-
Period: to
Vietnam Timeline
Timeline for Vietnam War -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. -
Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French from Vietnam and provides a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. -
Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. -
National Liberation Front
The National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam. -
Ngo Dinh Diem Excecuted
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters (the Gulf of Tonkin Incident) -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins (Operation Rolling Thunder) -
Combat Troops
The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam -
Tet Offensive
The North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. -
Mai Lai
U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai. -
Troops in Vietnam
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000 -
Frist troops withdrawals from Vietnam
President Nixon orders the first of many U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam -
Troops attacking Cambodia
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses -
The North Vietnamese troops attack South Vietnam
The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam in what became known as the Easter Offensive -
Cease-Fire
The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire -
Final withdrawal pf U.S Troops
The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam
