I can tell you my Montagnards killed VC like flies on the local security OPS we ran. We mainly fought NVA and not VC. A 32 man unit(30 yards and 2 SF NCO’s kicked entire VC companies out of their bunkers as the Montagnards knew the jungle, highlands, etc, better then any Viet whether NVA, VC, or sad ass ARVN.
You were in the Highlands so yes, most of your encounters would have been with NVA. This film depicted much of what you just said. They just never ran out of people and was generously supplied by both Russia and China.