Vietnam War Timeline- The Beginning

By jta041002

  • French Rule Begins

    Vietnam, formerly Indochina, became one of France's colonies in Southeast Asia along with...

  • Indochinese Communist Part (ICP) founded

    Ho Chi Minh becomes the leader and founder of the Indochinese Communist Party

  • Viet Minh Guerilla Force Established

    ICP organises a guerrilla force, Viet Minh, in response to invasion by Japan during World War II.

  • Vietnam's Independence Announced

    The Viet Minh seizes power. Ho Chi Minh announces Vietnam's independence.

  • Vietnamese Revolution Begins

    French forces attack Viet Minh in Haiphong in November, sparking the war of resistance against the colonial power.

  • Democratic Republic of Vietnam

    Democratic Republic of Vietnam is recognised by China and USSR.

  • Geneva Peace Conference

    Viet Minh forces attack an isolated French military outpost in the town of Dien Bien Phu. The attempt to take the outpost lasts two months, during which time the French government agrees to peace talks in Geneva. Vietnam is split into the North and South.

  • Ngo Dien Diem

    Ngo Dien Diem became the South Vietnamese President after defeating Emperor Bao Dai in a government controlled referendum. He refused to follow the 1954 Geneva Accords which had called for free elections to be held in 1956 to established a unified and national government.

  • American Military Aid Begins