FIELD TRIP REPORT

VIETNAMESE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (CONG-AN)

NOVEMBER 17-20, 1959

TAY NINH, PHUOC LONG, BINH LONG, LONG KHANH, PHUOC THANH, BINE HOA, PHUOC TUY PROVINCES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE ,,

Purposes of the Field Trip l

Tay Ninh Province 2

Phuoc Long Province 4

Binh Long Province 6

Long Khanh Province g

Phuoc Thanh Province ga

Bien Hoa Province 10

Phuoc Tuy Province 1 2

Binh Tuy 14

PURPOSES OF THE TRIP

L. To discuss training pro bl ems with the heads of the VBI

i n each provinceo

2 .. To examine American Aid equipment o

3,, To develop information regarding security condition.so

L'· .

; .

PROVINCE:

Date Vis:i.tqd:

Official Interviewed:

Int erviewers:

'I'ay Nlnh

November 17~ 1959

Captain Vo Van Hai,, Chief of VBI

Paul N .. Shields 11 Jo Ho Hernmye~ and Ky 9 Interpret

lo GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORlTATION ..

VBI headquarters is located near the Cao Dai Temple.. The province

has a population of 300~000h divided into four districtsh of which the

centers are Long Hoa~ Ap Vau Don, Suoi DaD and Ben Soio The province

borders along Cambodia and is made up of heavy forestso The roads are

in good condition and are not affected by the rainy season"

II., EQUIPMENTo

Captain Hai advised that the total ·transportation equipment of the

VBI consisted of two old jeeps~ three new jeeps,, and one new Dodge trucko

His monthly gasoline allowance for each vehicle is 300 literso He stated

that he has received 31 Smith & Wesson revolvers and has 26 other :r.evolvers,11

rifles and semi-automatic weapons which had been left by the French or

seized from the Viet Congo

III. T RAININGo

Captain Hai advised that he has $6 VBI agents in the provinceo Twelve

of his agents are graduates of the National Police.Academy at Rach Duao

He added that most of his men are in their twenties and have had little

experience in investigationo He feels that he is satisfied with the

training that his men received at the NPA and that his men spend one-half

2

'·

day per week in in-s·~rvice t:r.ai:ning. This ihcludes firearms and other

subjects as investi.gc:-~tion and poJ :i.t.ical thought a He further stated

that he has -riot received any training manuals from VBI Hea.dquarters in

Saigon ..

IV .. S ECU'HITY CONDITIONS

Captain Ha.i advised that he estimates that there are 200 anned

Viet Cong in Tay Ninh Province., Because of the heavy forests along t.he

border~ Viet Cong can easily infiltrate into Vietnam.. He stated that the

VB! and the Civil Guard worked t.ogether in making raids on Viet Cong

hide~outs» othen'w'i.se the Civil Guard is responsible for patroling the

border.. He stated that approximately 30 arrest.s a month ax-e made and

they are of a political nature.. He ad~ised that about 75% are convicted

and are sent to rehabilitation centers at Thudaumot t> Bien.hoa and Thu Due ..

Captain Hai added that he received 4000 piasters per month for his

infonnant fund» 2000 piasters from General La and 2000 piasters from

the province chief» Mro Chau Ngoc Thoio

3

PRO l!IJ~CE

DA'I'E VI SIT ED

INTERVIEWERS

Phtl'JC Long

. N ov ember HJ~ 1959

T ·ran Dan Nam-' Assistant. Chief of VBI

Pa . .t.l J\·1o_Shields~ J .. H., Harn.myr, and Ky» Int. erpret er

Io GENERAL BACKGROUND INF OF:·< \TlON.

C hj_ef Nam advised that i:;he head of the VBI is 'fran l\"'.goc Long.,

The province chief is Major Do Ban Dien,, Population of the province is

40l' ~)00 an.fl includes the following:

Vie'tnamese Montagna rd

(Tamon t:t'ibe) French Chinese

9ri000 15

81

He stated that ·che province j_s divided into four d:ts·tricts of which the

centers are Phuoc I3inh 3 Bu Dangi) Du Dop t and Bui G:ta Mop o Mr o Nam

advised that his staff consists of 54 agents" He added that all of the

roads in the province are dirt and t.ils.t conditions a.re ver.J bad during the

rai.r.Y season,,

II., it..iUIPrlliNT.,

l'he iJBJ. "'.sequipped wi tri two new Jeeps, two old Jeeps, ;ll"..d one new Dodge

truck.. Two hundred li.ters of gasoline are al.lotted for each vehicle per montho

They have 37 Smith & Wesson revolvers and 44 automtic and semi~automa.tic weaponsi

all of which are in good cond:i.tionl.,

III~ f ~U\.INING,, ... Of the Sh agents~ 10 men are Graduates of the Nat.ional .t'olic:e 1.\..cademy at

:r?ach Dua and two men are gr<ldua i:,es of the i/BI High L<omm.and uchoolo H:r.o Nam

advised that he isnot engaged in any il1~serl'ice t.ra.ining <rt present t1ecause 0£

lack of facilities, materials; macerials., an.d instructorso Ha se.id he would like to

have immediate training in invest.i.,:;a.t.j_ve cechniques and police lawo

)

6 .ii!.. .J..:..t·U lill'.l v ... h~.uL.C.l;;i\J._),.

-'"""---.....,,.~--

£-L"'o Ham c.dvised t.hat the i/iet, Cong activities a:re minor and that there

is good cooper.atio:1 betwsen tl:.e Civil :.iua:rtl and t,ne i/HI.. rie added that ·there

are many rubber plant.at:i.on.s in tne p~:rovincia and that he nas some of his men

wo:-.."'.1<.ing a.s la.bo""ers on tne plantations" ie stated t,llat t.11e VBI avera.;es about

n~·e cases a month and that these deal uith suspected Viet Congo

/

P:U '! l.NCE:

:s "Ii-ember lo, 1959

I./e~ ti.VI!1~~.,;~,.L:>: ,..._..~.,,__..~-

1 at.1 t-i.. c hields, J. ii. tlerr'iWe 11 and Ky, int.erpreter.,

us~e.-.-ei..:.a ___ ,,._., ... *•:ts-...,.....~.,,~~C* :.-.•"· • .._.,.,",.._.: . ., 't!l-. .. ~--"'lf--..,.._,..,......, .... •-~----··---r- -~-----.... --~----

hr.. i'hu adviset.• t.hat t,he c ief of theilBI is 1'-lr .. .Ph~ll'll D<l. Thu.,

fhe province chief :i;:> r11r .. tiguye· van i'oa11.. J.'he populatj_on of the province

is about 50,000 rnad0 1~p roontJ .. y o:f: J.a.bo:re:rs oridng on rt'l.bber plantationso

rhe province is d~vid d ini:.l} t -J diBtricts of toi.hich t.ne centers are An Loe

and Loe ?J:i.ffih., One-half ol the ~01rin.ce is woods arrl deep forests.. 1'1r.,

rhu advised that the VBI hac 60 ag,,nts in this proviri.ce.,

II. .§2!!PMEN_! ..

'l"ne V.3I has t1'ro new Tee;ps., . ot .1. .. good 1~ondj:t.:is:m,, one old Jeep,

and one new Dodge ·1>!"1c!teo They are allotted JOO- liters of ga~oline per

vehicle per month.. I'he '!BI has been issu~d 15 .;jl'"l.ith & kle.;son long~

barreled revolvers an:1 20 S & W short-barr-eled :revolveru,, They have a

total of 51 weapons :i.n al " i~1r.. 1'hu adv:tsed that he res 500 row ds of

a.mml.llli tion for the lo:ng ... b· r.::elcd ~u d 2000 rounds for th · shorts•barreled

Smith & ~ves:.>onso da adv-is-=-,:; tiic t, he 5.s in g;reat. need of .rur.munitiono

III .. TBAININGo _____ .. Mr., Thu advised t.ha.t th:ue of his men lia1re graduated from ·ffie

National Police AcadalrJi· at, Rach Lila and th.a.;. t1:0-th..i.rds of his men are

under thlrty years ~ f C1ge ·with < : ou""' t-i:o years of mcperie:n.ce.. HG added

that, he has a.bout ten men at headquarters and the rest of ·t.he at;ents are

out in the provinceo He stated that his men are too busy to train and

that they have no in-service t.rainingo He advised triat his men do not

understand the law and that they need training in t.1is field badlyo

IV.. .Sli~CURI'l'Y CONDI11IJNS0

Mro Thu advised that the Viet Cong at the beginning of the year

came across the Cambodian border. with about 500 nEn, attacking a rubber

plantation and stealing the payroll. Another time they burned farm

equipmento J,t the present time t .:1ey have scattered raids from the Viet

Cong who come from Tay Ninh Provinceo He added that about three weeks

a~o a VBI agent was attacked by four Viet Cong but that he escaped., He

stated that the Civil Guard. and the v·Br wor't<: separately but, whenever

the VBl needs manpower, particularly in case of raids or large operations,

the Civil Juard gives them helpo

7

f u

.PRDVINCJ!::

DATE VISifSD:

OiFlCIAL INTli:.t\VIE~.I:;D:

INTL~VI i~vJi tb:

Long Khanh

Novew.Der 19,1959

Tran Tag Ngoc 1 'i.TBI Chief

Joll.Hemnye and Ky, interpreter

~-----------~~~--~-----~-~~--~----------------------~~~-~~---~~---~---~~

Io G.SN:;.;:; 3.AL BACKG~DtJ1~D INF0Hl1.E>'l'IJN.

'l'he prov-'..i.nce chief is !'lajor Wgeyen Cuc and the province has a

' popu.lation of 63,000 composed of two districts whose centers are Xuan Loe

and Dinh ~uano ·rhe VBI staff consists of 52 agents for 'tile whole province.,

II o J!:QUIPI1l!:N'f o

the /BI has two new Jeeps ani two old JeeJR o They have been

allotted 300 liters of gasoline per vehicle per montho

I II.. THAINING.,

Of the 52 agentss 15 are graduates of the Natiom.1 .Police Acadell\V

at P.ach l.Jua. and two of the VBI Conmi.and ::3choolo Two-thirds of the

personnel have ages ranging from 20-30 yearso One=fifth of the agents

have had experience of from one to two ~earso No local training is

being done except. for monthly firearms practiceo

I V' o ::5ECURI'l'Y CJNDI'.J.'IONSo

Mro Ngoc advised there is no trouble with the Viet Cong and t..bat

t he people live under very secure conditions; that. there is complete

cooperation between ~he ~ivil Juard arx:l the vBio

8

/I

PRJVINCE: Phuoc 'fhanh -November 19, 1959

Lto Phan van Nhan, VBI Chief

J .. H.Hemmye and Ky interpreter

----------.-~-----------------------~---------··-----~--------.. ----·--~---- ..... -----

Phuoc ;J.'hanh p:·ovince has a population of 60,vJO.. £;1e pr.:>vince

chief i.s Ll.eut .. Colonel Lu Chau Thi.en.. The province is d:'ividad into

four districts of w. tich ·t.ne cent.elfS are f'huoc binh3 .Phu Jiao, Tan Uyen~

and Hieu Liemo

II., E<.;,;UIPMGNT.,

The VBI has ti;..~o Jeeps and one old Jeep.. .All gasoline is allott,ed

at the rate of 300 liters per vehicle per month., The VBI has been issued

31 Jmith .& i/Jesson revolverso Hro Nhan advised ch.at they have sufficient

anrnunitiono

III. TfAININGo

Lieut .. Nhan advised that his st,aff cons).sted of 70 men.. rhe majority

of his men are in r.heir early twenties and 11ave <1t least. one year of

investigative exp~n'i.enceo Of hl.s agents; five are graduat.es· from tbe

National ~olice Acaaenw; none has attended t.ae \TBI Gonmand .:ichoolo He

advised that he has one inan attending school at present in !Vialayao

IVo SiCURITY CONDirIONS.

Lieut. Nhan advised that t.he Viet Cong activity consists of from

ten to twenty cases of propaganda and that he estimates ~hat there are at

least 50 anned Viet. Cong within the province. He advised that tr.eir

t,actics are hit and run maneuvers ar.id spreadirr6propaga11da.. .de a.deed

that the Civj_l Guard an:l. t.he 'Ii.BI are working in close nooper:ation a.nd

that taey ~elp each other· tn ge"l;ting information and f!J.'.'O'lide manpower.

when necessa:ryo

9

'~\ I/

P mv.rnc~: Bien ifoa

D.ATB iJIJli',:J)~ . November 19-: 1959

O./FICIAL IN'.1?r!:I.~vI.i:.di.:.b: ----~ .... ~~~-

Mr. ·.r.?mn Van Plvior.:~Ch:ief of •JBI

.} •. H.Hemmye and Ky, intrmpreter •

.... ._.~>'¥'--~--,·-··-- .. ·---..,.--1'9-----~ ... --~ .. -.... -.- .. _ .. _________ ~-----"·---~--~.,.~---- ... --.. -., 1.. U!~Hr!:l~'d~ B;.CiUJDUi.W IHFJfil1Al'I0No .. ~..........,..._.,,------·~-,....-.....~

Nro Ho 'Jan _,i is the province chief o £he populat,ion of this province

is 237 ,ooo anri the provj.nce is composed of thre3 dis t;rlcts., t.he ceni:.ers

of which ar:) .B:I.e;;•. Hoa, LOl'lg 1rtv111h and Di .rm. ·:rhe 'VBI st.a.ff consists of

90 agentsa

'.P.mnsportac.ion equipment cmi.sisr..s of .two lli!W Je.ep · and one old Jeep.,

Gasoline ai:.i.o·tmer:t is JOO lit.ers a month pervehicJ.e. Nr .. Phuoc advised

that this gaso~il'le al.lotment fa t1ot adequate and that when tr1e new highway

opens .fC'J:;1m Saigon to Bienhoa, he t .. il.1 not have enough gasolin.e. t-0 pa·t;rol

t~~j.s roado The VBI has 37 .Smith & Wesson revolvers: of w·; :::h 2p/ a.re

short~barreled and 10 axa).:l~-barreleda rhey also have carbines, sub""

ma.chine guns and the chief advised that these weapons are not suitable

f'o:." his agents working· the .fieldo He advised that he has enough weapons

for 60 of his men,, He st.atod that he ne:.;ded more gasoline and about !>en

IIIoTRAININGa -The chief advised tr..at 20 of his men are graduates of the National

Police Academy and t.hat four have graduated from the IT.BI High Command

10

' _,..,,,. I~

' ~chool., He ad·vised that the av•3rage age of his ag13nts :ts 35 aJ'.ld tney

have a.pprox:imately five yea:r;.; i.wsstigative el.-perience. rle st.ated that

local training cc:r..slst.ed of fir.,Janns maintenance and firearms practice

an.d that they have courses in intelligence and et.hicso He furti1er added

that, his rar-:t1 have improved since their g:.:.·aduation .f2um t.he NS:'A., but

that they lack prc:.ctical exper.ienceo

IVo S2CVfilJ'Y CONDITIONS: ~-WM

'J:he Ch:l.ef a<lvj.sed that lihe Viet, Cop..g actint·i;"il are small and that

J/4 of the IJiet. Cong fo:t'Ces have been wiped out.. H•3 ad~·ised that

nothing has been reported on lliet Cong activit:ies durir.ig t,he pa.st two

months., rle stated that the Civll uuard :is roost. cooperatj.ve with the

V'BI and that; information is exchanged and ·t.hat. the Civil Guard lends

manpower to the V:SI when necessar;Y' ,,

Pfa.>VINGE: =~---

lfovernbe r 2;), 19 59

i1r., Nguyen if an Xu.en"' Chief -0f VBI

IN TERVIEvJ~ll: J.H. Hemmye and Ky, int.erp:-eter ..

Colonel Nguyen Van Quan is the p:rcvince chief of Phuoc £uy P:<."Cvinceo

-It has a popul.at.ion of 1~,000 and i.s composed of si..~ distr.lcts, of which

the centerLJ are Phuoc La., Xuyen Moc, Long Dien, l/lli1g Tau,, ·.ram 'J.'han Hiep11

and Can ·.rhano 'l'he \!BI ronsist.s o! 80 agent.so

'l'he iTBI bas been p:rovlded with two new Jeeps and has three old Jeeps ..

A quota of )GO liters of gasoline has been allotted t.o each jeep per montho

The IJBI has at present 30 Smith & Wesson revolvers ""~lo long barreled and

20 short~bar:celedo '.rhe Chief advised that the alnfil'lilition suppl\1 is

III-o T .RAININGo c

Chief Xu.an advised that ll of his men gave graduated from tne

National Police .Academy at Rach .Dua and two men have graduated from the

VBI High Comm.and School in 5aigono With regard to in~service ·t:.rainingl>

the Chief stated yhat his personnel have been given courses in political

study9 intel.J.igence serviceD and firearms practiceo .He added that t.he

men who have gra.dw. t.ed from t,1~ schools are much :.tmo:roved and that the

only thing they la.ck is practical ·trainingo

l rL

SECOfiITY CONDI·rIONS.

'rhe Chief stated that t.he Viet Co~ activit,ies in this province

are practically non-existent and that the only trouble they have ~ith the

Viet Cong is propaganda cases. He advised that the Civil Juard, the

Anrry, and the VBI have been in complete cooperation, that information

is exchan3ed with one another, and that the Civil Guard provides manpower

when the VBI needs helpo

lJ

PiUVINCE:

DAJ'E VISITED: ------~

JF/ICIAL .INT.C:l\VIE!.,nm:

Binh Tuy

November 20, 1959

Nguyen Van Long9 VBI Ghief

J.H.Hemnye and Ky, interpreter

' ' ~~~.--i~~~Rllfte~~--~~~~-~t!!M9-~-G~~-~~--~--~-~---~~-~-~~~---~-~~-~~-~~0..~~

I.. Qi1~EHAL BACKGRJUND INi''Ol"(Ci1A'rI0!~o

Binh Tuy Province has a population of 34,ooo and the provinee chief

is Lieut. Colonel Le Van Buong., '£heprovince is composed of three distrlcts

w.i:l:.h centers at Ham Tan, Lac Tanh• ·and Kie1n. Due. 'l'ha I/BI staff consists

of 60 agents.,

II .. ~·

The VBI has three new Jeeps and two old Jeeps. They :receive a

supply of 300 liters of gasoline per month for each vehicle., They have

been supplied ewith 30 Smith & Wesson revolvers--20 long-barreled and

10 si1ort-barreled., The Chief advised that tre ammunition supply is

adequate.,

III. 'l'RAINING.

The Chief advised that two of his men have graduated from the \/BI

Command School and 1.5 have graduated from t.ae National Police Academy

at Rach Duao tle advised t.i:iat at this time five af his men were at .... ending

lob,:') NPA and on man is attending r.heVBI Conmand School in Saigon. He

added that three-fourths of his men's ages range from 20-30 years and

that a m.ajorl.ty of hisagents have had four to seven years invest.igat.ive

experience. He advised t hat there is no in-service training at this time

because his .men are too busy" Until a few months ago1 training on an,

average a!.' t-w'i.ce a week in intelligence ser.rice, investigation, and

f::u"eanns prac t.ice was given to his meno

IV. SECU RI·IT CJNDITIONSo

·rhe Chief advised that the Viet Cor:g activity in his pm vince

has bet-in ver.r irregular and that nothing has been record.ed during the

pas-l; thr-de monthso He added tnat the Civil Guard is most cooperati~e

with the ITBI and stated that the VBI and the Gil!IL GUA.RD exchange infor-

m~tion and give help to each other when neceaasr.vo

l)