Division launched an attack on the US 1st Infantry Division, and the 5th ARVN Division at Lai Khe. The VC 9th Division attacked the US 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. The airport of Tan Son Nhut went through a heavy barrage of rocket and mortar fire beginning at 3 a.m. followed by a 3 bn assault. They encountered the ARVN 8th ABN who happened to be waiting for transport. The US 3/4th Cavalry from the 25th Division raced from their base at Cu Chi to help rescue the airfield that was under attack. The 1/18th Infantry A/1/4th Cavalry from the 1st Infantry Division also helped at the airfield. In the mean while the local VC took control of the National Radio Station for 6 hours and during that time played a recording of Hồ Chí Minh announcing their liberation and "General Uprising" but it couldn't get through, because when they attacked and captured the National Radio Station the power had been cut off as soon as the station was attacked. The US Embassy was attacked by 19 VC Commandos, even though the attacks in Saigon had been taking place for over an hour the Guards were not informed so they didn't fortify their position. The VC blew a hole in the Embassy's compound wall and in the process killed Several MPs and entered the compound. The few remaining guards withdrew into the embassy and locked the doors. Even though the VC commandos had ample supplies of explosives, both of their officers in charge were killed in the initial attack so the VC just milled aimlessly around the grounds. Eventually the US reinforcements came and six hours later from the initial attack the Embassys Compound was retaken. Heavy fighting continued in the Cholon District and around the Phu Tho Racetrack for several days. Finally, the 199th Brigade, with heavy air support secured the area.^[1]

[edit] Aftermath

By early February, the Communist high command realized that none of their military objectives were being met, and they halted any further attacks on fortified positions. Sporadic fighting continued in Saigon until March 7. Some sections of the city were left badly damaged by the combat and U.S. retaliatory air and artillery strikes in particular. The Chinese district of Cholon suffered especially, with perhaps hundreds of civilians killed in the American counter attacks.