How Successful Was the Policy of Containment in Vietnam?

How successful was the policy of containment in Vietnam?

Historians debate whether containment was successful in Vietnam.

How was US policy in Vietnam successful in achieving containment in Vietnam ?

Historians argue there are three main ways containment could be seen as successful in Vietnam.

• ❖ Vietnamisation meant the US passed on the responsibility for defeating communism, rather than 'surrendering' - they continued to give supplies to the South Vietnamese government.
• ❖ The Nixon Doctrine, and the move away from containment, saved countless American lives.
• ❖ Nixon argued that he had achieved 'Peace with Honour'.

How was US policy on containment in Vietnam a failure?

Historians argue there are four main ways containment could be seen as a failure in Vietnam.

• ❖ Vietnam remained a communist country.
• ❖ Vietnamisation was a failure.
• ❖ American actions actually encouraged support for communism in Laos and Cambodia.
• ❖ The fall of Saigon was a victory for communism.