Long Tan Day in Vietnam 2023: Date, History, Facts about Vietnam War

Long Tan Day is a commemoration of those who fought and died on August 18 at the Battle of Long Tan and has nothing to do with sunbathing. In a rubber plantation on the outskirts of Long Tan in 1966, the People’s Army of Vietnam and some personnel of the 1st Australian Task Force were surrounded and outnumbered by Viet Cong insurgents. Vietnam and Australia commemorate Long Tan Day on the same day, honouring the valour and unwavering resolve of soldiers who stood their ground despite overwhelming odds.

The background of Long Tan Day

Complex is the narrative of the Vietnam War. The tinder was laid during the French colonial occupation of Vietnam, and conflicts between Asian states eventually erupted following the rise of communism and the conclusion of World War II. As a French colony whose Asian neighbours were obtaining independence triumphantly, the Vietnamese people yearned for a sense of national identity and had a strong desire for independence.

In response to the rise of communism in China, the French relished their control over the region because it provided them with valuable resources and a military defensive position. Numerous allied nations also understood the strategic significance of maintaining Vietnam within the protective embrace of western influence. For the people of North Vietnam, however, who recognised the support and identified with the core concept of Marxist Communism, this was their country, and they desired its return. During the months preceding the outbreak of the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong, also known as the V.C., were equipped and trained to reclaim their homeland with the assistance of China.

Unfortunately, residents of the country’s southern regions did not share the same views, and a violent civil war ensued. The north advocated communism, while the south defended democracy and western values. The Western powers intervened in the conflict, but grossly underestimated the tenacity and expertise of the VC combatants. As the South’s primary ally, President Johnson committed U.S. troops to the endeavour in 1965 for the initial three-year campaign. They were eventually compelled to end the war and abandon Vietnam to its fate as a result of massive opposition from American civil society and devastating losses among American forces. In 1975, the Viet Cong ultimately unified the country under strict communist rule led by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

5 IMPORTANT FACTS REGARDING THE VIETNAM WAR

On the ground, the U.S. soldiers outnumbered and outgunned the Viet Cong, who were almost always defeated in skirmishes and battles. They lost the war at home, where public outrage against the war effort was immense.

The more reliable AK47 was preferred by U.S. personnel over the government-issued M16.

The majority of foreign soldiers who fought in the conflict were drafted and forced to do so.

Due to the disruption of supply lines, soldiers frequently used superglue to seal wounds while waiting for medical assistance.

Over the course of the campaign, an estimated 3,2 million combatants and civilians perished.

LONG TAN DAY DATES