Ch'i

As we have found out many times now, interfering with a revolution/civil war in another country directly is never adventagous for either side. Especially when dealing with guerrilla warfare.

The US did not properly anticipate its enemy, and had little understanding of them or their tactics until we had engaged them. This is usually detrimental in war, and this case was no exception.
The US should realize that superior technology (to a certain extent) means little. There have been countless wars throughout history wherein the superior force was completely defeated. The Battle of Chi-Fu between Ch'u and Wu in 519 BC, and The Battle of Cannae during the Hanibal campaign in 1018 AD, for example. The superior forces were blinded by their assured victory, and it cost them the battle. In Vietnam, the Vietcon knew the land, were willing to absorb massive casualties, and incredibly determined to win. We should never tried engaging them with our limited experience with their tactics, and region.

What we should have done was thoroughly weight our options and possible ramifications of engaging the Vietcon before going to war. And once their tactics became clear, we should have immedeately pulled out and helped evacuate as many as we could. If we hadn't been so stubborn and "gun-ho" about winning the war, and concentrated on supplying medical care, food, and evacuation, instead of bullets and lives, we could have saved thousands.