 South Vietnam was a nation in turmoil both during and in the aftermath of the offensive . Tragedy had compounded tragedy as the conflict reached into the nation 's cities for the first time . As government troops pulled back to defend the urban areas , the Viet Cong moved in to fill the vacuum in the countryside . The violence and destruction witnessed during the offensive left a deep psychological scar on the South Vietnamese civilian population . Confidence in the government was shaken , since the offensive seemed to reveal that even with massive American support , the government could not protect its citizens . 
