Historical Timeline of Vietnam

  • c. 3000 BCE: First known signs of agriculture in the Red River Delta.
  • c. 2000 BCE: Formation of Van Lang, Vietnam’s first recognized kingdom.
  • 257 BCE: Establishment of the Au Lac kingdom.
  • 111 BCE: Chinese invasion initiates nearly a millennium of intermittent Chinese rule.
  • 40 CE: The Trung sisters lead a successful rebellion against Chinese rule.
  • 166 CE: Roman envoys arrive in Vietnam.
  • 544–602: Early Ly dynasty marks brief independence from Chinese control.
  • 907: Collapse of the Chinese Tang dynasty.
  • 938: Nam Viet gains independence.
  • 968: Unification under the Dinh dynasty.
  • 1009: Start of the Ly dynasty; country renamed “Dai Viet.”
  • 1076: Major conflict with the Chinese Sung dynasty.
  • 1225: Tran dynasty overtakes the Ly, renaming the country to “Dai Ngu.”
  • 1257 & 1288: Vietnam repels Mongol invasions.
  • 1400–07: Ho dynasty’s brief rule.
  • 1407–27: Occupation by the Chinese Ming dynasty.
  • 1427: Le Loi leads victory over the Chinese, beginning the Later Le dynasty.
  • 1535: Portuguese establish a trading post at Hoi An.
  • 1627: French missionary Alexandre de Rhodes arrives; his romanized script for Vietnamese is still in use today.
  • 1771: The Tay Son rebellion begins.
  • 1802: Nguyen dynasty established, with Hue as the capital.
  • 1858: French invasion begins under Napoleon’s orders.
  • 1867: French fully annex Cochinchina.
  • 1887: Cochinchina becomes part of French Indochina.
  • 1890: Birth of Ho Chi Minh.
  • 1925: Ho Chi Minh founds the Revolutionary Youth League.
  • 1940: Japan occupies Indochina during WWII.
  • 1941: Ho Chi Minh returns, establishing the Viet Minh.
  • 1945: Democratic Republic of Vietnam is declared.
  • 1946: Start of the First Indochina War (French War).
  • 1954: End of the war with heavy losses; Geneva Accords divide Vietnam along the 17th parallel.
  • 1956: Rectification of Errors Campaign begins.
  • 1959: Escalation of the conflict in the South.
  • 1960–62: Military draft and American advisory presence grow.
  • 1965: Operation Rolling Thunder brings heavy US bombing.
  • 1969: Ho Chi Minh dies.
  • 1973: Peace agreement formally ends US involvement.
  • 1976: Vietnam is reunified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  • 1978: Vietnam invades Cambodia to oust the Khmer Rouge.
  • 1979: “Boat people” refugee crisis begins.
  • 1979: China invades northern Vietnam, withdrawing after 16 days.
  • 1986: The “Doi Moi” economic reform policy is initiated.
  • 1989: Vietnamese troops leave Cambodia.
  • 1990: Government liberalizes private business regulations.
  • 1993: Vietnam earns its first major film award at Cannes with The Scent of Green Papaya.
  • 1995: Diplomatic ties with the US are reestablished.
  • 2000: Tran Hieu Ngan wins Vietnam’s first Olympic medal (taekwondo).
  • 2002: Highland Coffee opens, marking the rise of Vietnam’s Western-style café culture.
  • 2007: Vietnam joins the World Trade Organization.
  • 2014: Anti-China protests flare up over disputed maritime territories.
  • 2016: Major environmental disaster occurs on the central coast, linked to a Taiwanese company.
  • 2018: Landmark 81, the tallest building in Vietnam at 461 meters, is completed in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • 2020: COVID-19 pandemic impacts Vietnam, leading to shutdowns and event cancellations.
  • 2021: Hanoi’s first metro line opens; Ho Chi Minh City’s is set to open in 2024.
  • 2022: With widespread vaccinations, tourism gradually resumes.

Vietnam’s history reflects a journey defined by resilience, unity, and adaptation, showcasing a unique blend of cultural pride and modern development.