Turning Point
Tet Offensive
This map shows the targets of the Tet Offensive.
Tet was a celebration of the Vietnamese lunar new year that occurred on January 30,1968. A cease fire was established for that day, but the Viet Cong ignored this agreement. A plan was established for the Viet Cong to attack multiple cities and major bases throughout South Vietnam. They hoped the attacks would cause the South Vietnamese population to overthrow the government in Saigon. It was supposed to be a surprise attack, but the Americans received word of the attack and so weren't caught completely by surprise. The Tet Offensive continued for a few months, but by its end in March 1968, it was determined to be a military loss for the North Vietnamese. The Viet Cong were wiped out and ceased to be an important force in the war. Also, the South Vietnamese uprising didn't happen. Despite it's many costs, the Tet Offensive worked in the favor of the North Vietnamese strategically.