PEOPLE
Bao Dai
Bảo Đại
The last emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, which was the last ruling family in Vietnam
Bay Khiem
First name: Khiem
Bảy Khiêm
Nguyen Dinh Bay: VC, the newly anointed head of “security” for the southern half of the city
Cao Tho Xa
First name: Xa
Cao Thọ/Thơ Xa/Xá
A cruel tyrant who had administrative personnel sleep at his house on Thong Nhat Street
Cao Van Sen
First name: Sen
Cao Văn Sen
A VC regular who took care of delivering the Alliance flag
Che Thi Mung
First name: Mung
Chế Thị Mừng
VC, a member of the Huong River Squad
Chot
Chột
ARVN, nickname of a South Vietnamese soldier who was Le Quang Truong’s officer. He challenged Tang Van Mieu by radio
Dac
Đắc
A young commissar whom Tran Thi Thu Van, “Nha Ca,” the author of Mourning Headband for Hue, identified as Nguyen Dac Xuan
Dang Dinh Loan
First name: Loan
Đặng Đình Loan
VC, a political officer whose battalion approached southern Hue from the west
Dang Hoa Ho
First name: Hoa
Đăng Hòa Hồ
VC, an officer
Dang Kinh
First name: Kinh
Đặng Kinh
VC, general assigned to the entire zone of Thua Thien–Hue
Doan Van Ba
Đoàn Văn/Vân Ba
An ARVN surgeon whom Meadows picked up and who treated Anderegg
Hai, Major
First name: Hai
Hải
The VC officer who was leading the queue that had Nguyen Dac Xuan’s friend Le Quang
Ho Thi Kim Loan
First name: Loan
Hồ Thị Kim Loan
A member of the Provincial Rural Developmental Group
Hoang Anh De
First name: De
Hoàng Anh Đề
VC, the major of the battalion that took part in the attack on Tam Thai
Hoang Thanh Tung
First name: Tung
Hoàng Thanh Tùng
A propagandist who had been working with the VC for four years, later helped with sorting out the captives
Hoang Thi No
First name: No
Hoàng Thị Nở
VC, a member of the Huong River Squad
Huynh Van Don
First name: Don
Huỳnh Văn Đồn/Đôn
A civilian who sold gasoline in front of the police station on Hung Vuong Street, Vy Da
Major Khoa, Mayor
First name: Khoa
Phan Văn Khoa
The mayor who was rescued by Captain Ron Christmas
Lam Hai Luong
First name: Luong
Lâm Hải Lượng
An ARVN officer who was also the son of Lam Ung
Lam Ung
First name: Ung
Lâm Ứng
An ARVN lieutenant
Le Cong Thanh
First name: Thanh
Lê Công Thành
Civilian, a twelve-year-old boy who lived near the Citadel
Le Huu Tong
First name: Tong
Lê Hữu Tòng
VC, one of the forty-six men carrying rocket launchers
Le Kha Phieu
First name: Phieu
Lê Khả Phiêu
Political commissar for city Front
Le Minh
First name: Minh
Lê Minh
VC, deputy secretary of Quang Tri, Thua Thien–Hue
Le Ngoc Thinh
First name: Thinh
Lê Ngọc Thịnh/Thỉnh
Civilian
Le Quang
First name: Quang
Lê Quang
A friend of Nguyen Dac Xuan who was saved by him
Le Quang Truong
First name: Truong
Lê Quang Trưởng
General Truong
Le Thi Mai
First name: Mai
Lê Thị Mai
The woman who sewed the Alliance flag for Sergeant Cao Van Sen
Le Tu Minh
First name: Minh
Lê Tư Minh
Chief of the party’s Central Committee in Hue
Le Van Hoi
First name: Hoi
Lê Văn Hội
Civilian
Le Van May
First name: May
Lê Văn May
Civilian, father of Le Ngoc Thinh
Mai Van Ngu
First name: Ngu
Mai Văn Ngụ
A local crime boss in Thoi Lai who later changed his name to Hòa
Mai Xuan Bao
First name: Bao
Mai Xuân Bảo
VC, a commando
Mau Ty
First name: Ty
Mậu Tý
A student killed by Dac, who was a VC officer. His full name is Tran Mau Ty (Trần Mậu Tý).
Ngo Dinh Diem
First name: Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm
President of South Vietnam 1955–1963
Ngo Quang Truong
First name: Truong
Ngô Quang Trưởng
Commander of the ARVN First Division at Mang Ca
Nguyen Cao Ky
First name: Ky
Nguyễn Cao Kỳ
South Vietnam’s vice president
Nguyen Chi Canh
First name: Canh
Nguyễn Chí Cảnh
The former Hue police chief
Nguyen Cong Minh
First name: Minh
Nguyễn Công Minh
A civilian who lived on Vy Da Street
Nguyen Dac Xuan
First name: Xuan
Nguyễn Đắc Xuân
VC, a poet/propagandist who came through the northeastern passage into the Citadel
Nguyen Duc Thuan
First name: Thuan
Nguyễn Đức Thuận
VC, a Commander
Nguyen Huu Ai
First name: Ai
Nguyễn Hữu Ái
A high school student who lived on Vy Da Street
Nguyen Ngoc Loan
First name: Loan
Nguyễn Ngọc Loan
The national police chief who shot a handcuffed VC prisoner in the head
Nguyen Ngu
First name: Ngu
Nguyễn Ngữ
The civilian whose family helped Nguyen Van Quang bring the weapons into Hue
Nguyen Quang Ha
First name: Ha
Nguyễn Quang Hà
VC, a member of the City Unit
Nguyen Van Ty
First name: Thu
Nguyễn Văn Tý
The owner of a construction materials company whose home near the Ngo Mon Gate was commandeered early in the battle by an ARVN battalion
Nguyen Thu
Nguyễn Thu
VC, a major who was the field commander for north of the Huong River
Nguyen Van Lem
First name: Lem
Nguyễn Văn Lém
A member of the NLF who was executed by Nguyen Ngoc Loan, was also referred to as Bảy Lốp or Ew Tu
Nguyen Van Quang
First name: Quang
Nguyễn Văn Quang
First name: Quang
VC, the local cadre chief who smuggled the weapons into Hue
Nguyen Van Thieu
First name: Thieu
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
First name: Thiệu
President of South Vietnam 1965–1975
Nguyen Thi Quen
Nguyễn Thị Quên
Nguyen Van Ty’s sister, who was spying for the VC, and who was later killed
Nguyen Xuan Oanh
First name: Oanh
Nguyễn Xuân Oánh
A critic of Nguyen Van Thieu
Nguyens
Nguyễn
The last Vietnamese dynasty
Nha Ca
Nhã Ca
Civilian, author (pen name) of Mourning Headband for Hue
Pham Thi Lien
First name: Lien
Phạm Thị Liên
VC, the leader of the Huong River Squad
Pham Van Dinh
First name: Dinh
Phạm Văn Đính
The colonel of the ARVN unit Hac Bao
Pham Van Khoa
First name: Khoa
Phạm Văn Khoa
A lieutenant colonel who was mayor of Hue and the Thua Thien Province chief
Phan Huu Chi
First name: Chi
Phan Hữu Chí
ARVN, lieutenant colonel
Phan Ngoc Luong
First name: Luong
Phan Ngọc Lương
Captain of ARVN First Battalion, Third Regiment
Quy Nguyen
Nguyễn Quy/Quý/Quỳ
Civilian, a twelve-year-old Vietnamese boy who was Doezema’s friend
Soi
Soi/Sồi
The first lieutenant of Puppet First Division
Song Hao
Song Hào
The nickname of Nguyen Van Khuong (Nguyễn Văn Khương), one of the three senior military leaders who approved Dang Kinh’s decision to hold on in Hue
Tang Van Mieu
First name: Mieu
Tăng Văn Miêu
VC, a lieutenant who was the field commander of everything south of the Huong River
Than Trong Mot
First name: Mot
Thân Trọng Một
VC, Southern area commander
Thich Don Hau
First name: Hau
Thích Đôn Hậu
A Buddhist monk who joined the NLF
General Ton That Dinh
Tôn Thất Đính
The ARVN battalion commander who seized Nguyen Van Ty’s home near the Ngo Mon Gate
Ton That Te
First name: Te
Tôn Thất [...]
A member of Dai Viet Party. The name was recorded wrongly. Instead of Te, it must be Ke (Kế)
Ton That Vu
First name: Vu
Tôn Thất Vũ
The son of Tot That Te. He was the owner of Viet Tuyen shop in Hue
Tran Anh Lien
First name: Lien
Trần Anh Liên
VC, the Hue City Party Committee secretary
Tran Da Tu
First name: Tu
Trần Dạ Từ
Tran Thi Thu Van’s husband
Tran Ngoc Hue
First name: Hue
Trần Ngọc Huế
Nickname: Harry the lieutenant of Hac Bao (the Black Panthers)
Tran Quoc Phong
First name: Phong
Trần Quốc Phong
The head of Hoang Thanh Tung’s unit
Tran Huy Chung
Trần Huy Chung
An eleven-year-old boy who played games with the VC soldiers when they occupied his neighborhood
Tran Thi Thu Van
First name: Van
Trần Thị Thu Vân
Also known as Nha Ca
Tran Toi
First name: Toi
Trần Tới
Civilian
Trinh Cong Son
First name: Son
Trịnh Công Sơn
The famous Vietnamese folksinger, poet, painter, and composer who was known as “the Vietnamese Bob Dylan”
Truong Sinh
First name: Sinh
Trường Sinh/Trương Sinh
VC, a commander
Tuy-Cam
Túy/Thúy/Thủy Cầm/Cẩm
Civilian
Van
Vạn/Văn/Vân
A bus driver on Thuan An Road
Van Tien Dung
First name: Dung
Văn Tiến Dũng
One of the three senior military leaders who approved Dang Kinh’s decision to hold on in Hue
Vo Nguyen Giap
First name: Giap
Võ Nguyên Giáp
VC, the legendary general
Vo Suu
First name: Suu
Võ Sửu
A cameraman for NBC
Xa
Xa/Xạ/Xà/Xá/Xã
A policeman from Quang Tri
PLACES
An Cuu
An Cựu
A bridge in Hue, north of Phu Bai
An Dinh
An Định
The palace where the last emperor, Bao Dai, stayed. It is located on the bank of An Cuu River
An Hoa
An Hòa
The northwestern gate into the Citadel
Ba Trieu
Bà Triệu
A street that runs through the center of Hue
Bac Ninh
Bắc Ninh
A village north of Ha Noi
Bach Ho
Bạch Hổ
A railroad bridge that was one mile to the west of Hue
Bach Ma
Bạch Mã
The national forest, located near Hue, which contains the highest peak between Hue and Da Nang
Ben Ngu Bến Ngự
A market in Hue
Ben Suc
Bến Súc
A village that was the main pillar of the Viet Cong’s dominance over the Iron Triangle
Can Tho
Cần Thơ
The largest city in the Mekong delta
Cao Van
Cao Vân, short for Trần Cao Vân
A street in Hue
Chanh Tay
Chánh Tây
The north gate on the Citadel’s west wall
Chia Voi
Chìa Vôi
A mountain; many books and maps have this mountain’s name misspelled
as Chi Voi
Cho Lon
Chợ Lớn
A market in Sai Gon
Church of the Most Holy Redeemer
Nhà thờ Đức Mẹ Hằng Cứu Giúp/Nhà thờ Dòng Chúa Cứu Thế
A Catholic church in Hue, often referred to by the name Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Nhà thờ Đức Mẹ Hằng Cứu Giúp/Nhà thờ Dòng Chúa Cứu Thế
A Catholic church in Hue, often referred to by the name Church of the Most Holy Redeemer
Con Dao
Côn Đảo
The islands located in the Southeast region of Vietnam, Site of the infamous
Tiger Cages
Con Tien
Cồn Tiên
Often misspelled as Con Thien
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng
The largest city in Central Vietnam, often spelled as Danang
Dai Viet
Đại Việt
A nationalist and anticommunist political party in Vietnam. Its full name is Đại Việt Quốc dân đảng
Dao
Đào
A river in Hue
Dap Da
Đập Đá
A town in South Central Vietnam
Dinh Bo Linh
Đinh Bộ Lĩnh
A street in Hue
Dinh Mon
Định Môn
A village near Gia Long tomb
Doi Cung
Đội Cung
A street in Hue, a block south of the riverfront
Duong Hoa
Dương Hòa
A village near Gia Long tomb
Duy Tan
Duy Tân
The stretch of Highway 1 that passed through the city
Gia Hoi
Gia Hội
A neighborhood located immediately east of the Citadel
Green, the
xanh
A term referring to the forest and mountainous areas where the VC units were based
Ha Noi
Hà Nội
The capital city of Vietnam, often spelled as Hanoi
Hau
Hậu
The main north gate into the Citadel
Hen
Hến
A long sliver of land at the center of the Huong River. It was usually referred to as Con Hen (Cồn Hến) by the Americans. The word con (cồn) has the meaning “islet” and therefore is not part of the proper name
Highway 1
Quốc lộ 1/1A
National Route 1A, often referred to as National Road 1A
Ho Chi Minh
Hồ Chí Minh
The famous Vietnamese Communist revolutionary leader, or the current name of a city in South Vietnam; often spelled as Hochiminh
Hue
Huế
The city in Central Vietnam
Huong
Hương
The famous river in Hue Can also be called Hương Giang and is often referred to as the Perfume/Fragrance River
Huong Giang
Hương Giang
The hotel right on the bank of Huong River
Huu
Hữu
The gate located in the southwestern side of the Citadel
Jeanne d’Arc School
trường Jeanne d’Arc
A high school in Hue, now known as Nguyễn Trường Tộ High School
Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh
A district in the northwestern part of Quang Tri Province
Kim Do
Kim Đô
A fishing village northeast of the Citadel
Kim Phung
Kim Phụng
A mountain west of Hue
La Chu
La Chữ
A village in Thua Thien Province. Referred to in many maps and books as Thon La Chu, which is actually a misunderstanding. In Vietnamese, the word thon (thôn) means “a small village.” The name of this village is only La Chữ.
Lac Thanh
Lạc Thạnh
A restaurant located on Dinh Bo Linh Street, Hue
Le Loi
Lê Lợi
A street in Hue that runs parallel to the Huong River
Le Loi
Lê Lợi
An elementary school in Hue. It was also known by the name Chaigneau
Le Van Duyet
Lê Văn Duyệt
A street in Hue
Lieu Coc
Liễu Cốc
A village located in Huong Tra (Hương Trà) district, Hue. Referred to in many maps and books as Thon Lieu Coc, which is actually a misunderstanding. In Vietnamese, the word thon (thôn) means “a small village.” The name of this village is only Liễu Cốc.
Ly Thuong Kiet
Lý Thường Kiệt
A street that leads toward the vital center of southern Hue
Mai Thuc Loan
Mai Thúc Loan
A street in Hue
Mang Ca
Mang Cá
The area where the headquarters of ARVN First Division were located
Nam Giao
Nam Giao
A bridge in Hue, often misspelled as Nam Gio
Ngo Mon
Ngọ Môn
The two-story platform that stood just outside the royal palace, before the Citadel’s southern wall. It is also the name of the gate before the royal palace.
Ngu
Ngự
A river built of an old branch of Huong River. It runs from west to east in the Citadel. The full name is Ngu Ha (Ngự Hà). People often call it song Vua (sông Vua), which means “Emperor River”
Nguyen Hoang
Nguyễn Hoàng
A bus station in Hue
Nhu Y
Như Ý
A branch of Huong River that runs by Dap Da
Phan Dinh Phung
Phan Đình Phùng
The street that paralleled the Phu Cam Canal
Phong Dien
Phong Điền
A rural district in Thua Thien–Hue Province
Phu Bai
Phú Bài
A city located just south of Hue
Phu Cam
Phủ Cam
The canal that forms the western side of the Triangle, and also an important Catholic church in Hue
Phu Loc
Phú Lộc
A rural district of Thua Thien–Hue Province
Phu O
Phú Ổ
A small hamlet to the west of the T-T Woods
Quang Tri
Quảng Trị
A province in the North Central coast region of Vietnam, north of the former imperial capital of Hue
Que Chu
Quế Chữ
A village in Thua Thien Province. Referred to in many maps and books as Thon Que Chu, which is actually a misunderstanding. In Vietnamese, the word thon (thôn) means “a small village.” The name of this village is only Quế Chữ.
Sai Gon
Sài Gòn
The former name of Ho Chi Minh City. Sai Gon, which used to be the capital city of South Vietnam, is often spelled Saigon
Soccer Stadium
Sân vận động/sân bóng
The stadium located in the center of Hue City. It was also called Long Bao (Long Bảo) or Tu Do (Tự Do) Stadium
Song Lo
Sông Lô
Translated as “Lo River,” this is the name of Regiment 8, later Regiment 3 in the North Vietnamese Army
Ta Trach
Tả Trạch
One of the two main branches that merge into the famous Huong River in Thua Thien–Hue
Tam Thai
Tam Thai
Where the City Unit camped, southeast of the Triangle
Tan Son Nhat
Tân Sơn Nhất
An airport in Sai Gon. Can also be spelled as Tân Sơn Nhứt and was often misspelled as Tan Son Knut
Tay Loc
Tây Lộc
An airstrip located within the Citadel in Hue
Thoi Lai
Thới Lai
The area just outside the northeast walls of the fortress
Thong Nhat
Thống Nhất
A street in Hue
Thua Thien
Thừa Thiên
A prison in Thua Thien–Hue Province, often referred to as Thua Phu jail
Thua Thien–Hue
Thừa Thiên–Huế
Zone
Thuan An
Thuận An
A road in Hue
Thuong
Thượng
A village located in Thuy Xuan (Thủy Xuân) district, Hue. Referred to in many maps and books as Thon Thuong, which is actually a misunderstanding. In Vietnamese, the word thon (thôn) means “a small village.” The name of this village is only Thượng.
Thuong Tu
Thượng Tứ
The southeastern gate into the Citadel
Thuy Thanh
Thủy Thanh
A district located southeast of Hue
Trai
Trài
One of the two entrances of Trấn Bình Đài that open directly at the wall without a watchtower above
Tran Cao Van
Trần Cao Vân
A street in Hue, often referred to as Cao Van Street
Tran Hung Dao
Trần Hưng Đạo
A street that is parallel to the river on the north side
Treasury, the
Kho Bạc
One of the targets that the NLF Army aimed for
Trinh Minh The
Trình Minh Thế
A street in Hue. It is now a part of Le Duan (Lê Duẩn) Street
Truoi
Truồi
A river in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien–Hue Province
Truong Tien
Trường Tiền
A bridge in Hue. Can be written with a different spelling: Tràng Tiền
Tu Dam
Từ Đàm
A pagoda located in southwestern Hue
Van Duong
Văn Dương
A river that flows into the Huong River
Van The
Vân Thê
A village in Thuy Thanh district, hometown of Che Thi Mung
Vi Da
Vĩ Dạ
A ward of Hue City, often spelled as Vy Da (Vỹ Dạ)
Viet Tuyen
Việt/Viết Tuyên/Tuyển/
Tuyền/Tuyến
A radio shop on Tran Hung Dao Street, owned by Ton That Vu
MILITARY UNITS/POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Dai doi
Đại đội
The City Unit of Hue
Dai noi
Đại nội
The Royal Palace/Imperial City
Hac Bao
Hắc Báo
Often referred to as the Black Panthers, an elite ARVN unit led by Lieutenant Tran Ngoc Hue, known as “Harry”
Huong River Squad
Hương River Squad
Often referred to as Những cô gái sông Hương, which means “The Eleven Girls of the Perfume River”
Nghia binh
Nghĩa binh
The Righteous Soldiers Division, a unit formed by Nguyen Dac Xuan
Nghia binh Canh sat
Nghĩa binh Cảnh sát
The Righteous Police Division, a police unit formed by Nguyen Dac Xuan
Young Pioneer Organization
Đội Thiếu niên Tiền Phong Hồ Chí Minh
The Ho Chi Minh Young, a communist youth organization operating in Vietnam, named after former Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh
VIETNAMESE TERMS/PHRASES
Anh yeu em
Anh yêu em
The Vietnamese equivalent of “I love you,” but specifically said by males only
ao dai
áo dài
Vietnamese traditional clothing
bam vao that-lung dich
bám vào thắt-lưng địch
A strategy that Hoang Anh De applied to overcome the Americans’ overwhelming firepower. The literal translation is “hold on to the enemy’s belt”
Chien-tranh Chong My
Chiến-tranh Chống Mỹ
The Resistance War Against America/The American War
dong
đồng
Vietnamese currency
Hoc Sinh
Học Sinh
A paper formed by Nguyen Van Quang
Hong Bang
Hồng Bàng
One of the early Vietnamese dynasties
hot vit lon
hột vịt lộn
Half-hatched duck eggs, a Vietnamese dish
Mau Than
Mậu Thân
The name of the year 1968 according to the Chinese calendar; 1968 was the Year of the Monkey
nguy
ngụy
A derogatory term used against anyone who worked for the South Vietnamese government
nhan dan
nhân dân
The people
no mau
nợ máu
“Blood debt”
non la
nón lá
Vietnamese conical hat
Ong Tao
Ông Táo
The Kitchen God
Phap bao chi bale
Pháp báo chí Ba Lê
Means “French press from Paris”: Pháp = France, báo chí = paper, press,
Ba lê = Paris. This broken wording is not grammatically correct in Vietnamese
Tet
Tết
Lunar New Year
Tong-Tan-cong-Noi-day
Tổng Tấn công Nổi dậy
General Offensive, General Uprising
Viet Cong
Việt Cộng
VC = Vietnamese Communist
Viet Minh
Việt Minh
A Communist front organization founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1941 to organize resistance against French colonial rule and occupying Japanese forces; often spelled as Vietminh