Category: Vietnam

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 […]

In the early years of the conflict against the French, known as the First Indochina War or the Franco-Viet Minh War, the Viet Minh primarily operated from their mountain bases in northern and central Vietnam. While the Viet Minh focused on building and training their military, the French Expeditionary Force solidified its control over the […]

The Japanese surrender at the end of World War II created a power vacuum that Ho Chi Minh quickly seized upon. On August 15, 1945, he called for a national uprising, an event that became known as the August Revolution. Within just four days, Hanoi erupted with pro-Viet Minh demonstrations, and within two weeks, much […]

Although French colonial authorities promoted a “civilizing mission,” their main interest in Vietnam lay in economic exploitation. Governor-General Paul Doumer led an extensive infrastructure development effort, constructing railways, roads, and bridges and draining swathes of the Mekong Delta for agriculture. This ambitious project was funded by heavy taxes, while state monopolies on opium, alcohol, and […]