Tet offensive

Tet offensive (29 Jan.–25 Feb. 1968). An assault launched in the Vietnam War by Vietcong guerrillas and North Vietnamese army units, timed to coincide with the first day of the Tet holiday (the lunar New Year). Under the command of Vo Nguyen Giap attacks were mounted against Saigon, Hue, as well as some ninety towns, and hundreds of villages. There were heavy casualties on both sides and the main attacks were successfully repulsed by US troops. Although technically a defeat for the North Vietnamese forces, the extent of the offensive, despite the might of over 500,000 US troops, shocked US public opinion and convinced the Johnson administration of the need to end US involvement. Talks were begun in Paris in 1968, which were only concluded five years later with the Paris Peace Accords of 1973.