13. Disguises and Civilian Blending
The Viet Cong effectively employed disguises to blend seamlessly with the civilian population, making it challenging for U.S. forces to distinguish combatants from non-combatants. Fighters often dressed as farmers or civilians, utilizing attire such as black short-sleeve shirts, brown wool pants, and rubber sandals. This strategy enabled them to move freely, gather intelligence, and launch surprise attacks without immediate detection (si.edu).
