Vietnam War Timeline

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    Significant Events in Vietnam War

  • Vietnam Independence

    Vietnam Independence
    WW2 Ends and September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent.
  • Geneva Conference

    Geneva Conference
    End Hostilities between French and Vietnamese. Temporarily divide Vietnam at 17th parallel until French leave.
  • Gulf of Tonkin Incident

    Gulf of Tonkin Incident
    North Vietnamese “attack” on two US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin is Johnson’s excuse to get congressional approval for major escalation in Vietnam.
  • Rolling Thunder Starts

    Rolling Thunder Starts
    Aerial bombardment campaign conducted against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam)
  • Tet Offensive

    Tet Offensive
    Viet Cong attack every major US base in South Vietnam.
  • Vietnamization

    Vietnamization
    Turn the war over to the South Vietnamese. Train & equip South Vietnamese to fight the North. US Troops withdraw. Last US troops leave by 1973.