Why was Diem unpopular?

Answer 1

There are three key reasons as to why Diem's government was unpopular in Vietnam.

• Primarily, the population of Vietnam was Buddhist, but Diem was a Catholic, who filled his government with Roman Catholic landowners. He even maltreated the Buddhists, banning the flying of Buddha's flag in celebration of his birthday. This aggravated the people, as within their own country, they could not practise freely their religion and way of life. In protest, a Buddhist monk named Quang Duc set himself alight, and Diem's sister-in-law, Madame Nhu said "she hoped for more such barbecues".
• Diem ruled harshly as a dictator, and 'hunt down' members of the Vietminh to supposedly re-educate them in prison camps. Those who refused to be brainwashed and change their views to match Diem's would face execution.
• President Eisenhower tried to tell Diem to give land to peasants, but Diem did the opposite, taking land from peasants, and giving it to his own supporters. The little peasants that did have land had to pay for it in installments, and those whose land was taken had to pay high taxes whilst working without wages.

Answer 2

The Diem regime was no popular because it operated in a repressive and cruel manner to the people.

OR

He was corrupt and was nothing more than a puppet of the American government.

Answer 3

The primary reason people hated Ngo Dinh Diem was that he was a strongman who led a government that was strongly supported by the United States. He was not truly an independent leader and he did not give people a say in the government.

Answer 4

He was an oppressive leader and was very critical towards the Buddhist population. This hurt his popularity because 75% of South Vietnam was Buddhist.

Answer 5

He was anti-Buddhist.