World History Timeline

Countries / Southeast Asia

History of Vietnam

151 notable historical events in Vietnam, in chronological order.

War · 58Politics · 60Dynasty · 16Treaty · 8Revolution · 8Technology · 3Religion · 5Culture · 14Art · 3Economy · 6Disaster · 3Birth · 4Death · 15

20th century

  1. March 13, 1954 – May 7, 1954★★★★★

    Battle of Điện Biên Phủ

    The Việt Minh assault the French garrison at Điện Biên Phủ; their victory on 7 May leads to the Geneva Accords.

    War· Vietnam, France
  2. July 21, 1954★★★★★

    Geneva Accords on Indochina

    The Geneva Conference ends the First Indochina War, temporarily partitioning Vietnam at the 17th parallel pending elections planned for 1956.

    Treaty· Vietnam, France, Laos, Cambodia, Switzerland
  3. October 10, 1954★★★★★

    Việt Minh takes over Hanoi

    The Vietnam People's Army takes control of Hanoi as French forces withdraw under the Geneva Accords.

    Politics· Vietnam, France
  4. October 26, 1955★★★★★

    Proclamation of the Republic of Vietnam

    After the 23 October referendum deposing Bảo Đại, Ngô Đình Diệm proclaims the Republic of Vietnam with himself as president.

    Politics· Vietnam
  5. November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975★★★★★

    Vietnam War

    A conflict between North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on one side and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and its allies, on the other; it ends with the fall of Saigon in 1975.

    War· Vietnam, United States, Laos, Cambodia
  6. 1959★★★★★

    Ho Chi Minh trail established

    North Vietnam forms Group 559 to build a supply network through Laos and Cambodia to the South along the Trường Sơn range.

    War· Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
  7. December 20, 1960★★★★★

    National Liberation Front founded

    The National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) is founded to oppose the South Vietnamese government.

    PoliticsWar· Vietnam
  8. 1962 – 1971★★★★★

    Operation Ranch Hand

    The US Air Force sprays herbicides, including dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange, over large areas of South Vietnam, with lasting health and environmental effects.

    WarDisaster· Vietnam, United States
  9. January 2, 1963★★★★★

    Battle of Ấp Bắc

    A smaller Viet Cong force repels an attack by South Vietnamese troops with US advisers near Mỹ Tho.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  10. June 11, 1963★★★★★

    Self-immolation of Thích Quảng Đức

    Monk Thích Quảng Đức burns himself to death in Saigon in protest at the Diệm government's treatment of Buddhists; the photograph shocks the world.

    ReligionPolitics· Vietnam
  11. November 1, 1963 – November 2, 1963★★★★★

    1963 South Vietnamese coup

    Generals led by Dương Văn Minh overthrow President Ngô Đình Diệm, who is killed with his brother Ngô Đình Nhu the next day.

    Politics· Vietnam, United States
  12. August 2, 1964 – August 7, 1964★★★★★

    Gulf of Tonkin incident

    A clash between USS Maddox and North Vietnamese torpedo boats leads Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, enabling US escalation.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, United States
  13. March 2, 1965 – November 2, 1968★★★★★

    Operation Rolling Thunder

    A sustained US aerial bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  14. March 8, 1965★★★★★

    US Marines land at Đà Nẵng

    Two battalions of US Marines land at Đà Nẵng, the first American ground combat units deployed to Vietnam.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  15. November 14, 1965 – November 18, 1965★★★★★

    Battle of Ia Drang

    The first major battle between US Army forces and the North Vietnamese army, fought in the Central Highlands.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  16. January 21, 1968 – July 9, 1968★★★★★

    Battle of Khe Sanh

    North Vietnamese forces besiege the US Marine base at Khe Sanh in Quảng Trị; US forces abandon the base in July.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  17. January 30, 1968 – September 1968★★★★★

    Tet Offensive

    North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces attack more than 100 cities and towns in the South; despite heavy losses, the offensive erodes US public support for the war.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  18. March 16, 1968★★★★★

    Mỹ Lai massacre

    US soldiers of Charlie Company kill hundreds of unarmed civilians at Sơn Mỹ, Quảng Ngãi; the killings become public in 1969.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  19. September 2, 1969★★★★★

    Death of Hồ Chí Minh

    Hồ Chí Minh, President of North Vietnam, dies in Hanoi.

    Death· Vietnam
  20. March 30, 1972 – October 1972★★★★★

    Easter Offensive

    North Vietnam launches a large conventional offensive on three fronts in the South, including prolonged fighting at Quảng Trị.

    War· Vietnam, United States
  21. December 18, 1972 – December 29, 1972★★★★★

    Operation Linebacker II

    The United States carries out intensive B-52 bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong for twelve days, known in Vietnam as the "Điện Biên Phủ in the air".

    War· Vietnam, United States
  22. January 27, 1973★★★★★

    Paris Peace Accords

    The United States, North and South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government sign an agreement ending direct US involvement in the war.

    Treaty· Vietnam, United States, France
  23. March 29, 1973★★★★★

    Last US combat troops leave Vietnam

    The last US combat units leave South Vietnam under the terms of the Paris Peace Accords.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, United States
  24. January 19, 1974★★★★★

    Battle of the Paracel Islands

    Chinese naval forces clash with the South Vietnamese navy and take control of all of the Paracel Islands.

    War· Vietnam, China
  25. c. 1975 – c. 1995★★★★★

    Vietnamese boat people

    Hundreds of thousands of people flee Vietnam by sea after 1975; many die at sea and others are resettled, mostly in Western countries.

    Politics· Vietnam, United States, Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
  26. March 10, 1975 – April 30, 1975★★★★★

    1975 Spring Offensive

    Beginning with the attack on Buôn Ma Thuột, North Vietnamese forces advance across the South, leading to South Vietnam's collapse on 30 April 1975.

    War· Vietnam
  27. April 30, 1975★★★★★

    Fall of Saigon

    North Vietnamese forces enter the Independence Palace; the Republic of Vietnam surrenders, ending the Vietnam War.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, United States
  30. December 25, 1978 – 1989★★★★★

    Cambodian–Vietnamese War

    Following Khmer Rouge border attacks, Vietnam invades Cambodia, takes Phnom Penh on 7 January 1979 and overthrows the Khmer Rouge; Vietnamese troops remain until 1989.

    War· Vietnam, Cambodia
  31. February 17, 1979 – March 16, 1979★★★★★

    Sino-Vietnamese War

    China attacks Vietnam's northern border provinces and withdraws after about a month; both sides claim victory.

    War· Vietnam, China
  32. December 1986★★★★★

    Vietnam launches Đổi Mới

    The 6th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam adopts Đổi Mới, shifting to a socialist-oriented market economy.

    EconomyPolitics· Vietnam
  33. March 14, 1988★★★★★

    Johnson South Reef skirmish

    Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces clash at Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands; about 64 Vietnamese sailors are killed.

    War· Vietnam, China
  34. September 1989★★★★★

    Vietnam withdraws from Cambodia

    Vietnam completes the withdrawal of its troops from Cambodia, opening the way to the Cambodian peace process.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, Cambodia
  36. April 1992★★★★★

    1992 Constitution of Vietnam

    The National Assembly adopts a new constitution enshrining the Đổi Mới reforms and a multi-sector economy.

    Politics· Vietnam
  39. February 3, 1994★★★★★

    US lifts trade embargo on Vietnam

    President Bill Clinton announces the lifting of the US trade embargo on Vietnam.

    EconomyPolitics· Vietnam, United States
  41. July 28, 1995★★★★★

    Vietnam joins ASEAN

    Vietnam becomes the seventh member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    PoliticsTreaty· Vietnam

21st century

  2. April 2008★★★★★

    Launch of VINASAT-1

    Vietnam's first communications satellite is launched into orbit.

    Technology· Vietnam
  3. August 2008★★★★★

    Expansion of Hanoi

    Hà Tây province and several neighbouring districts are merged into Hanoi, roughly tripling the capital's area.

    Politics· Vietnam
  4. October 4, 2013★★★★★

    Death of Võ Nguyên Giáp

    General Võ Nguyên Giáp, commander at Điện Biên Phủ, dies in Hanoi aged 102.

    Death· Vietnam
  7. July 19, 2024★★★★★

    Death of Nguyễn Phú Trọng

    Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, dies in office.

    DeathPolitics· Vietnam
  8. September 7, 2024★★★★★

    Typhoon Yagi strikes northern Vietnam

    Typhoon Yagi makes landfall near Quảng Ninh and Haiphong, causing floods and landslides that kill hundreds in northern Vietnam.

    Disaster· Vietnam
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