How did the Viet Cong recruit fighters in South Vietnam?
The overwhelming majority of the Viet Cong were recruited within South Vietnam. Their ranks grew significantly as many non-communist Vietnamese were alienated by the corruption, intimidation, and perceived favoritism of the South Vietnamese government under President Ngo Dinh Diem, whose officials were often viewed as outsiders.12
Recruitment was facilitated through a tiered structure within the Peopleās Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF):
- Village Guerrilla Units: These part-time combatants lived at home and worked regular jobs during the day. Their role included persuading or intimidating neighbors into supporting the National Liberation Front (NLF), while simultaneously serving as a primary recruiting agency for higher echelons of the PLAF.2
- Regional and Main Forces: As guerrilla militia members gained experience, they were often promoted to full-time regional or main force units.2
Additionally, the movement was bolstered by southerners who had been trained as insurgents in the North and subsequently infiltrated back into South Vietnam, along with reinforcements from the North Vietnamese Army. Following heavy losses during the 1968 Tet Offensive, the Viet Cong's ranks were increasingly filled by North Vietnamese soldiers.12