Category: Vietnam

In 1979, the world was shocked by images of overcrowded fishing boats carrying Vietnamese refugees seeking asylum in Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian ports. A significant number of these refugees—estimates suggest up to one-third—perished due to typhoons, starvation, disease, or attacks by pirates, who often sank the boats after assaulting women and stealing what […]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Vietnam faced dire economic challenges, exemplified by a devastating famine in 1985 and staggering inflation that peaked at 775 percent in 1986. An experimental mix of planned and market economies attempted in 1979 failed to yield results, and by the early 1980s, the country was heavily reliant on […]

By July 1976, Vietnam was reunified for the first time since the French colonization in the 1850s. Initially, the new leadership took a cautious approach, aiming to gain favor with the international community. However, many Southerners viewed the future with deep trepidation. Their concerns were justified, as Hanoi showed little inclination to grant autonomy to […]

The Paris Accords ultimately did little more than facilitate the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam. With the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) permitted to remain in the South, it became increasingly clear that renewed hostilities were inevitable. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), now boasting a million troops and strengthened by newly acquired […]

Richard Nixon took office in January 1969, following a campaign promise to “end the war and win the peace.” His administration sought a strategy that would allow for the withdrawal of American forces while maintaining the United States’ reputation, leading to the implementation of “Vietnamization.” This approach aimed for a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops, […]

On January 21, 1968, approximately 40,000 North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops besieged the American military base at Khe Sanh, situated near the Laotian border to the northwest of Hue. Fearing that this confrontation could mirror the historical American defeat at Dien Bien Phu—an analogy that underestimated the U.S.’s superior air capabilities—America responded with overwhelming force, […]

Since 1950, American funding has played a crucial role in supporting the French military efforts in Indochina. By early 1955, the U.S. government began financing the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem and the training of his military, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). This policy was driven by the fear of a potential […]

In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh’s government faced significant challenges as it endeavored to build a socialist society, supported by a large number of Chinese advisers. The prolonged conflict with France had severely damaged the country’s infrastructure, leaving it reliant on rice supplies from the South, which were now inaccessible. Adding to these difficulties, the land […]

On May 8, 1954, the day following the French surrender at Dien Bien Phu, the focus of the nine delegations at the Geneva Conference shifted to Indochina. Despite the prevailing atmosphere of distrust, the conference managed to reach an ambiguous compromise that allowed the French to withdraw with some semblance of honor while partially acknowledging […]

Despite Vietnam’s reunification in 1975, a noticeable north-south divide persists, often evident to travelers crossing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This divide is rooted in the ideological differences that emerged after World War II and the protracted, brutal conflict between the North and South. However, various other factors contribute to these regional distinctions. One significant factor […]