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End of Indochina War
Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces defeat the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, effectively ending the 7 ½-year Indochina War. -
Vietnam Divided
At a conference in Geneva, world powers agree to a divided Vietnam. -
Viet Cong
Southern revolutionaries, backed by the North Vietnamese Communist Party, form the National Liberation Front, known in Saigon and Washington as the Viet Cong. -
Diem Murdered
President Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu are murdered during a coup by dissident generals of the South Vietnamese army. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Two supposed incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin lead Johnson to seek congressional approval for direct U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
North Vietnamese Pressure
During a series of “border battles” in the remote locations of Dak To, Con Thien and Khe Sanh, U.S. Army and Marines face relentless onslaughts from North Vietnamese. -
Tet Offensive
During the Tet Offensive, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launch surprise attacks against targets throughout South Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
Over the course of four hours, American soldiers kill more than 500 unarmed civilians in and around the hamlet of My Lai. -
Last Troop Leaves
Last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam. -
Saigon Falls
Saigon Falls