 Amid growing French and US skepticism of his ability to provide stable rule , Diệm forced the matter to a head in April 1955 . He ordered the Bình Xuyên to relinquish control of the National Police and submit to his command by integrating into the VNA or disbanding , threatening to crush them if they refused . He bribed Hòa Hảo and Cao Đài commanders into joining the VNA , gradually resulting in the defection of some commanders and their units , while others continued to lead their forces against Saigon . The Bình Xuyên defied Diệm 's ultimatum . On 27 April , the VNA initiated the Battle for Saigon . After a brief but violent battle that left between 500 and 1 @,@ 000 people dead and about 20 @,@ 000 homeless , the Bình Xuyên were crushed . Diệm had regained both U.S. confidence and control of the police . <unk> crowds lauded Diệm and denounced Bảo Đại , who had tried to dismiss him in the middle of the battle to prevent him from quelling the Bình Xuyên . In addition , General Paul Ely , the head of the French presence in Vietnam , tried to impede Diệm ; his troops put road blocks against the VNA and gave intelligence to the Bình Xuyên . 
