There is a good deal of primary source material on the Internet relating to Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam Wars. The following sites must therefore not be seen as ‘library’ type resources for students to go away and read. Their use needs careful consideration in terms of:

• the depth of information they contain
• the range of insights published in them
• the ability to communicate with experts and enthusiasts
• the ability to access original archive material
• the potential to use the sites as the basis of really stimulating and imaginative activities

The following sites are recommended because they meet at least some of the criteria listed above.

Ho Chi Minh: Programme for Communist Indo-China
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1930hochiminh.html

This is the type of resource to establish Ho Chi Minh as the hero of Vietnam. It sets out his vision for the oppressed peoples of Indo-China in 1931. It is not difficult to see the source of Ho’s appeal and why he became known as Uncle Ho while he was in power.

Why I Hate Ho Chi Minh
http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/archives/99/24lede2-nguyen.shtml

This is the sort of resource the Internet does best. It is an article for the Orange County Weekly newspaper in Texas, USA. The author is the son of a Vietnamese supporter of the regime in the South which Ho Chi Minh’s forces overthrew. He describes an incident involving the attempt to honour Ho and why this has caused controversy. It is long but well worth reading.

Fall of Saigon Stories
http://www.wvmccd.cc.ca.us/mc/Fall

This is an oral history website. The stories in it are mainly those of Vietnamese people who experienced the government installed after the American withdrawal and the Communist take-over. It is a must visit site for students of this topic.

Investigating the Vietnam War
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/vietnam.html

This site is part of the excellent network of resources provided on the Spartacus website. It offers links to relevant sites and the opportunity to make contact with Vietnam War veterans.

Women in Vietnam
http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvetsnam.html

This valuable and interesting site is run by Barbara Wilson, a former captain in the American Air Force. The site covers the experiences of both military and civilian women. It also has a useful collection of links to other relevant sites.

Vietnam War Statistics
http://www.vhfcn.org/stats.htm

This site is very much in favour of US policy in Vietnam and so needs to be used with appropriate care. It is produced by American servicemen. It is highly opinionated and needs to be taken in the context of the other sites listed here and the content of the programme.