Viet Cong NLF Hero Award Rosette Ribbon 1967

The Viet Cong – National Liberation Front – used the widest variety of uniforms, headgear and field gear of all the forces fighting in Viet Nam.

VC Main Force units, which were comprised of typically full time soldiers, were organized as Companies, Battalions and Regiments, some as early as 1959. As you may know, the Cadre of these Main Force units, their Officers and senior NCOs, were often Hanoi stay behinds or were infiltrated NVA soldiers. Because of this, these Main Force units were often issued some Chinese made weapons and field gear by their Hanoi benefactors. These units tended to try to standardize their uniforms and equipment, like any military force. They also used Fold rench or captured US made field gear. Standardization on Chinese small arms and equipment was more common as the war dragged on.

When equipment was not sent to these Main Force units, some Main Force units manufactured their own field gear, uniforms and headgear in their jungle workshops. Much of what they copied was patterned after French, ChiCom, North Vietnamese or even US made field gear.

On the other hand, Local Viet Cong units, comprised of part-time guerrillas, either used captured equipment or made their own crude field gear and uniforms. Like their Main Force comrades, they tried to pattern their equipment on French and ChiCom gear. The materials used on the local made gear was often very low quality.

Regardless of your desire to have VC Main Force or VC Local Force uniforms, head gear or equipment, you will find a fascinating variety of items in this area of collecting.

Hand made Local Force VC embroidered award. These were awarded when factory made medals and awards were not available. This one says Hero 1st Class 1967. They were secured with a simple safety pin to the black PJs as this VC Female fighter shows.