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Following Ho Chi Minh: Bui Tin

Following Ho Chi Minh: Bui Tin
Bui Tin who served on the general staff of North Vietnam’s army received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam. Tin later became the editor of Vietnam’s official newspaper, the “Peoples Daily”. Tin then immigrated to Paris after becoming disillusioned with the fruits of Vietnamese Communism. Following Ho Chi Minh allows the reader to gain valuable insight into how the North Vietnamese forces planned and executed the war, through military and psychological strategies. Bui Tin effectively explains the decisions the United States made during the Vietnam conflict, their mistakes, and missed opportunities. Bui Tin accurately describes the emotion of the people in the Vietnam conflict, especially those in the south. Through Bui Tin the reader is able to gain an inside view of the Vietnamese people, learning more inside information than any western book could ever reveal.
The initial strategy with the Americans had been the same in dealing with the French previously. By fighting a long war which would break the Americans will, to help South Vietnam (Pg.57). Ho Chi Minh said, “We don’t need to win military victories, we only need to hit them until they give up and get out”. Bui Tin explains the initial mistakes on how the Americans planned to win the war. On the event of full out war, the U.S. planned to win as quickly as possible, using the least amount of troops as possible (Pg.57). The U.S. Believed such a small primitive enemy could not last long against one of the world’s superpowers.
Throughout the book Bui Tin explains how important the Ho Chi Minh trail was for the North in their efforts in the war. It was the only way to bring sufficient military supplies into the south. Building and maintaining the trail was a huge effort, involving soldiers, truck drivers, repair teams, medical stations, and communication units. Bui Tin explains due to the trails importance if the U.S. could have effectively cut the Ho Chi Minh trail...