Chemical Warfare
What two things did Agent Orange seek to destroy?
Jungle cover and enemy food supplies
What does Guerilla Warfare involve?
Ambushes, hit-and-run attacks, booby traps, tunnels.
What major feature of the Vietnam War made it the first conflict to shape public opinion worldwide?
It was televised
What major psychological disorder significantly increased among Vietnamese civilians due to wartime trauma such as bombings and violence?
PTSD
What major event marked the official end of the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975?
Fall of Saigon
How many litres of herbicides were sprayed?
80 million
Why did Guerilla Warfare matter in the context of the Vietnam War?
Turned the war into a political and psychological struggle. OR made the war long, costly, and unwinnable for the U.S.
How many North Vietnamese soldiers were killed in the Tet Offensive?
About 45,000
What chemical weapon program used during the Vietnam War caused long-term physical and mental health impacts on civilians?
Agent Orange
What was the new name given to Saigon after its capture in 1975, and what did it symbolise?
Ho Chi Minh City — symbolizing the victory of the communist North and the reunification of Vietnam.
What toxic contaminant made Agent Orange especially dangerous?
Dioxin (TCDD)
What are 2 examples of ‘Terroristic Tactics’ that the Viet Cong used?
Bombings in urban areas, Coercion/Intimidation, Targeted Assassinations
How did the Tet Offensive affect U.S. public opinion?
It weakened support by showing U.S. setbacks.
Approximately how many people perished at sea during seeking refuge through boat travel?
300 000
How did the Fall of Saigon contribute to the creation of the global Vietnamese diaspora?
It triggered a mass refugee exodus, as hundreds of thousands fled communist rule by sea and resettled in countries like the U.S., Australia, and Canada, forming new overseas Vietnamese communities.
Name one long-term environmental effect and one human health effect caused by Agent Orange.
Cancers/heart and liver diseases/nerve damage OR birth defects and miscarriages, AND forest/crop damage OR destruction of habitats/reduced soil fertility
Why would a soldier be careful when examining an abandoned Viet Cong tunnel?
These tunnels were often booby-trapped with spikes and grenades.
How did media freedom change over the war?
Early: free
Mid: credibility gap
Late: restricted but investigative reporting increased.
What did destruction of infrastructure mean for employment and education opportunities?
Limited opportunities
How did the Fall of Saigon reshape relations among Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in the late 1970s?
It led to Vietnam’s dominance in Indochina, but also regional conflict — Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978 to remove the Khmer Rouge (supported by China), while Laos became a close Vietnamese ally.
What ethical dilemma arose from the production/use of Agent Orange involving both the U.S. military and chemical companies like Dow and Monsanto?
Accountability for long-term harm caused by chemical warfare.
What hotel did the Viet Cong bomb in 1964?
The Brinks Hotel (in Saigon)
What happened to U.S. politics after Tet?
President Johnson didn’t run again, trust in government dropped, and people questioned the Domino Theory.
What percentage of Vietnamese refugees in Australia were found to have PTSD after 11 years (according to one study)?
50%
What roles did the Soviet Union and China play in Vietnam’s post-1975 recovery and reconstruction, and how did their rivalry affect Vietnam?
The Soviet Union became Vietnam’s main ally, providing economic aid, weapons, and industrial support for rebuilding. China, initially an ally, later cut ties and invaded northern Vietnam in 1979 after Vietnam’s intervention in Cambodia.