The 1955 Battle of Saigon: State vs. Mafia in 48 Hours
Introduction: The Night Saigon Burned
April 28, 1955. 1:00 AM.
Mortars exploded across Saigon. Tracer fire lit up the sky. The Binh Xuyen had attacked.
For the next 48 hours, a mafia army and a government army would fight for control of South Vietnam’s capital. The outcome would determine whether Diem’s state could exist at all.
This is the story of that battle—and what it reveals about the violent birth of states.
1. The Road to War
March 1955: The Breaking Point
The trigger: Diem revoked Binh Xuyen’s police contract.
Why Diem acted:
- American pressure: “Criminals can’t run police”
- Personal conviction: Diem genuinely hated vice
- Strategic necessity: State needs police monopoly
Le Van Vien’s response:
- “The contract is legal”
- “Bao Dai approved it”
- “We’ll fight before we surrender”
The Balance of Forces
Binh Xuyen:
- 5,000-8,000 armed men
- Controlled Cholon (Chinese district)
- Held police headquarters
- Knew Saigon’s streets intimately
Diem’s forces:
- National Army units (loyalty uncertain)
- Recently integrated Cao Dai troops
- Presidential guard
- Total: Roughly equal numbers
The wild card:
- France: Still had troops in Saigon, favored Binh Xuyen
- America: Supported Diem but hesitant to intervene
- Bao Dai: In France, ordering Diem to compromise
2. The First Night: April 28
1:00 AM: The Attack Begins
Binh Xuyen opened fire on:
- Presidential Palace compound
- Army headquarters
- Key intersections
Their plan:
- Create chaos
- Force French intervention
- Compel Diem to negotiate or flee
The Palace Under Fire
Mortar shells hit the palace grounds.
Diem’s response:
- Refused to evacuate
- Commanded from the palace
- Broadcast defiance on radio
His message:
“The government will not negotiate with criminals. The army will restore order.”
Street Fighting
By dawn, battles raged across the city:
Cholon:
- Binh Xuyen stronghold
- Narrow streets favored defenders
- Civilians fled or hid
Central Saigon:
- Army pushed toward police headquarters
- Sniper fire from buildings
- House-to-house fighting
3. The French Factor
General Ely’s Dilemma
Paul Ely, French commander in Vietnam, faced a choice:
Option 1: Intervene for Binh Xuyen
- Restore “order”
- Remove Diem
- Install a more pliable leader
Option 2: Stay neutral
- Let Vietnamese fight it out
- Risk American anger either way
The American Warning
Washington’s message was clear:
- Secretary Dulles: “We back Diem”
- To France: “Don’t intervene against our man”
- Implicit threat: Aid cutoff
Ely’s decision:
- French troops stayed in barracks
- No intervention for either side
- The battle would be decided by Vietnamese
4. The Second Day: April 29
The Turning Point
Morning brought clarity:
Army gains:
- Police headquarters captured
- Key bridges secured
- Binh Xuyen pushed back to Cholon
Binh Xuyen problems:
- No French rescue coming
- Running low on ammunition
- Morale cracking
The Cholon Assault
Afternoon: Final push into Binh Xuyen territory
The fighting:
- Fierce resistance at first
- Artillery used despite civilian areas
- Fires spread through wooden buildings
- Hundreds of civilians killed or wounded
By nightfall:
- Binh Xuyen lines broken
- Le Van Vien retreating
- Survivors fleeing toward the swamps
5. The Aftermath
The Human Cost
Casualties:
- 500-1,000 dead (estimates vary)
- Thousands wounded
- 20,000 homeless from fires
- Much of Cholon destroyed
Political Consequences
For Binh Xuyen:
- Destroyed as a political force
- Le Van Vien fled to France
- Remnants hunted in the swamps
- Criminal empire dissolved
For Diem:
- First major military victory
- Proved he could use force
- American support solidified
- Path cleared for state-building
For Bao Dai:
- His orders had been ignored
- His allies had been crushed
- His position became untenable
- Within months, he would be deposed
6. Analysis: What the Battle Reveals
State-Building Through Violence
The Battle of Saigon demonstrates a harsh truth:
States are born in blood.
Sociologist Charles Tilly argued that “war made the state, and the state made war.” The Battle of Saigon is a textbook example:
- The state claimed monopoly on violence
- A rival challenged that monopoly
- Violence determined the winner
- The winner became the state
The Role of External Powers
The battle’s outcome depended on foreign decisions:
- If France had intervened → Diem likely loses
- If America had wavered → Outcome uncertain
- Neither intervened militarily → Vietnamese decided
Lesson: Weak states depend on external patrons. The patron’s commitment can determine survival.
Legitimacy Through Victory
Before the battle:
- Diem = weak prime minister
- Legitimacy = questionable
- Control = minimal
After the battle:
- Diem = proven leader
- Legitimacy = earned through victory
- Control = expanding
The battle gave Diem what elections and appointments could not: the legitimacy of proven strength.
7. The Unfinished Business
What Remained
Binh Xuyen was destroyed. But Diem still faced:
Cao Dai:
- Partially integrated, partially resistant
- Some factions still autonomous
Hoa Hao:
- Warlords in the Delta
- Some cooperative, some defiant
And always:
- The communists in the shadows
- Building strength
- Waiting
The Pattern Established
The Battle of Saigon established Diem’s pattern:
- Refuse to negotiate from weakness
- Use force when necessary
- Rely on family and loyal forces
- Trust no one outside the inner circle
This pattern would bring more victories. And eventually, it would bring Diem’s downfall.
Conclusion: The Violent Foundation
The Battle of Saigon was the moment South Vietnam’s state was truly born—not in a constitution, not in an election, but in street fighting and burning buildings.
Diem proved he could build a state. The question that remained was whether he could build a nation—whether force alone could create the legitimacy a state needs to survive.
The battle answered one question: Diem could win.
It left another unanswered: Could he govern?
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