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Indochinese Communist Party
Ho Chi Minh founds the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP). -
Independence
The Viet Minh seizes power. Ho Chi Minh announces Vietnam's independence. -
U.S. enters Vetnam
The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment. Military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. -
Geneva Conference of 1954
In July 1954, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem rejected the nationwide elections agreed to by France and North Vietnam. -
More U.S. troops enter Vietnam
In 1965, the number of U.S. troops was highly increased when 200,000 American combat troops arrived in South Vietnam. -
U.S. troops removed
1969 - Ho Chi Minh dies. President Nixon begins to reduce US ground troops in Vietnam as domestic public opposition to the war grows. -
U.S. troops leave for good
1973 - Ceasefire agreement in Paris, US troop pull-out completed by March. -
Vietnam vs. Vietnam
1975 - North Vietnamese troops invade South Vietnam and take control of the whole country after South Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh surrenders. -
Vietnam and US restore full diplomatic relations.
Vietnam and US restore full diplomatic relations. Vietnam becomes full member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). -
Vietnam confirms the first human deaths from bird flu
. Over the course of the year the virus claims more than 30 lives.