 Codenamed Operation Bravo , the first stage of the scheme involved some of Tung 's loyalist soldiers , disguised as insurgents , faking a coup . Tung would then announce the formation of a " revolutionary government " consisting of opposition activists , while Diệm and Nhu pretended to be on the run . During the orchestrated chaos of the first coup , the disguised loyalists would riot and in the ensuing mayhem , kill the leading coup plotters , such as Generals Dương Văn Minh , Trần Văn Đôn , Lê Văn Kim and junior officers that were helping them . Tung 's men and some of Nhu 's underworld connections were also to kill some figures who were assisting the conspirators , such as the titular but relatively powerless Vice President Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ , CIA agent Lucien Conein , who was on assignment in Vietnam as a military adviser , and Ambassador Lodge . These would then be blamed on " neutralist and pro @-@ communist elements " . This was to be followed by a fake " counter @-@ coup " , whereupon Tung 's special forces , having left Saigon on the pretext of fighting communists , as well as Đính 's forces would triumphantly re @-@ enter Saigon to reaffirm the Diệm regime . Nhu would then exploit the scare to round up dissidents . 
