There were many reasons for why USA lost the war and one of them was due to tactics. USA fought a hi-tech war using bombs (which were unnecessary and did a lot of damage which they then had to repair), artillery, helicopters, napalm and defoliants (Agent Orange) which killed many innocent civilians and failed to stop the Vietcong fighters – therefore ineffective and redundant. On the other hand the Vietcong fought a guerrilla war – where they ambushed US patrols, set up booby traps, landmines, and planted bombs in towns. They blended in with the peasants by wearing the same clothes so that the Americans could not identify who the enemy was, and they used underground tunnels which proved to be effective. Not only that, but US soldiers’ weapons were being supplied from 8,000 miles away and the Vietcong were being supplied by China and Russia which weren’t so far away. Due to unfamiliarity to their way of fighting the US soldiers were unable to beat the Vietcong therefore becoming weak and heading for failure.
Another reasons for the defeat was due to the lack of experience of the US soldiers, the treatment of the black soldiers – they were used as bait, and most of the soldiers took drugs, shot their officers and deserted whereas the Vietcong were very determined to drive the Americans out at whatever cost – they were motivated . The war became unpopular in US and lost public support because people didn’t know why they should support it when it was 8,000 miles away. And, also because reporters brought the horrors of war to televisions and papers. The Vietcong were supported by the locals and therefore having the advantage of blending into the crowd and conceal themselves from the US troops. In the end everyone wanted peace so the US decided to get their soldiers out financially. Richard Nixon, who became US president in 1969, began Vietnamisation - pulling US troops out but giving financial support to the South Vietnamese army. Also, because everyone wanted peace, Nixon bombed North Vietnam until they signed the Paris Peace Agreement which allowed the US soldiers to get out therefore showing their defeat just as the Vietcong were about to surrender.
In conclusion, the main reasons for why USA lost the Vietnam War were that their soldiers were very inexperienced, unwilling to fight and did not use the appropriate tactics. Whereas the Vietcong were very prepared (as they were at war so much), motivated and determined to fight. The Vietcong also fought a guerrilla war which was unfamiliar to the soldiers. The war resulted in 58,152 US deaths because of their weakness and the tactic the Vietcong used which was called ‘hanging onto the belts’. This was when they stayed very close to the US troops so that when they attacked, the US could not defeat them without killing their own men. Overall, in my opinion I think that the US involvement was not completely necessary and because of that they were defeated. There were many reasons for why US lost and the one I consider as the main reason is the inexperience. Without the financial reasons, US might not have been able to leave Vietnam therefore resulting in more unnecessary deaths.
