Chronology of Events In Vietnam’s History 1545
Civil strife disturbs Viet Nam, splitting the nation for nearly two centuries.
1627
Alexandre de Rhodes, a French missionary, adapts the Vietnamese Language to the Roman alphabet. Paves the way for further French influence in Vietnam.
1772
Start of the Tayson Rebellion. The ruling Nguyen clan is unseated from power. French missionary activity spreads.
1820
Captain John White of Salem, Massachusetts, is the first American to set foot in Vietnam.
1843
A permanent French fleet is deployed in Asian waters.
1847
French forces clash with Vietnamese mandarins at the city of Tourane, now known as Danang. Tu Duc ascends to the throne and plans to eliminate Christianity in Vietnam.
1861
French troops capture the city of Saigon.
1862
Tu Duc signs a treaty with France granting the French broad religious, economic and political concessions.
1863
French control extends to Cambodia.
1873
French inroads into Tonkin begin.
1879
Cochinchina’s first French civilian governor is appointed.
1883
France establishes a “protectorate” over Annam and Tonkin and rules Cochinchina as a colony.
1890
Ho Chi Minh is born in central Vietnam.
1911
Ho leaves Vietnam, not to return for 30 years.
1914
World War I begins in Europe. Several hundred thousand Vietnamese are sent to France to serve in labor battalions.
1919
Ho tries to petition President Woodrow Wilson, at the Versailles Peace Conference, for self-determination in Vietnam.
1920
Ho joins the newly formed French Communist Party in December.
1930
Ho and comrades form Indochinese Communist party in Hong Kong.
1932
Bao Dai, theoretically emporer since 1925, returns to Vietnam from school in France to ascend the throne under French tutelage.
1940
Leaving the French administrative government intact, Japan occupies French Indochina.
1941
Ho returns to Vietnam covertly, forming the Vietminh to fight both Japan and France.
1944
Vi Nguyen Giap forms the Vietminh Army.
1945
France declares Vietnam a “free state” within the French Union
1946
French break off talks with the Vietminh and French naval vessels bomb Haiphon harbor. Vietminh forces withdraw from Hanoi after attacking French garrisons. The French Indochina War has begun.
1954
The Battle of Dienbienphu begins on March 13, the French are defeated by May 8. Bao Dai appoints Diem Prime Minister.
1957
Vietnam is permanently divided into separate states, at the request by the Soviet Union, and admitted to the United Nations.
1959
Diem legalizes intense persecution of Communist suspects and dissidents. North Vietnam organized Group 559 for the expressed purpose of smuggling troops and weapons into South Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
1960
Coup takes place in Laos. SVN attempts to remove Diem from power.
1961
LBJ visits Vietnam and returns, advising now President Kennedy to increase aid and support of Diem as part of the “containment
doctrine.” Kennedy sends more military equipment and “advisors” to support Diem. 1962
American military advisor presence increases from 700 to 12,000. Strategic Hamlet Program is instituted.
1964
General Nguyen Khanh seizes power in Saigon. Secretary of State McNamara visits Vietnam and vows support for Khanh. Gulf of Tonkin incident takes place.
1964 cont. 1965
1966
Tonkin Resolution passed. Khanh steps down and leaves the nation. Vietcong stage attack American military installations. LBJ authorizes Operation Flaming Dart. American combat troops arrive in Danang. LBJ authorizes additional increases in American troop deployments. U.S. defeats the NVA forces at the Battle of Ia Drang.