The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was a conflict between communist North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam, backed by the United States. This bloody war stemmed from French colonial rule and the independence struggle led by communist leader Ho Chi Minh.
Vietnam became a battleground in the Cold War, as the United States and the Soviet Union vied for global control. By the time the war ended, North and South Vietnam were unified, but at a tremendous cost. Below, we explore the six events that led to the Vietnam War.
The Collapse of French Indochina and the Rise of Ho Chi Minh
Vietnam became a French colony in 1877 with the establishment of French Indochina, including North, Central, and South Vietnam, and Cambodia (Laos was added in 1893). During World War II, France lost control of the colony when Japanese forces occupied Vietnam.
As Japan and France fought for control, an independence movement emerged under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, a revolutionary influenced by Lenin’s Bolshevik Revolution. In May 1941, he formed the Viet Minh (Vietnam Independence League).
On September 2, 1945, just hours after Japan’s surrender in World War II, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence from France. However, when France rejected his plan, the Viet Minh resorted to guerrilla warfare to fight for an independent Vietnam.
Do you know?
Ho Chi Minh used the American Declaration of Independence as a model for the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He wrote: ‘All men are created equal: They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of 1 Happiness!
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The conflict between France and the Viet Minh reached its climax at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, a decisive battle. After four months of siege, the French military was defeated by the Viet Minh under General Vo Nguyen Giap, marking the end of French rule in Vietnam.
The question of who would rule Vietnam and how attracted the attention of the world’s powers, who were increasingly concerned about the instability in Vietnam.
The 1954 Geneva Accords and the Division of Vietnam
The 1954 Geneva Accords, signed in July, divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel. The North was to be led by the communist government of Ho Chi Minh, while the South was governed by Emperor Bao Dai. A nationwide election was planned to take place after two years to unify the country, but the United States, fearing that elections would lead to communist rule, blocked the elections.
“The temporary division of the country at the 17th parallel into two ideologically opposed states turned Vietnam’s internal conflict into a full-scale confrontation between East and West,” noted Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, Associate Professor of U.S. and East Asian History at Columbia University.
The Cold War
Vietnam was divided during the Cold War, when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union reached their peak. In 1949, Mao Zedong declared the formation of the People’s Republic of China, and by January 1950, China and the Soviet Union officially recognized the Democratic Republic of Vietnam as a communist state.
During the Cold War, the U.S. adopted the “containment” policy. President Harry S. Truman’s doctrine committed to providing political, military, and economic support to democratic countries facing threats from communist forces. His successor, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, introduced the Domino Theory, arguing that a communist victory in Vietnam would trigger a domino effect across Southeast Asia… and thus must be prevented at all costs.
“Vietnam War was not only a conflict to address European imperialism in a post-colonial context, but also a confrontation between Marxist-Leninism and Democracy-Capitalism, and a battle between the factions in Vietnam,” noted Lien-Hang T. Nguyen.
The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem
After Emperor Bao Dai was deposed, Ngo Dinh Diem, a Catholic nationalist, came to power. His strong anti-communist stance gained U.S. support, helping him rise to leadership. However, Diem’s favoritism towards the Catholic minority led to widespread opposition across South Vietnam. In May 1963, eight Buddhist monks were killed by the government during a protest in Hue.
In response, Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc self-immolated in the busy streets of Saigon. Following that, several other monks self-immolated, leading to what became known as the “Buddhist Crisis.” The U.S. gradually lost confidence in Diem’s leadership.
In November of that year, the U.S. backed a military coup that resulted in the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu. (Less than three weeks later, U.S. President John F. Kennedy was also assassinated.) The coup ushered in a period of chaos, with 12 different governments taking power in South Vietnam from 1963 to 1965.
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, also known as the U.S.S. Maddox incident, marked the formal U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
“In the summer of 1964, the Johnson administration secretly planned to expand U.S. military intervention in Vietnam. Officials determined that any such expansion would require Congressional approval, and the Gulf of Tonkin incident provided the opportunity to obtain that approval,” stated Fredrik Logevall, Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
On August 2, 1964, the U.S.S. Maddox encountered three Soviet-made torpedo boats from North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Maddox fired warning shots and received a retaliatory attack with torpedoes and machine guns. On August 4, the destroyer Turner Joy and the Maddox reported being ambushed, although later historians have questioned the accuracy of the Turner Joy’s account.
