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The Indochinese Communist Party is formed
Ho Chi Minh, a Vietnamese revolutionary leader, forms the Indochinese Communist Party on February 3, 1930. -
The First Indochina War begins
The First Indochina War was fought between France and the Viet Minh, the communist alliance in Vietnam who were looking to end colonial rule there. -
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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu resulted in a decisive victory for the Viet Minh. After their defeat, French forces were withdrawn, and the French government began seeking peace negotiations. -
France Signs the Geneva Accords
Some important provisions of the Geneva Accords were:
1. A ceasefire between France and the Viet Minh.
2. A temporary division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel.
3. The establishment of a demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam.
4. A transition period where troops would return to their place of origin.
5. The scheduling of national elections in 1956. -
U.S. Military begins training South Vietnamese troops
Training begins sometime after the Geneva Accords were signed -
Ngo Dinh Diem is elected president of South Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem used propaganda against his rival, Bao Dai, to tarnish his reputation. Official results showed that over 98 percent of people voted for Diem, a result that is widely seen as fraudulent. -
Ngo Dinh Diem is overthrown and executed
Diem became increasingly authoritative and corrupt. His discrimination against the Buddhist population alienated a significant portion of the Vietnam population. These factors, among others, led to a coup backed by the U.S. that concluded in Diem's assassination. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is passed
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed as a result of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, where the destroyer USS Maddox reported being attacked twice. The resolution granted President Lyndon B. Johnson the right to escalate military intervention without first requiring approval from Congress. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign conducted by the United States. It intended to frighten North Vietnam through sheer power, disrupt the movement of supplies, and boost morale in South Vietnamese troops. However, North Vietnam's resilience was much greater than expected, and the operation did not achieve its objective of persuading them to cease. -
First US troops arrive at Da Nang, Vietnam
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Operation Cedar Falls
Operation Cedar Falls was a U.S. operation that aimed to root out the North Vietnamese presence in the Iron Triangle, a stronghold of the Viet Cong. U.S. forces destroyed many bunkers, tunnels, and supplies in the area, and the Viet Cong's infrastructure was temporarily disrupted. -
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Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive, one of the largest military campaigns of the war, aimed to undermine the morale of South Vietnam and the U.S. by launching many surprise attacks across South Vietnam. Although it was a military defeat for the Viet Cong, the Tet Offensive eroded public support for the war and introduced skepticism about claims from the U.S. government that North Vietnam was on the brink of defeat. -
My Lai Massacre
During a search-and-destroy mission, soldiers from the U.S. Army began killing unarmed villagers, despite facing no resistance. Between 347 and 504 civilians were killed. Reports of the massacre surfaced in late 1969, shocking the public and contributing to anti-war sentiment. -
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Operation Breakfast
Operation Breakfast, a bombing campaign targeting Eastern Cambodia, sought to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail and other supply lines used by the Viet Cong. It was the first phase of Operation Menu, which lasted until May 1970. The bombings were unsuccessful in preventing military operations in North Vietnam. -
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Vietnamization
Vietnamization was a strategy that attempted to transfer the responsibility of the war effort from the U.S. to South Vietnam by training South Vietnamese troops and providing economic aid. This policy was part of President Nixon's plan to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Issues such as corruption and insufficient training weakened the effectiveness of Vietnamization in combat. Nixon officially announced the policy on November 3, 1969, though the process had begun earlier in the year. -
Kent State shootings
Students at Kent State University were protesting the expansion of the war into Cambodia. The National Guard was deployed, and on May 4, 1970, tensions boiled over as guardsmen fired 67 rounds of ammunition into a crowd of students after a confrontation, killing 4 and injuring 9. The shootings sparked outrage and led to protests across the country. Anti-war sentiment was further fueled during an already tense period of war. -
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Easter Offensive
The Easter Offensive was a major military campaign by the Viet Cong that planned to exert pressure on the U.S. and South Vietnamese military and continue to undermine American support for the war. North Vietnamese forces gained some land in South Vietnam but were fought off from further advances. The offensive was used as justification for further troop withdrawals and an acceleration of Vietnamization. -
Paris Peace Accords
The United States reached an agreement with South Vietnam and North Vietnam to establish a ceasefire throughout Vietnam, exchange prisoners of war, and withdraw all U.S. forces from South Vietnam within 60 days. -
Last U.S. troops leave Vietnam