 During the early morning hours of 4 May , communist units initiated the second phase of the offensive ( known by the South Vietnamese and Americans as " Mini @-@ Tet " ) by striking 119 targets throughout South Vietnam , including Saigon . This time , however , allied intelligence was better prepared , stripping away the element of surprise . Most of the communist forces were intercepted by allied screening elements before they reached their targets . 13 Viet Cong battalions , however , managed to slip through the cordon and once again plunged the capital into chaos . Severe fighting occurred at Phu Lam , ( where it took two days to root out the 267th Viet Cong Local Force Battalion ) , around the Y @-@ Bridge , and at Tan Son Nhut . By 12 May , however , it was all over . Viet Cong forces withdrew from the area leaving behind over 3 @,@ 000 dead . 
