Viet Cong

Viet Cong, name that refers to Vietnamese Communists and those who joined them to fight the South Vietnamese army and United States forces during the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The term is a contraction of Viet-nam Cong-san and was the equivalent of “Commie.” It was originally used by Ngo Dinh Diem, who was president of South Vietnam from 1955 until 1963. Viet Cong was often used specifically in reference to the guerrilla fighters of the National Liberation Front. These fighters belonged to the armed wing of the NLF called the People’s Liberation Armed Forces. They fought in cooperation with the North Vietnamese army.