The Viet Cong were a guerrilla force that fought against American soldiers and liberators during the Vietnam War. The VC military alphabet code was used to communicate with each other while on the battlefield.
Many Americans are unaware of this fact, but they played an important role in ending the war in Vietnam. Today, servicemen and women around the world use similar codes to keep communications secure while deployed or operating in dangerous environments.
As we know all too well, wars can be destructive and deadly affairs – thanks largely to those who waged them in past centuries.

Why Are Vietnamese Called Charlie?
The Viet Cong (VC) were a guerrilla force that fought against American troops during the Vietnam War. Military Alphabet Code (VC) was used to represent different types of military equipment and supplies in the war zone.
American Soldiers and Liberators helped bring peace and democracy to South Vietnam after years of conflict. In total, more than 58,000 Americans died while serving in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era. Today, Memorial Day marks one day each year when we remember all who have served our country in uniform – from past generations to those currently fighting abroad.
The Viet Cong
The Viet Cong are named after the French word for “chicken,” Charlie. The term Vietnamese was first used to refer to Chinese soldiers in Vietnam during the First Indochina War.
In 1969, North Vietnam renaming their army as the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and changed its name from Viet Minh to Viet Cong in order to further distance themselves from China and Russia.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the VC were considered one of America’s most fearsome enemies due to their attacks on American civilians and military personnel throughout South East Asia . As of 2018, there are about 50,000 members remaining within mainland China , with another few thousand overseas.
American Soldiers and Liberators
The word “charlie” is actually derived from the Vietnamese word for “freedom.” American soldiers and liberators played a huge role in bringing democracy to Vietnam after their country was invaded by the French in 1954.
Many people in Vietnam still refer to Americans as charlies today, even though most of them no longer live there. In 1969, when U.S.-backed South Vietnamese forces overthrew the North Vietnamese government, many Americans living in Vietnam celebrated with a beer or two…or ten.
And they’ve been having fun ever since – especially during National Charlie Day on October 26th each year.
Military Alphabet Code (VC)
The Vietnamese word for “chicken” is chiến, and the code used in military communication is VC. When American soldiers were fighting in Vietnam, they started calling the chickens they saw there chilies because their bird sounds similar to the Vietnamese word for chicken.
Eventually, people began to use this term more generally to refer to all Asian poultry like ducks and geese. Today, “chili” can be used as a noun or adjective meaning anything spicy or interesting, especially food items from Mexico and Central America. In fact, you can even find chili recipes on many websites across different countries.
To Recap
The origins of the Vietnamese people are a mystery, but one theory suggests that they may have been called Charlie because they were very good at hiding during war time.
Today, the Vietnamese culture is highly respected and enjoyed by many around the world.
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