I agree that Ho was not "a strong American ally", but it's because the US rebuffed his plea to be one. HE embraced the Communists early because it was the closest to the freedoms he witness in the US.
That said, he was above all a nationalist. He signed a treaty with the french to get the Chinese out, but immediately started driving the french out. When he had a chance he eliminated the other Viet Namese parties including the Russian allied Trotsky followers.
America never saw an interest in supporting anyone before WWII and not much after until Korea. After Korea, McCarthy made it impossible.
Ho only used the Communists as a tool to Nationalism and now capitalism like the Chinese.