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Independence of Vietnam Declared
Viet Minh leaders proclaim the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, with Hanoi its capital and Ho Chi Minh its president. No other countries recognize this regime. -
Viet Minh Withdraws
The British land in Saigon to disarm the Japanese and to restore French control in what will become known as South Vietnam. Viet Minh withdraws. -
First Indochina War
Viet Minh attacks French forces occupying Hanoi in northern Vietnam, beginning the First Indochina War. -
US Supports French Vietnam
Under President Harry Truman, the United States begins to contribute money and supplies to the French war effort in Vietnam. -
Elysée Agreement
Gives Vietnam "independence" within the French Union although the French retain control over all key governmental functions. -
Eisenhower Rejects Troop Committment
President Eisenhower refuses to commit American troops to the Franco-Vietnamese War. -
Dien Bien Phu Begins
The Viet Minh launches its first assault on French forces at Dien Bien Phu. The battle will rage for over two months. -
French Surrender
The French surrender to the Viet Minh. The Geneva Conference on the status of Indochina begins. -
Vietnam Divided
Geneva Accords signed; Vietnam is to be divided at the seventeenth parallel until elections can be held in 1956 to reunify the country. The South Vietnamese government and the United States refuse to sign, though both promise to abide by the agreement. -
First US Combat Death
An American serviceman dies in Vietnam, the first combat death reported. For many Americans, the death will mark the beginning of the Vietnam War. -
Diem Overthrown
With U.S. encouragement, South Vietnamese General Duong Van Minh overthrows the Diem regime. -
First North Vietnam Bombing
The USS Maddox reports an assault for the second time by North Vietnamese gunboats, though evidence of such an attack is inconclusive. President Lyndon B. Johnson orders retaliatory strikes. The U.S. bombs North Vietnam for the first time. -
Search and Destroy Missions
American ground forces engage the Viet Cong in direct fighting for the first time. Platoons are sent to "search and destroy," that is, to ambush enemy forces and then withdraw immediately (rather than fortify and hold hostile territory). -
Tet Offensive
Beginning on the Vietnamese Tet holiday, Viet Cong forces shock U.S. troops with a wave of attacks supported by North Vietnamese troops. Heavy fighting will continue for months. Ultimately, the Tet Offensive will be a catastrophe for the NLF and the Viet Cong, which lose 37,000 fighters. But it is also a serious blow for the United States, which loses 2,500 men. Public support for the war in the U.S. plummets. -
America’s Longest War
The war in Vietnam—its beginning marked by the first death of an American serviceman reported on 22 December 1961—becomes the longest war in American histor -
Peace Talks Begin in Paris
Peace talks are held in Paris. Representatives from the U.S., the South Vietnamese government, and the NLF are present. -
Congress Votes to Withdraw Troops
The House and the Senate vote to withdraw all U.S. troops in Vietnam by year's end. -
Operation Linebacker
President Nixon orders massive bombing of North Vietnam in response to a major attack (the Easter Offensive) launched by the NLF in South Vietnam. -
American Ground Forces Leave
The last U.S. ground troops leave Vietnam. Thousands of airmen, advisors, and support personnel remain. -
Vietnam Ceasefire Signed
Representatives from South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the United States sign a peace agreement in which a ceasefire is declared, the U.S. agrees to withdraw combat troops, and the government of South Vietnam promises to hold free elections to allow its people to decide their future. -
Vietnam War Officially Ends
The Vietnam War is officially over for the United States. The last U.S. combat soldier leaves Vietnam, but military advisors and some Marines remain. Over 3 million Americans have served in the war, nearly 60,000 are dead, some 150,000 are wounded, and at least 1,000 are missing in action. The actual war ends on August 30 when Saigon falls. -
Works Cited
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008). The Vietnam War Timeline of Important Dates. Retrieved May 27, 2016, from http://www.shmoop.com/vietnam-war/timeline.html
