Quick Guide to the Vietnam Conflict

Introduction

In this guide we’ll start by covering the major players of the war including:

  • The French
  • The Americans
  • The North
  • The South

This guide is meant as a general introduction to the key points of the war and is not meant to be definitive.

The French

The French were the first Europeans to really establish a presence in Vietnam. They did so in the late 18th century and maintained control over the country for the next hundred years. The French were never able to completely subdue the Vietnamese people and there were a number of uprisings during this period. The most significant of these was the Vietminh rebellion led by Ho Chi Minh in the 1940s. The Vietminh were successful in driving the French out of Vietnam and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north.

The French were not the only Europeans in Vietnam during this period. There were also a significant number of Catholic missionaries who were active in the country. These missionaries were often at odds with the French authorities and were sometimes expelled from the country.

The Americans

The United States became involved in Vietnam in the early 1960s. Initially, their involvement was limited to providing military aid to the South Vietnamese government. This aid increased over time and eventually led to the deployment of American troops in 1965.

The American involvement in Vietnam was deeply unpopular at home and led to a significant anti-war movement. The war also had a devastating effect on the Vietnamese people. It is estimated that over 3 million Vietnamese were killed during the war.

The North

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established by the Vietminh in the wake of the French withdrawal from Vietnam. The Vietminh were a communist organization and their leader, Ho Chi Minh, was a close ally of the Soviet Union. The DRV was opposed by the Republic of Vietnam, which was established in the south with the support of the United States.

The DRV and the RVN were engaged in a civil war throughout the 1960s. This conflict escalated when the United States began to provide military aid to the RVN. American troops were eventually deployed to Vietnam in 1965.

The conflict ended in 1975 when the DRV captured the RVN capital of Saigon. The two countries were then unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The South

The Republic of Vietnam was established in the south of the country with the support of the United States. The RVN was opposed by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north. The two sides were engaged in a civil war throughout the 1960s. This conflict escalated when the United States began to provide military aid to the RVN. American troops were eventually deployed to Vietnam in 1965.

The conflict ended in 1975 when the DRV captured the RVN capital of Saigon. The two countries were then unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Start of the War

The Vietnam War began in 1955 and ended in 1975. It was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The war began as a civil war between the two sides, but eventually escalated into a regional conflict when the United States became involved.

The war was deeply unpopular at home and led to a significant anti-war movement. The war also had a devastating effect on the Vietnamese people. It is estimated that over 3 million Vietnamese were killed during the war.

The Paris Peace Accords

The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973 and ended the Vietnam War. The accords called for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of American troops, and the release of American prisoners of war. The accords also recognized the sovereignty of both North and South Vietnam.

The accords did not bring an end to the conflict however, and fighting continued between the North and South. The war finally ended in 1975 when the North Vietnamese captured the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon.

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon was the final stage of the Vietnam War. It began on April 30, 1975 when North Vietnamese troops entered the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon. The South Vietnamese government surrendered on May 1 and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The Fall of Saigon marked the end of the Vietnam War and was a major victory for the communist forces.

Vietnamese Migration to the United States

After the Fall of Saigon, many Vietnamese people fled the country. This mass migration is known as the Vietnamese Boat People Crisis. An estimated 1 million Vietnamese people fled to neighboring countries, while another 500,000 made their way to the United States.

The Vietnamese community in the United States has grown significantly since the end of the war and is now estimated to be over 2 million strong.

French Influence on Vietnam

The French were the first Europeans to really establish a presence in Vietnam. They did so in the late 18th century and maintained control over the country for the next hundred years. The French were never able to completely subdue the Vietnamese people and there were a number of uprisings during this period. The most significant of these was the Vietminh rebellion led by Ho Chi Minh in the 1940s. The Vietminh were successful in driving the French out of Vietnam and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north.

The French were not the only Europeans in Vietnam during this period. There were also a significant number of Catholic missionaries who were active in the country. These missionaries were often at odds with the French authorities and were sometimes expelled from the country.

American Influence on Vietnam

The United States became involved in Vietnam in the early 1960s. Initially, their involvement was limited to providing military aid to the South Vietnamese government. This aid increased over time and eventually led to the deployment of American troops in 1965.

Vietnam Memorials in the United States

There are a number of Vietnam Memorials in the United States. The most famous of these is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. which honors the over 58,000 Americans who were killed in the war.

Vietnam Veterans in the United States

There are an estimated 2.7 million Vietnam veterans living in the United States. Many of these veterans suffer from long-term effects of their service, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD and Vietnam Veterans

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can be caused by exposure to traumatic events. PTSD is a common condition among Vietnam veterans. It is estimated that up to 30% of Vietnam veterans suffer from PTSD.

Missing in Action

There are 1,643 Americans who are still listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War. These soldiers were never recovered and their fate is unknown.

The Vietnam War in Film

The Vietnam War has been the subject of a number of films, both feature length and documentary. Some of the most famous films about the war include:

  • Apocalypse Now (1979)
  • Full Metal Jacket (1987)
  • Platoon (1986)
  • Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
  • Forrest Gump (1994)

The Vietnam War in Literature

The Vietnam War has also been the subject of a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction. Some of the most famous books about the war include:

  • The Things They Carried (1990) by Tim O’Brien
  • Going After Cacciato (1978) by Tim O’Brien
  • Animal House (1991) by Thomas Ricks
  • Vietnam: A History (1983) by Stanley Karnow

The Heart of Darkness

The Heart of Darkness is a novella by Joseph Conrad. The novella is set in Congo during the Belgian colonial period and is based on Conrad’s own experiences in the country. The novella is widely considered to be a classic of literature and has been adapted to film on multiple occasions, most notably in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979).

Conclusion

The Vietnam War was a long and brutal conflict that had a profound effect on the Vietnamese people, the United States, and the world.