Jack Nguyen Battlefield Tours

31/01/2023

On this day 55 years ago, January 31st 1968, Vietcong forces attacked 5 military and political targets in Saigon, the capital of the Republic of Vietnam, starting the Tet Offensive in all other towns and cities of the nation. 5 targets in Saigon are the US Embassy, the Presidential Palace, the Saigon Broadcasting Station, the Vietnam Navy Command and ARVN Joint Chief of Staff compound. The attacks started from 0100 and were soon repulsed in the morning. All assailants were killed or captured with little loss from the defenders. A tactical victory, but a devastated political and media defeat for the Allied Forces, as despite over 20,000 American KIA and more than 500,000 American stationed in Vietnam, the Vietcong still be able to infiltrated the Presidential Palace, and the US Embassy.

Please check captions in each photo. All photo taken by me in 2023

13/02/2022

The buildings near Phu Tho racetrack, where 15 US Military Police (MPs) withdrew into and took shelter during the Tet offensive battle of Cholon and Phu Tho Racetrack. 3 MP patrols were ambushed on the six-way intersection southwest of the Racetrack resulted in 4 MPs killed and 2 wounded, on the early morning of 30th January 1968. Lt Col. Gordon D. Rowe, CO of 716th MP Battalion, sent a truck carrying 13 MPs to investigate. The squad arrived at 0600 and rescued 2 wounded, but were forced to withdraw into these buildings due to heavy enemy fire from the Vietcong 6th Binh Tan Battalion occupying the area. Reinforcements from US 199th LIB, the ARVN 38th Rangers and 33th Rangers Battalion joined the battle shortly after, and reached the trapped MPs at 1100. The fight continued until February 1st, when the neighborhood was declared secure.

Photo credits in captions

07/12/2021

05/12/2021

The VC attack on Victoria BOQ, April 1st 1966

Extract from the book MACV Headquarters: The Years of Expansion, 1965–1967:
"On 1 April 1966, after a short, violent gunfight with U.S. MPs, the enemy set off a large truck bomb at the Victoria Bachelor Officers Quarters, causing over 120 American, Vietnamese, and Australian casualties"

In details, there was 3 MPs KIA and 116 men wounded . Thanks to the bravery of Private Patrick J. Brems, who pushed the truck bomb away from the building lobby out into the street, the huge explosion just shattered the walls and windows, but he was mortally wounded.

Private Brems was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

Today, the building still survive, and being used as student dormitory.

Top photo taken in 1966 by unknown photographer
Below photo taken in 2016 by Jack Nguyen

19/11/2021

The main gate of Bui Vien BEQ on the T-junction of Bui Vien and Do Quang Dau Street. The building was opened in January 1965 for enlisted men with 24 rooms. Notice the wired "cage" and barrels at the front to protect the guards from Vietcong grenades and car bomb attacks, 2 guard posts can be seen inside the cage. Today, Bui Vien street is famous for backpackers in Saigon, with numerous bars and hotels and entertaining nightlife.

Top photo unknown photographer and date
Below photo taken by Jack Nguyen in 2017

08/11/2021

A commemorative plaque, given to Saigon City Mayor - Brigadier General Do Kien Nhieu in 1972, by United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam or MACV. The plaque featured MACV insignia on the left, the Emblem of Saigon on the right, and below is the dedication: "Brigadier General Do Kien Nhieu - With sincere appreciation for outstanding work as chairman of the Saigon-Gia Dinh friendship council - The United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 28th February 1972"

Photo taken by Jack Nguyen in Gia Long Palace, now Ho Chi Minh City Museum

29/10/2021

A guard tower of Cong Hoa Garrison, riddled with bullet holes after the 1963 coup d'etat that killed President Ngo Dinh Diem and his advisor Ngo Dinh Nhu, also his brother. The garrison was home of Presidential Guards Unit , a regiment-size infantry unit with its own artillery and armor company, located just 1000 yards from the gate of Presidential Palace. It was the last unit to surrender the coup d'etat, after President Diem was killed near a church in Cholon area. The successful coup began the 2 years period of unstable political of South Vietnam, with numerous other coups from generals and parties to seize the power, and finally ended in 1965 with the inauguration of President Nguyen Van Thieu, and the beginning of the Second Republic of Vietnam.

Top photo taken by Al Adcock in 1964
Bottom photo taken by Jack Nguyen in 2021
#1963

22/10/2021

Mr. Tran Van Huu (1895-1985), Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam, standing next to National Flag on the porch roof of Gia Long Palace. He was born in Vinh Long province, and studied abroad in France, as an Agriculture Engineer. Huu started his political career in 1947 as Minister of Finance in République autonome de Cochinchine. On May 6th 1950, Huu succeeded Prime Minister Nguyen Phan Long and became the 4th Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam. After the 1955 referendum in which ended the State of Vietnam regime, Tran Van Huu exiled in France and worked to undermined the new regime. He served as leader of the Committee for Peace and Renewal of South Vietnam, an organization that lobbied for peace and the neutralization of Vietnam in the Cold War. Because of his lobbying efforts and past political standing, Hữu was an ally of the National Liberation Front (NLF) or Vietcong in Paris.

Left photo taken by Carl Mydans in 1950
Right photo taken by Jack Nguyen

09/10/2021

The Republic of Vietnam National Defense College, teaching newest military tactics for General Staff officers. The building was built in early 1930s during French colonial, as Foyer du Soldat et du Marin, or Army and Navy Clubhouse. It became part of the Cong Hoa Garrison, home of the Presidential Palace Guard Regiment in late 1950s. After the 1963 coup d'etat, it was use as National Defense College until 1975. Today the building served as Museum of Ho Chi Minh Campaign, and display some great collection of war relics from both sides.

Left photo taken in 1972 by Wilkinson
Right photo taken in 2021 by Jack Nguyen

27/09/2021

Wreckage of a car on a pave way in Cholon after the May Offensive. It took a direct hit of RPG fired from the building behind, which is a Vietcong stronghold. The position itself was later blown up by rockets fired from attack helicopter. This offensive was conducted in May 1968, after the Tet Offensive in January same year, also called Mini-Tet. Vietcong forces attacked the dense populated area of Cholon, forced the ARVN to fight in urban warfare, limited their firepower, with civilians stuck in the middle of firefights. After all residents were evacuated, this became a Free-fire zone, artillery and air support were called in to assist the defenders, inflicted heavy casualties on the Vietcong and defeated them.

1968 photo taken by unknown photographer
2018 photo taken by Jack Nguyen

24/09/2021

During the First Indochina War, roads and bridges are the key elements of French economic and military tactics. These infrastructures were high value targets for the Vietminh guerillas to sabotage and disable, by various ways, from remote control or time bomb, to anti vehicle mines and roadblocks. Many guard towers and bunkers were built to protect them. This particular guard tower was built in October 1948, and located at the eastern end of Binh Loi Railroad bridge, one of the only two bridges crossing Saigon River. Built from bricks and cement, about 6 meters high from the ground and have enough room for a squad or platoon sized garrison. On the front there are many bullet holes from a battle between South Vietnam Marines and 2 Vietcong battalions during the 1968 Tet Offensive that occur around this bridge. This relic still exist today, but visiting might be tricky due to urbanization has almost blocked the way in.

1951 AP Photo by Jean-Jacques Levy
2018 photo taken by Jack Nguyen

22/09/2021

The Meyerkord Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ) was built in triangular shape on the corner of Truong Dinh and Nguyen Du street. It housed US Army and Navy officers as well as the USO troops when they were on R&R in Saigon. It had it's own cafeteria and a Post Exchange on the ground floor. The building was just 400 yards from the Presidential Palace, have a green view overlooking Tao Dan Park. After war it was occupied by a state-owned company, and still survived today.
Left photo taken in 1965 by Tom Robinson
Right photo taken in 2018 by Jack Nguyen

20/09/2021

Wow, we have reached the 200th Like in just 9 days ! Thank you all for your support, the upcoming posts will not disappoint you !

17/09/2021

The first purpose-built United States Embassy of Saigon, located on Ham Nghi Street and just about 200 yards from Saigon river. The building was built in 1950 when the US granted recognition to the State of Vietnam. On March 30, 1965, a car bomb parking next to building was set off by Vietcong terrorists, killing 22 and wounded 183 personnel. Among the dead was a CIA employee, Barbara Robbins. In 1967 the embassy was moved to nowadays location on Thong Nhat Street, this building was used by civilian and still remain today.

1965 photo unknown photographer
2018 photo taken by Jack Nguyen

16/09/2021

Naval Support Activity Saigon, or NSAS, was activated on 17 May 1966 with their mission to provide logistic support to naval units in the II, III and IV Corps Tactical Zones.
The support activity supplied the Navy's Coastal Surveillance Force, River Patrol Force, Mobile Riverine Force and various specialized headquarters, offices, and detachments.
This building on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street of Saigon, was NSAS headquarters from 1966 to 1972. Across the street is headquarters of Naval Forces, Vietnam(NAVFORV) which directed NSAS's operations, a friendly neighbor.

1968 photo taken by Charles F. Rauch, Jr.
2018 photo taken by Jack Nguyen

15/09/2021

The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam(MACV) 2nd Headquarters, located on the busy Pasteur Street in Saigon center. MACV occupied this building from May 1962 to July 1966. Before that, it was the headquarters of Michigan State University Group or MSUG, which advised President Diem his policy against Communist guerillas. After 1966, the new MACV headquarters moved to aside Tan Son Nhut airbase, and this building was used by the MACV Studies and Observation Groups, or MACV-SOG as their Saigon headquarters till 1972.

1966 photo taken by Major General George S. Eckhardt, Department of the Army, Library of Congress
Catalog Card Number 72-600186

2016 photo taken by Jack Nguyen

12/09/2021

Dear valued customers

Welcome to Jack Nguyen Battlefield tour services. My name is Jack Nguyen, a Vietnam collector for 6 years and been studying Vietnam history since a young boy. I love the city of Saigon and its diversity of culture, architecture and history. This service was created expecting to become what other lack of - unbiased information, real experience, and field exploring. Please find your proper tours in "Services" tab, and if it was not there for you, don't hesitate to contact me and we will have a special tour for you only.

YOUR PLEASURE IS MY REPUTATION

Jack

Picture below: Map of American facilities and tourist attractions in Saigon, published in 1965 by United Service Organization (USO)