Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo, an officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and an espionage agent for the North Vietnamese Viet Minh, collaborated with Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Trần Thiện Khiêm, both of whom were devout Catholics. The trio aimed to leverage their combined influence within the military to execute a coup against the junta established by General Nguyễn Khánh, a leader whose government was dominated by Buddhist elements. This coup attempt was significant due to the deepening sectarian conflict in Vietnam, where religious affiliations were heavily intertwined with political allegiances in a country ravaged by war.

The significance of this coup attempt lies in its reflection of the internal divides within South Vietnam during a crucial phase of the Vietnam War. The intersection of faith and politics stratified the South Vietnamese landscape, where Buddhism and Catholicism dominated and conflicted. Thảo's dual role as an officer and communist spy exemplified the increasing complexity of loyalty and ideology among military leaders. As the nation faced escalating violence from both North Vietnamese forces and domestic uprisings, this attempted coup foreshadowed the chaotic struggles for power that characterized Saigon's political environment.

Ultimately, the coup did not succeed, but it illustrated the persistent instability of the South Vietnamese government during the 1960s. The infighting not only weakened the military's unity but also provided North Vietnam with further opportunities to exploit the fracturing of South Vietnam's political landscape. In the aftermath, government crackdowns against suspected communists intensified, leading to intensified repression and further violence across regions loyal to or in opposition against the regime.