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Indochinese Communist Party
Ho Chi Minh helps found the Indochinese Communist Party. -
Invasion
Japan invades Vietnam -
Viet Minh
Ho Chi Minh establishes the Viet Minh nationalist group. -
Independent Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh declares an independent Vietnam, called Democratic Repulic of Vietnam -
Chinese help
Viet Minh receive weapons and military advisors from Chana -
US helps France
The United States gives $15 million worth of military aid to France to help them fight the communist parties in Vietnam. -
Decisive Battle
French lose a very important battle and Dien Bien Phu that turned the tide of the war. -
Geneva Steps In
The Geneva Accords create a cease-fire and withdrawal of French troops from Vietnam. Provide temporary boundary of North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. -
Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, and elect Ngo Dinh Diem as president. -
Execution
Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. -
Viet Cong
The NLF, or Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
North Vietnam attacks two US destroyers sitting in international waters. -
Resolution
US passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
Bombing
Operation Rolling Thunder begins bombing. -
First Troops
First US combat troops arrive in Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong to attack one hundred South Vietnamese cities on the Vietnamese New Year. -
Withdrawal
President Nixon orders the first US troop withdrawal from Vietnam. -
Death of a Leader
Communist leader Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79. -
Secrets
Portions of the Pentagon Papers are published in The New York Times. -
Peace
The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire. -
Last Withdrawals
Last of the US troops are withdrawn from Vietnam. -
Massive Attack on the South
North Vietnam launches a massive series of attacks on South Vietnam. -
Surrender
South Vietnam surrenders to the communist North. -
Unification
Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialst Republic of Vietnam. -
Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is dedicated.