Learn about the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong's surprise attacks and occupation of Hue

NARRATOR: On January 31, 1968, the beginning of TET, the Vietnamese lunar New Year holidays, the Viet Cong, under North Vietnamese direction, launched surprise attacks all across South Vietnam [gunfire]. In Saigon they attacked Tan Son Nhut Air Base, the presidential palace, General Westmoreland's headquarters, and the American Embassy. They occupied the city of Hue for twenty-four days and, while there, executed 2,800 civilians who supported the South Vietnamese government. And they laid siege to the U.S. Marines at Khe Sanh.