What did soldiers call Vietnam enemies in the Vietnam War?

Answer 1

In the 1960's, the news media & magazines (Time, Life, Look, etc.) all referred to the enemy in the Vietnam War as the VC (Viet Cong). After the TET offensive in '68, those men were basically gone (killed off during the TET fighting). But the NAME was already ingrained on the public's mind, and so it was too on the GI's in country. But for the new arrivals (GI's) in country from '69 onward, hearing the name "VC" was heard less than the name NVA. The southern part of South Vietnam, had been traditonally VC country. But since they had more or less been killed off, from '69 onward, the Mekong Delta area was "basically a VC reputation" only. They were hardly there anymore. When GI's moved northward into the Highlands and northern I Corps, there might have been MORE active VC, but by far the NVA operated in those areas. So the name NVA became more widespread & common than the "local VC", whom by 1970 was considered something of the past. We always used the term "Charlie" or "Victor Charlie" or "NVA". And when doing so, someone would always snap his head towards the speaker, and say, "...what? where? what are you talking about?" as he became alarmed and looked around. So we tried NOT to use the enemies names during conversation unless it was necessary; because "alarmed" the GI's. There was always something better to talk about than the enemy.

Answer 2

Viet-cong or sometimes Charlie.