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The First Indochina War begins, as the Viet Minh begin fighting against French colonial rule.
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China provides Viet Minh with military aid and the United States provides France with military aid.
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The Viet Minh defeat the French army in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, forcing the surrender of most of the occupying troops.
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On October 26, South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam but North Vietnam remains under the control of Ho’s Communists.
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The U.S. military begins training South Vietnamese forces.
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The Hanoi government forms the National Liberation Front (NLF) in South Vietnam. Diem calls the group the Vietcong.
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General Nguyen Khanh takes power in South Vietnam in another coup.
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The U.S. begins sustained bombing of North Vietnam, called Operation Rolling Thunder. The bombing will continue for three years.
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US launches Operation Ceder Falls to destroy Vietcong operation and supply sites near Saigon.
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President Nixon approves “Operation Breakfast,” covert bombing of Communist supply routes and base camps in Cambodia.
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US Secretary of State ParHenery Kissinger and Vietcong leader Le Duc Tho sign the Paris Peace Accords.
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South Vietnam surrenders to Communist forces, and the ast Americans evacuate Siagon.
