---
title: Why Are These Men So Happy? (Vì sao những người nầy tươi cười như vậy?)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/why-are-these-men-so-happy-sp-1604-1966/
description: A portrait sheet (code SP-1604) sets a headline question over twelve smiling men photographed outdoors, one with a child.
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Why Are These Men So Happy?

[![Why Are These Men So Happy?, 1966 US poster: A portrait sheet (code SP-1604) sets a headline question over twelve smiling men](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/why-are-these-men-so-happy-sp-1604-1966.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/why-are-these-men-so-happy-sp-1604-1966.jpg)

# Why Are These Men So Happy? (Vì sao những người nầy tươi cười như vậy?)

A portrait sheet (code SP-1604) sets a headline question over twelve smiling men photographed outdoors, one with a child, with the text printed in Vietnamese and a second language in parallel columns. The text says they have just left the Viet Cong in Darlac province, that 1966 rallier numbers were more than twice those of 1965, and that Chieu Hoi is helping them back to ordinary life. Smiling faces stand in for testimony, and a rising count invites the reader to join.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Bandwagon](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/bandwagon/)

## Text on the object

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

```
VÌ SAO NHỮNG NGƯỜI NẦY TƯƠI CƯỜI NHƯ VẬY?
YA NGĂ PHUNG ANEI HƠK KDƠK SƠNĂN LĔ?

ĐÂY CHỈ LÀ MỘT SỐ NGƯỜI VỪA MỚI RỜI KHỎI HÀNG NGŨ VIỆTCỘNG TRONG TỈNH DARLAC ĐỂ TRỞ VỀ VỚI TÌNH KINH THƯỢNG ĐOÀN KẾT CỦA CHÍNH PHỦ VIỆTNAM CỘNG HÒA. CHÍNH PHỦ VIỆTNAM ĐÃ SĂN SÓC VÀ GIÚP ĐỠ HỌ RẤT TẬN TÌNH.TY CHIÊU HỒI DARLAC ĐANG GIÚP HỌ ĐỂ TRỞ LẠI VỚI ĐỜI SỐNG BÌNH THƯỜNG, ĐIỀU NẦY ĐÃ HOÀN TOÀN LÀM HỌ VỪA LÒNG.
SỐ HỒI CHÁNH VIÊN NĂM 1966 NHIỀU GẤP HAI LẦN SỐ HỒI CHÁNH VIÊN VÀO NĂM 1965, CÁC BẠN CÓ THỂ ĐOÁN BAO GIỜ SỐ HỒI CHÁNH VIÊN ĐẠT ĐẾN MỨC KỶ LỤC KHÔNG? CÁC BẠN CÓ BIẾT Ở NHIỀU TỈNH KHÁC SỐ HỒI CHÁNH VIÊN TRỞ VỀ VỚI CHÍNH NGHĨA QUỐC GIA CŨNG NHIỀU NHƯ VẬY KHÔNG?
CHÚNG TA RẤT MỪNG KHI THẤY ANH CHỊ EM KINH-THƯỢNG TRỞ VỀ VỚI CHÍNH NGHĨA QUỐC GIA NHIỀU NHƯ VẬY.SỰ TRỞ VỀ CỦA HỌ KHIẾN CHÚNG TA ĐƯỢC XUM HỌP VUI VẺ, ĐỂ CÙNG NHAU XÂY DỰNG MỘT QUỐC GIA TRONG HẠNH PHÚC, TỰ DO, HÒA BÌNH VÀ TIẾN BỘ KHIẾN NHIỀU QUỐC GIA TRONG THẾ GIỚI THÁN PHỤC.

[Parallel column in a Central Highlands language, not transcribed: diacritics not reliably legible]

SP-1604
```

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

```
WHY ARE THESE MEN SO HAPPY?
[Second-language headline, parallel to the above]

These are only some of the people who have just left the Viet Cong ranks in Darlac province to return to the Kinh-Thuong (lowlander-highlander) solidarity of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam. The Vietnamese government has cared for and helped them very devotedly. The Darlac Chieu Hoi Service is helping them return to normal life, which has made them completely content.
The number of ralliers in 1966 was twice the number of ralliers in 1965. Can you guess when the number of ralliers will reach a record level? Do you know that in many other provinces the number of ralliers returning to the national cause is just as large?
We are very glad to see our Kinh and Highland brothers and sisters returning to the national cause in such numbers. Their return lets us gather together happily, to build together a nation in happiness, freedom, peace and progress that makes many countries of the world admire.

[Parallel column in a Central Highlands language, not transcribed]

SP-1604
```

Translation is FRAME's own literal rendering of the Vietnamese; 'Kinh-Thuong' is the printed form 'Kinh Thượng' (lowlander and highlander). The printed word 'THÁN PHỤC' is rendered 'admire'. Diacritics are as printed to the best of legibility.

[← Who Builds? And Who Destroys?](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/who-builds-and-who-destroys-1966/) [Cùng hợp tác bảo vệ nhân dân (Working Together to Defend the People) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-together-to-defend-the-people-sp-1442/)

## 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)