Vietnam Timeline

  • The Truman Document

    Harry Truman provides financial help for nations, such as Vietnam, that he believes are at risk of falling to communism. He provides them with many different supplies.
  • Geneva Accords

    The French withdrew from Vietnam, and the country was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel into North and South Vietnam.
  • Establishment of the Republic of Vietnam

    Ngo Dinh Diem became president of South Vietnam, backed by the U.S., and refused to hold elections to unify the country.
  • Formation of the Viet Cong

    The Nation Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Viet Cong, is created to fight the Diem government in the South.
  • Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem

    Diem is overthrown and killed in a coup supported by the U.S., beginning with politics becoming very unstable in South Vietnam.
  • Gulf of Tonkin incident

    Supposed attacks on U.S. ships led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson specific powers to make the U.S. more involved.
  • Operation Rolling Thunder

    The U.S. begins a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam, marking the start of large-scale American military intervention.
  • Tet Offensive

    The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese created a huge attack during Vietnam New Year (Tet), surprising many U.S. forces.
  • Nixon's Vietnamese Policy

    President Richard Nixon outlined his plan to reduce U.S. involvement by training and equipping South Vietnamese forces.
  • Invasion of Cambodia

    The U.S. and South Vietnamese troops move into Cambodia, their main plan being to disrupt Viet Cong supply lines.
  • Paris Peace accords

    The U.S. and North Vietnam signed a ceasefire agreement, leading to the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
  • Fall of Saigon

    North Vietnamese forces capture Saigon, marking the official end of the Vietnam War and unification under communist rule.