Battle of Hue

Battle of Hue

Danny Watters


The Battle of Hue started on January 31, 1968 in Hue City. It ended on March 3, 1968. In the Battle of Hue 668 American soldiers were killed and 8,113 NVA soldiers were killed. 844 civilians were killed in the Battle of Hue.

The North Vietnamese Army attacked Hue very early in the morning on January 31, 1968. They took advantage of the city being poorly defended. It should have been defended because it was only 31 miles from the DMZ (Demilitarization Zone), and should be ready for an attack from the NVA.

The North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong ignored the Tet Truce and attacked anyway launching attacks through out South Vietnam and killing many civilians. This is another reason for the South Vietnamese and United States to be unprepared. The Battle of Hue was one on the biggest and bloodiest battles of them all throughout the Tet Offensive.



The Communist forces suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Hue. They lost about 12 times as many men as the United States and South Vietnamese armies. On February 24, 1968 the South Vietnamese and U.S. captured the Citadel and won the battle with the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong withdrawing from Hue 9 days later.