Ho Chi Minh Trail – the way to victory

Abstract

The article analyzes the role and significance of the network of roads from North Vietnam to South Vietnam, laid in the most difficult conditions and under continuous raids of American aviation by sappers of the Vietnamese people's Army (VPA) and thousands of young volunteers from the local population during the war against US aggression in 1964–1975. The strategic road, called the “Ho Chi Minh trail” by the Americans, allowed the armed forces of the National liberation front of South Vietnam to be supplied with reinforcements, weapons, ammunition, food and medicine. It was one of the decisive factors in the victory of the Vietnamese people. The article reveals the real reasons that prompted the leadership of Vietnam to start this Grand project, shows the main stages of its implementation, which predetermined the successful development of the struggle of the liberation forces in the South. Without the help that was provided in those years by the Soviet Union and other countries of Eastern bloc, the victory in the most difficult and bloody war would, of course, have been impossible. But this aid still had to be delivered to its destination. Therefore, the “Ho Chi Minh trail” entered the history of the war of Resistance in 1964–1975 as a manifestation of the greatest resistance and mass heroism of the people and as a path to victory

Keywords

• geneva agreements of 1954
• guerilla warfare
• truongshon ridge
• “ho chi minh trail”
• “commando 559”
• plastic pipeline
• kuchi tunnels
• palace of independence