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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Viet Minh forces under General Vo Nguyen Giap overran the French base at Dien Bien Phu, ending French colonial rule in Indochina. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Alleged attacks on U.S. destroyers by North Vietnamese torpedo boats led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, escalating U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
The U.S. initiated a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam, aiming to weaken the enemy's ability and will to fight. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched coordinated attacks on major South Vietnamese cities, challenging U.S. claims of progress in the war. -
My Lai Massacre
U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai, leading to global outrage and increased anti-war sentiment. -
Vietnamization Policy Announced
President Nixon introduced a strategy aimed at gradually withdrawing U.S. troops and transferring combat responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces. -
Invasion of Cambodia
U.S. and South Vietnamese forces expanded the war into Cambodia to attack North Vietnamese sanctuaries, sparking widespread protests in the United States. -
Pentagon Papers Published
A classified government study detailing U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam was leaked, revealing that the government had misled the public about the war's progress. -
Paris Peace Accords Signed
The United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong signed an agreement to end direct U.S. military involvement and establish a ceasefire. -
Fall of Saigon
North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist control and marking the official end of the Vietnam War.