---
title: Chieu Hoi Center, the Friendly First Stop for Those Who Return to the National Just Cause
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chieu-hoi-center-first-stop-1965-1969/
description: 'A pink-and-magenta photo-montage poster shows six black-and-white scenes from a Chieu Hoi reception centre: volleyball, a shared meal, vegetable plots.'
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Chieu Hoi Center, the Friendly First Stop for Those Who Return

[![Chieu Hoi Center, the Friendly First Stop for Those Who Return to the National Just Cause, 1965 US poster: A pink-and-magenta](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/chieu-hoi-center-first-stop-1965-1969.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/chieu-hoi-center-first-stop-1965-1969.jpg)

# Chieu Hoi Center, the Friendly First Stop for Those Who Return to the National Just Cause

A pink-and-magenta photo-montage poster shows six black-and-white scenes from a Chieu Hoi reception centre: volleyball, a shared meal, vegetable plots, a primary school, and a family listening to a radio. Each photo has a short caption saying the returnees now enjoy games, plentiful meals and schooling for their children. The tell is the selection: only comfortable scenes of the centre are shown, as an implied answer to what a defector can expect.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/) [Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (Vietnamese) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
TRUNG TÂM CHIÊU HỒI

NƠI DỪNG CHÂN ĐẦU TIÊN CỦA NHỮNG NGƯỜI TRỞ VỀ CHÍNH NGHĨA

Bóng chuyền là môn giải trí mà anh em hồi chánh viên thích nhất. Giờ thể thao còn là dịp cho tình bạn tự do cởi mở.

Những ngày sống cơ cực trong hàng ngũ Cộng Sản đã qua. Giờ đây tại Trung tâm Chiêu Hồi, anh em hồi chánh viên vui vẻ hưởng những bữa cơm không độn ngô khoai.

Những khoảng đất trống trước đây ở Trung tâm bây giờ đã lần lượt được anh em thay thế bằng những luồng khoai vông sắn.

Con em của họ hằng ngày cũng được vui vẻ cấp sách đến trường.

Gia đình của một hồi chánh định cư tại làng Chiêu Hồi đang vui vẻ quay quần quanh chiếc máy thu thanh để nghe tin tức.

[in photograph: TRƯỜNG SƠ CẤP / ẤP CHIÊU-HỒI]

SP. 1764
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
CHIEU HOI CENTER

THE FIRST STOPPING PLACE OF THOSE WHO RETURN TO THE JUST CAUSE

Volleyball is the pastime that the returnee brothers like best. Sports hour is also an occasion for free and open friendship.

The days of wretched life in the Communist ranks are over. Now at the Chieu Hoi Center the returnee brothers happily enjoy meals with no corn or sweet potato mixed in the rice.

The empty ground formerly at the Center has now gradually been replaced by the brothers with rows of sweet potato, yam and cassava.

Their children are also happily carrying books to school every day.

The family of a returnee settled in Chieu Hoi village is happily gathered around a radio receiver to listen to the news.

[in photograph: PRIMARY SCHOOL / CHIEU HOI HAMLET]

SP. 1764
```

Captions transcribed in reading order of the layout; the phrase 'khoai vông sắn' is read at image resolution and the plant names are rendered approximately.

[← Chieu Hoi Activities in Khanh Hoa](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chieu-hoi-activities-khanh-hoa-1965-1969/) [Chieu Hoi Means a New Life →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chieu-hoi-means-a-new-life-1965-1969/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account.
- [Tomb of Darius I at Naqsh-e Rustam: the king in relief beside his inscription DNa, c. 490 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dna-inscription-darius-i-naqsh-e-rustam-490bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Testimonial, Card stacking)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Seljuq gold dinar of Sanjar, dated 493 AH, with the Abbasid caliph named on one face](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/seljuq-gold-dinar-sanjar-caliph-name-1099/) (Great Seljuk Empire · 1099 · Testimonial)
- [Estoire d'Eracles page with Bernard of Clairvaux preaching the Second Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 180v)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-bernard-preaching-second-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial)
- [Opening page of the Estoire d'Eracles (William of Tyre in French), with the Crucifixion and Pope Urban II preaching the First Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 1r)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-urban-ii-preaching-first-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial, Transfer)