Population Movement After Geneva
Immediately after Geneva Conference → Ho worked quickly → consolidate his hold on North Vietnam.
- in early months of his regime → thousands fled from North Vietnam → fear of communist rule
- at same time → many Viet Minh soldiers + supporters in South Vietnam → fled northwards.
- Strengthened regime → got rid of potential opponents.
Support for Ho and Communist Regime
Ho + communists → had much support in North Vietnam:
- Ho → recognised as great leader → who had fought Japanese invaders + French colonial rulers.
- he had introduced sweeping land reforms
- which ensured that land was confiscated from larger landowners and;
- distributed to peasant farmers.
- during redistribution policy → many landlords → placed on show trials
- Land reform → was popular policy among peasant farmers.
- however these reforms also led to decline in agricultural output
- combined with decline in imported foodstuff → led to famines in NV
Harsh Repression / Opposition to maintain stability → regime was ruthless → in dealing with opponents + potential opponents.
- lot of violent resistance → from large landowners during land redistribution → led to 1000s of opponents being executed.
→ combination of popular support + harsh treatment of opponents → meant North Vietnam was overall politically stable