The Vietnam war: An
Introduction
Mr DAO Anh Vu
SKARBEK School
ID Student 10901
Where is the Vietnam ???
Southest Asia
Vietnam is in
Southest Asia
Near Laos, Cambodia,
Thailand and parts
of China
Vietnam Facts
83 Millions people
Very Fertile
Many ressources
Hot and Wet
Climate
Religion in Vietnam
Most People
are Buddhist
Strong minority of
Catholics
Early History of Vietnam
One of Few Asian Countries to Defeat
the Mongols at the Time of Kublai and
Genghis Khan
 Victim of Chinese Colonisatism
Vietnam and China have not had a
good relationship

Vietnam and Resistance to
Foreign Control

Vietnamese Resistance to the Chinese and
Mongols is Typical to the History of Vietnam
Indochina and French Colonialism
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Ultimately Vietnam Gained Independence
from China
Vietnam’s independence ended in the
mid-19th century, when the country was
colonized by the French Empire.
Vietnam was part of the French Colonial
Empire in the Southeast Asia/Indochina
France and Vietnam
Exploited Vietnam’s Ressources
and People
Introduced Catholicsm Western
Education
French Language and Customs
Vietnam and Imperialism
Vietnamese will Strongly Resist Imperialism from:
 China
 Mongols
 French
 Japanese
Many American Military and Political Leaders
were Ignorant of this
World War I and Vietnam
At the end of World War 1 American
President Woodrow Wilson
Promised to end colonialism
A Young Nguyen Ai Quoc
showed up at Versailles conference
Hoping to get Vietnamese independence from
France
Nationalism
Nationalism pride in my country
Desire for an independence
homeland for our people
Viet Minh founded by Ho Chi Minh
Communist/Nationalist group that opposed the French
and later Japanese
Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh
At the start of World War 2, Vietnam and
much of Southeast Asia was still
controlled by France
Ho Chi Minh leader of Viet Minh wants
independence Vietnam.
Opposes French, Japanese, American.
Train in China and USSR.
Communist or Nationalist
Declaring independence
World Ward 2 ends and September 2,
1945 Ho Chi Minh declares
Vietnamese Independence.
Some See Ho Chi Minh’s
declaration of independence
as evidence of being a Nationalist over being
a Communist
First Indo-China War
France does not recognize
Vietnamese independence
France reclaims its colony
1945-1954 France vs. Viet Minh
French try to keep Vietnam, Viet Minh fight for
independence
70% of French costs are paid by US
Dien Bien Phu and Geneva Conference
1954 Final defeat of the French by Vietnamese
French surrender and lose indochina
1954 Geneva conference
temporarily devided Vietnam at
17th parallel until French leave
Elections in 1956
South Vietnam
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Instead of support Geneva Agreement and allowing
unification elections and Communist victory the
United States supports the creation of NonCommunist South Vietnam
American war in Vietnam is fought to keep South
Vietnam Non-Communist
John F.Kennedy believed the best way to stop
communists in Vietnam was to build south Vietnam
into a Nation
Ngo Dinh Diem
First leader of South Vietnam, nationalist
but strongly anti-Communist catholic
Support from Eisenhower and Kennedy
Massive military and financial aid from US
Brutal to Communist
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Assassinated in November 1963
Increased American Involvement in South
Vietnam’s internal affairs
Some stats
When Eisenhower Left Office Less than
1,000 US soldiers in Vietnam.
At Time of Kennedy Assassination over 16,000
soldiers in Vietnam.
1969- 543,000 Many of the soldiers under
Kennedy were special
Forces and under Johnson Regular Ground
troops will be introduced.
Some terms
Hanoi – refers to North Vietnames government
NVA – North Vietnamese Army
VC/Charlie – Vietcong – Communist rebels in
South Vietnam
ARVN – South Vietnam Army
POW – Prisoner of War
MIA – Missing in Action
North Vietnam
North Vietnam wants a unified and
Communist Vietnam Want
Americans Out
One Vietnam
Escalation
Johnson attempts to limit the war while
at the same time constantly increasing
the number soldiers in Vietnam over
500,000 by 1969
Lyndon B. Johnson would attempt
negotiation at the same time he would
scale back offensive operations in Vietnam
North Vietnamese Take Advantage Of This
TET offensive
Tết, is the most important holiday in
Vietnam.
Tết - 1968 Viet Cong attack every
major US base in South Vietnam
North Vietnamese Army takes City
of Hue and kills many inhabitants
US Embassy Compound in Saigon is attacked
Effects of TET
Major military victory for the US
Viet Cong devastated
American public turns against War
Political, Psychological Victory for North Vietnam
President Johnson will not seek re-election
Strong Anti-War movement in the United States
Richard Nixon
Elected in 1968
Claim to have an secret plan
to end the Vietnam war
Nixon and Cambodia
Cambodia was Neutral
Viet Cong and North Vietnamese would Use Cambodia
as a Sanctuary. US Troops could Not Enter
Cambodian government is powerless to prevent
communists from entering
Bad History between Vietnam and Cambodia
Nixon supports coup that puts strong anti-Communist
government in charge
Secret bombing and invasion of Cambodia
Expands conflict
Cambodia
Bombing and invasion fails to make
significant difference in War
Communists go deeper into Cambodia
Vietnamese were using Cambodia to
attack to kill Americans
Nixon doctrine/Vietnamization
Nixon - uses combination of increased bombing
of North Vietnam and secret negotiations
Diplomacy with China and USSR
Vietnamization-Nixon’s plan turn the War over
the war South Vietnamese
Train and equip South Vietnam to fight the North
US troops withdraw. Last troops leave by 1973
South Vietnam Betrayed ???
South Vietnam is promised that the US
would send troops, money, and supplies if
North Vietnamese launch massive attack
Nixon Resigns due to Watergate
Congress and American people do not
support the idea of further involvement
1975 Unification
North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam
US does not prevent
Vietnam is Unified
Vietnam is a unique
country that win France
and United States
Results of Vietnam War
60,000 Americans Killed
US reluctant to use military power
American public is divided
Americans don’t trust government
Vietnam is unified country - Communist
Cambodia falls to Khmer Rouge
Results in Cambodia
Khmer Rouge in Cambodia take
power
Pol Pot is leader
Killing Fields-Genocide of 1/3 of
Cambodian population by killed.
Vietnam and China
1979 War between Vietnam and China
China improved relations with US after Nixon’s Visit
Vietnam moved closer to USSR
China supports Khmer Rouge and is upset that
Vietnam defeats.
China attempts to invade Vietnam to “teach lesson”
Chinese leave after 1 month
Vietnamese put up much stronger fight than the
Chinese expected
The end
Thank for your attention !