Key Events: The Tet Offensive and My Lai

Two events in 1968 transformed the Vietnam War: the Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre. Together, they shattered American confidence, turned public opinion decisively against the war, and demonstrated that the conflict could not be won. This lesson examines both events in detail.

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The Tet Offensive (January–March 1968)

Background

By late 1967, the US military and the Johnson administration were telling the American public that the war was being won. General William Westmoreland claimed that "the end begins to come into view." The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong would prove this spectacularly wrong.

What Happened?

On 30–31 January 1968 — during the Vietnamese New Year holiday of Tet — the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong launched a massive, coordinated surprise attack across South Vietnam.