“The American War” is the term used in Vietnam to describe what in the West is known as the Vietnam War. While much of the existing research has been written from an American point of view, this study aims to shift focus and analyse the war from the North Vietnamese perspective. A decisive factor in North Vietnam's success during the war was their access to logistics via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This trail was a path that stretched through the jungles of Laos and Cambodia.
Something that often leads to discussion is how a seemingly inferior state can win against a numerically or technologically superior opponent. Creating understanding for this phenomenon and what North Vietnam did to increase their chances of survival and sustain their logistical flow, may be useful for other states in similar situations. This study answers the question: How did North Vietnam sustain logistical flow via the Ho Chi Minh trail during the Vietnam war? This question will be answered by using the Underdog’s Model and the Operational Logistics theory in a combined framework.
This is a qualitative case study that aims to create understanding on how an undermined state can survive against a qualitative or quantitative superior opponent. The results show that the factors from to theories helps us to understand the war from the north vietnamese perspective. The findings are that the North Vietnamese forces were creative, flexible and showed commitment in their war waging, for example when they mislead the opponent by using camouflage and faked transportations.