Vietnam War

By johcanda

  • Battle of Dien Bien Phu

    Battle of Dien Bien Phu
    The conflict between the French and the Viet Minh came to a head at the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu, when, after a four-month siege, the French lost to the Viet Minh under commander Vo Nguyen Giap, marking the end of French rule in Vietnam.

  • The Collapse of French Indochina and Rise of Ho Chi Minh

    The Collapse of French Indochina and Rise of Ho Chi Minh
    Vietnam became a French colony in 1877 with the founding of French Indochina, which included Tonkin, Annam, Cochin China and Cambodia. The French lost control of their colony briefly during World War II when Japanese troops occupied Vietnam.

  • The 1954 Geneva Accords Divide Vietnam

    The 1954 Geneva Accords Divide Vietnam
    The Geneva Accords were signed in July of 1954 and split Vietnam at the 17th parallel. North Vietnam would be ruled by Ho Chi Minh’s communist government and South Vietnam would be led by emperor Bao Dai.

  • The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem

    The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem
    Emperor Bao Dai was succeeded by Catholic nationalist Ngo Dinh Diem. His strong anti-communist stance was popular with the Americans who helped him rise to power. But Diem’s preferential treatment of the Catholic minority led to protests throughout South Vietnam.

  • The Cold War

    The Cold War
    Vietnam was divided during the Cold War when tensions between the U.S. and The Soviet Union were at an all-time high. Mao Zedong proclaimed the creation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and in January 1950, China joined with the Soviet Union to formally recognize the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam.