By Mark Bowyer
/
Last updated 06 Apr 2026
In this Rusty Compass video, we explore the places of the 1963 Buddhist Crisis - one of the most important events in America's catastrophic war in Vietnam. Hue and Saigon are the focus of our exploration - including little-known historical gems.The Buddhist Crisis was the prelude the US ground war in Vietnam - a massive increase in its military presence and the lethality of the war for Vietnamese people and US soldiers. The crisis ended a long US commitment to controversial President Ngo Dinh Diem, the founding president of the anti-Communist state. The coup was followed by years of political instability. It's still an historical event of great consequence and fascination and takes on even greater significance as America goes to war in Iran in 2026.