The timeline of Vietnam War By wendyjcw 1954 World powers agree to a divided Vietnam. May 7, 1954 Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces defeat the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu Oct 10, 1960 Le Duan replaces Ho Chi Minh as First Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party Nov 8, 1960 John F. Kennedy beats Richard Nixon in the U.S. presidential election Dec 20, 1960 Southern revolutionaries form the National Liberation Front Jun 11, 1963 Self immolation of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc in Saigon sparks outrage around the world Nov 1, 1963 President Diem is murdered during a coup by dissident generals of the South Vietnamese army Nov 22, 1963 Kennedy is assassinated and Johnson is sworn in as president.