The Road to Vietnam: A Timeline of Conflict

  • Ho Chi Mihn and the creation of the Viet Minh (1930)

    Ho Chi Mihn and the creation of the Viet Minh (1930)
    The formation of Viet Minh aimed to liberate Vietnam from French colonial rule and establish an independent, communist led state. The French colonial authorities viewed the movement as a threat to their empure
  • The First Indochina War

    The First Indochina War
    The war between French colonial forces and the Viet Minh aimed at Vietnamese independence, leading to heavy cililian sufferings and French defeated at Dien Bien Phu. Cold War tensions escalated as the US backed France and the USSR and China supported the Viet Minh.
  • Domino Theory

    Domino Theory
    The Domino Theory fueled U.S. intervention in Southeast Asia, fearing communism would spread if one nation fell. This led to military involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, intensifying Cold War tensions with the USSR and China.
    The domino theory fueled the US intervention in Southeast Asia, fearing communism would spread if one nation fell. This led to military involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, intensifying Cold War tensions with the USSR and China.
  • America Aids France

    America Aids France
    The US supported France with aid to fight the Viet Minh, seeing the conflict as part of its anti-commuist containment strategy. This deepened the US involvement in the South Asia and heightened Cold War rivalries with the USSR and China.
  • The Geneva Accords

    The Geneva Accords
    The Geneva Accords ended the First Indochina War by dividing Viethan at the 17th parallel not communist North and anti-communist South. This deepened Cold War divisions, with France withdrawing the US backing the South.
  • Use of Agent Orange

    Use of Agent Orange
    The Use of Agent Orange was to destroy jungle cover, resulting in severe health problems for vietnamese civilians and American soldiers. Its use sparked global condemnation and further strained Cold War relations.
  • Diem's Assassination

    Diem's Assassination
    South Vietnamese President Diem was overthrown and killed in a US-backed coup, leading to greater instability in South Vietnam. This deepened the US involvement and intensified the Colkd War tensions,
  • Gulf of Tonkin incident

    Gulf of Tonkin incident
    Alleged North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. ships prompted increased U.S. military involvement and retaliation against North Vietnam. This escalation deepened Cold War tensions and further intensified U.S. intervention.
  • The Tet offensive

    The Tet offensive
    The Tet Offensive saw North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launch a surprise attack, causing heavy US and SOuth Vietnamese casualties. It shocked the US public, fueling anti-war sentiment and escalating Cold war tensions
  • US Troop withdrawl and vietnamization

    US Troop withdrawl and vietnamization
    The US began withdrawing troops, shifting combat duties to the South Vietnamese army, increasing their responsibility while the war persisted. Tensions rose as North Vietnam intensified efforts, amid the ongoing Cold Was struggle.
  • Mai Lai masaccre

    Mai Lai masaccre
    U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai Massacre, deeply affecting both the South Vietnamese and U.S. soldiers involved. The atrocity intensified anti-war sentiment and drew global condemnation.
    US soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed South Vietnamese cilivians in the My Lai Massacre, deeply affecting both the South VIetamese and the US soldiers involved. The atrocity intensified anti-war sentiment and drew global condemnation.
  • War Power Act

    War Power Act
    The Act limited presidential power to send troops into combat without military Congress approval, reshaping future military interventions. It marked a shift away from the US interventionism in Vietnam, responding to growing domestic opposition.
  • Fall of Saigon

    Fall of Saigon
    North Vietnamese forces captures Saigon, ending the Vietnam War and unifying Vietnam under communist control. South Vietnamese citizens, especially US supporters, faced hardship, while the fall marked a defeat for the US in the cold war, boosting communist influence in Southeast Asia.