Vietnam Postal History During The Vietnam War

The Chieu Hoi program ("Open Arms") was an initiative by the United States and South Vietnam to encourage defection by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN, North Vietnam army) and Viet Cong (VC) and their supporters to the side of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. According to U.S, 101,511 PAVN/VC defected under the program but analysts speculate that fewer than 25% of those were genuine.

Chieu Hoi program, issued by South Vietnam on June 1, 1969:

The Strategic Hamlet Program (Vietnamese: Ap Chien luoc) was implemented in 1962 by the government of South Vietnam, with advice and financing from the United States, during the Vietnam War to combat the communist insurgency. The strategy was to isolate the rural population from contact with and influence by the Viet Cong. The Strategic Hamlet Program, along with its predecessor, the Rural Community Development Program, attempted to create new communities of "protected hamlets". The rural peasants would be provided protection, economic support, and aid by the government, thereby strengthening ties with the South Vietnamese government which was hoped would lead to increased loyalty by the peasantry towards the government.

Strategic Villages, issued by South Vietnam on October 26, 1962:

The Vietnam War had devastating human costs on both sides. For South Vietnam specifically, approximately 250,000–316,000 South Vietnamese military personnel were killed during the conflict and estimates suggest around 1,170,000–1,500,000 were wounded.

South Vietnamese civilian deaths are estimated to range from 195,000 to 430,000, with many more injured due to bombing, shelling, and crossfire. The war's total civilian impact is often debated and difficult to precisely quantify due to incomplete records. The exact numbers are hard to determine due to the chaos of war and varying methodologies in casualty reporting. These figures also overlap with broader casualty data from the entire Vietnam conflict, which affected all parties involved.

This set, issued by South Vietnam on September 1, 1972, salutes the wounded soldiers (Nguoi Thuong Binh):

The Battle of Binh Long, was a major battle of the Vietnam War that lasted for 66 days and culminated in a tactical victory for South Vietnam. The struggle for Binh Long in 1972 was an important battle of the war, as South Vietnamese forces halted the North Vietnamese advance towards Saigon. This fighting which ensued became the most protracted conflict of the 1972 Easter Offensive.

To mark the victory in Binh Long, South Vietnam issued a set of two stamps on November 25, 1972. Both stamps show the map of Binh Long Province. The capital An Loc is indicated in both:


Note: The North Vietnamese forces targeted An Loc, capital of Province Binh Long, as a key objective in their effort to push toward Saigon. Because the fighting was concentrated around the town, the battle is more commonly referred to as the "Battle of An Loc" though it involved engagements throughout the province. Both terms, Battle of An Loc and Battle of Binh Long, are used interchangeably, but they highlight either the province-wide context (Binh Long) or the specific and decisive urban battle (An Loc).

North Vietnam and PR of China relationship (I)

Relations between Vietnam and China had been extensive for a couple of millennia, with Northern Vietnam especially under heavy Sinosphere influence.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) assisted North Vietnam and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) during the Vietnam War whilst the Taiwan-based Republic of China (ROC) was allied with South Vietnam.

North Vietnam issued several sets of stamps marking the friendship with PRC. Here are two of them:

North Vietnam and PRC friendship, issued on October 1, 1965:

The 45th anniversary of China Communist Party, stamps show Yenan Bridge (left) and Mau Tse Tung with Ho Chi Minh (right), issued on July 1, 1966:

In page 7 of this thread I posted one stamp from the 1973 set marks the 4181 airplanes shut down. Fortunately, yesterday I found the complete set of four stamps and added it to my Vietnam collection:

- Dogfight - B-52 brought down over Hanoi:

- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress exploding over Haiphong sea port:

- F.111 brought down by anti-aircraft guns:

- Aircraft Wreckage In Eastern Sea:

LaoPhil -

I need to add that set myself, thanks for showing it here.

I recently added this cover to my Vietnam collection. I found it at a Minnesota stamp show:






I am still trying to figure this one out. Even though there is no return address, it appears that it was written by a Canadian member of the ICCS on Indonesian ICCS stationery back to Canada. We started talking about the ICCS on page 2 of this thread. At least it is not another Malott cover. I thought you would like to see it, LaoPhil.

Linus

Thank you very much, Linus, for posting this interesting cover. Seems to me too it is from a Canadian member of ICC since Canada took an important part in the force, represented the Western bloc.

I didn't add any covers to my Vietnam collection for more than a year because there are no flights to Israel now and I can't buy from online sellers outside Israel. Hope soon the situation will be better for all people in the area.
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The Second Battle of Quang Tri (also called Operation Lam Son 72) began on 28 June 1972 and lasted 81 days until 16 September 1972, when South Vietnam's Army of the Republic of Vietnam defeated the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) at the ancient citadel of Quang Tri and recaptured part of Quang Tri Province (below the 17th parallel), especially the Quang Tr#7883; Citadel.

Victory of Quang Tri, issued by South Vietnam on February 24, 1973:

During Vietnam War, many countries, mainly Communist countries, issued stamps supporting North Vietnam. Here is a selection of stamps issued by East Germany DDR between years 1965-1979, all are semi-postal with additional value as a donation for North Vietnam war effort. The slogan on the stamps read "Unbesiegbares Vietnam" - "Invincible Vietnam".