Political Profiles of South and

North Vietnam
North Vietnam
Political

Became known as the

Peoples Democratic
Republic of Vietnam

Not all people wanted to live

under communism. Catholics
and some intellectuals fled to
the south

Village administration
remained

enemies of the state were

arrested, re-educated or
executed

Some peasants felt the

communists were disrupting
traditional life

Peasants were educated and

illiteracy removed

The DRV government only

consisted of communists

Agricultural Reform Tribunals

were established. It got rid of
feudalism

Witch hunts became common

with people going through
mock trials and being executed

Set up Corporatisation Plans

each village or hamlet shared
the work and responsibilities
among its members- people
liked this

Economic

Social

Land reform with over 810

000 hectares of land
nationalised and
redistributed
Skilled workers were
encouraged so the North
could develop industry
along with simple

Military

Conscription was
introduced

National Liberation Front

(NLF) established 20
December 1960 and was
established to remove all
foreigners

peasantry skills

Widespread famine did

occur as they did not have
the steady flow of rice from
the South

Due to the famine people

looted buildings in the 300
days of movement

By 1957 it had achieved

self-sufficiency in rice
production

Growth in transport, coal

production, cement
products and electricity

By 1960 fastest growing

economy in South East
Asia

North Vietnamese Army

(NVA) became experienced
in jungle warfare

Peoples Liberation Armed

Forces (PLAF) became
known as the Vietcong

South Vietnam
Political

Diem was president from

October 1955

Government was made up of

Diems relatives

There were three attempted

coups. The third one saw
Diem assassinated 2
November 1963

Economic

Social

Diem attempted to get rid of

people who were against him
especially traditional religious
groups that opposed his
Catholicism

Had a Denunciation campaign to

get rid of communists from the
South

Witch hunts provoked fear amongst

the peasants and this led to the
formation and support of the
Vietcong

Military

Capitalist nation

Diem aided wealthy landlords

and ignored peasants/workers

Unequal distribution of wealth

Landlords could reclaim lost

land and demand back rent
from people living on the land

Development of Agrovilles
communities built to remove
peasants form communist
influence

1957 the US gave South

Vietnam $250 million in aid
with &170 million to be spent
on military

Army of Republic of Vietnam

(ARVN) these were conscripts
that fought alongside US
Forces

Other Differences
South

North

More Chinese influenced

More Traditional Vietnam

Cuisine

Cuisine

Linguistic pronunciation and 5

Linguistic pronunciation and 6

tones, Accents

tones Accents

Climate Northern Vietnam has

a humid subtropical climate
with 4 distinct seasons

Southern Vietnam, with its

much hotter temperatures, has
only two main seasons: a dry
season and a rainy season.

Stereotypes

Northerners tend to view

themselves as more
cultured and refined.

Northerners are more

concerned about status
and appearances.

Northerners are more

conservative and afraid of
change,

Northern Vietnamese are

more socially
conservative,

Stereotypes

Southerners are more

dynamic.

Southern Vietnamese are

socially liberal, open, and
modernist.