USHB- Vietnam War Timeline

On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces entered Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. The South Vietnamese government quickly surrendered, marking the official end of the Vietnam War.

Vietnam declares independence

My Lai Massacre

Fall of Saigon

U.S. soldiers kill over 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians in My Lai. When the massacre is exposed, it sparks global outrage and intensifies anti-war protests in the U.S.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

The U.S. claims North Vietnamese ships attacked the USS Maddox. This leads to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson authority to escalate U.S. military involvement.

After Japan’s defeat in WWII, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam’s independence from French colonial rule. However, France refuses to recognize this and seeks to reclaim control, leading to conflict.

January 1968

1969-1973

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1954

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1975

March 1968

1964

1945

Viet Minh forces defeat French troops after a brutal 55-day siege, leading to the Geneva Accords. Vietnam is temporarily divided at the 17th parallel.

Battle of Dien Bien Phu

During the Vietnamese New Year, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launch coordinated attacks on over 100 cities. Though the U.S. repels the offensive, public opinion turns against the war.

Vietnamization & U.S. Withdrawal

Tet Offensive

President Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization aims to shift combat roles to South Vietnamese forces while gradually withdrawing U.S. troops. The Paris Peace Accords in 1973 officially end U.S. involvement.

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The fall of Saigon led to scenes of desperation, as thousands of South Vietnamese civilians and U.S. personnel tried to flee the city. The U.S. orchestrated a massive evacuation, known as Operation Frequent Wind, airlifting over 7,000 people from the U.S. embassy by helicopter. After the capture of Saigon, Vietnam was reunified under communist control, and the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the North Vietnamese leader.