Vietnam War – Special 50th anniversary – Exclusive photos of Hue city after the battle of Tet Mau Than, 1968

Tết Mậu Thân in Huế was a brutal and pivotal moment in the Vietnam War. Starting January 31, 1968, the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong (VC) forces surprised everyone by seizing much of the city, including the Citadel. What followed was a grueling 26-day battle with US Marines and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to retake it, marked by intense urban combat and heavy casualties on both sides. The city suffered immense destruction from the fighting and supporting fire.

Tragically, during their occupation, PAVN/VC forces also carried out the Huế Massacre, executing thousands of civilians deemed “enemies.” This horrific event, alongside the fierce battle, deeply shocked both the US and South Vietnamese populations, significantly impacting public opinion and contributing to the eventual US withdrawal. Though the offensive didn’t achieve its immediate military goals, it became a major turning point, exposing the war’s complexities and leaving lasting scars on the people and the heritage of Huế.

These exclusives photos are from our personal collections. They have be taken by the photographer Lam Than Sung, a photographer- reporter from Hue.