Part III in our video series, America in Vietnam - a travel guide, dives into the Buddhist Crisis of 1963 and the coup that ended the long rule of South Vietnam’s founding president, America’s man, Ngo Dinh Diem.
Our series is designed for history-focused travellers interested in exploring the places behind major historical events. In this case, we’re focused on 1963 and two former capitals; Hue and Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
As the United States goes to war in Iran, comparisons are being drawn with the long catastrophic war in Vietnam.
Like Vietnam, Iran has so far proven to be a determined and proud adversary - beyond the expectations of the US president and military.
Also like Vietnam, the origins of the Iran conflict stretch right back to the 1950s, the end of World War II and the period of decolonisation.
In Iran in 1953, Britain and the US orchestrated a coup against the popularly elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh. His planned nationalisation of the country’s oil resources was opposed by the two leading Western powers in the wake of WWII. Seven decades later, oil is still central to Iran’s story and the current conflict.
In Vietnam, the United States used its influence to prevent free elections planned for 1956 that most observers (including US President Eisenhower) believed would be won by Ho Chi Minh’s communists (see Parts 1 and 2 of this series). While we cannot know what might have followed planned elections in 1956, Vietnamese people, their neighbours in Cambodia and Laos, as well as US soldiers and their families, likely paid an awful price for the decision to boycott the planned elections.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue
Photo: Mark Bowyer Thich Quang Duc monument expands, Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer A small plaque remembers the place where President Diem was captured
The US administration of Trump in 2026 is no match for the intellectual, strategic and managerial depth of Kennedy’s and Johnson’s 1960s Cabinets. Led by Defence Secretary, Robert McNamara, they were known, often ironically, as the “best and brightest”. They were a team of the best minds of their era. McNamara was President of Ford Motor Company before Kennedy picked him to be Defence Secretary.
But Kennedy’s team of academic, business and management superstars went on to create a catastrophe that killed millions.
The 2026 question is whether a US Cabinet that will never be described as "best" or "bright" will do better? The early signs are not good.
Our series of three videos, America in Vietnam - a travel guide is designed to bring deeper understanding of America’s war in Vietnam - especially for travellers. We're old-fashioned enough to believe that historical understanding helps better decision-making. We hope you find episode III interesting and check out the rest of the series.
Check out our detailed guide to the Buddhist Crisis here.
If you'd like to take a history walk in Ho Chi Minh City, (Saigon), hit this link and check out Old Compass Travel
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