Strategic Hamlets Program

The Strategic Hamlets Program was a counterinsurgency initiative used by the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War, particularly in the early 1960s. Its aim was to combat communist influence by relocating rural populations into fortified villages, or "hamlets." This was intended to separate civilians from Viet Cong forces, improve security, and provide better access to services. However, the program faced criticism for displacing people, often failing to account for local needs and resulting in widespread resentment, ultimately contributing to its ineffectiveness in winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese population.