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The French colonisation of Vietnam began in the mid-19th century, deu to a combination of economic interests, missionary activity, and political ambition.

Napoleon III was the French emperor during the colonisation and he authorised the landing of the french

Tu Duc was the Vietnamese emporer and had to face the inital french invasions

September 1858 was the first invasion, beginning the French colonisation

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Vietnamese nationalism intensified due to the rise of communist-led movements, particularly the Viet Minh, under Ho Chi Minh against both the Japanese and the French colonial powers

Ho Chi Minh was a key individual involved in the rise of Vietnamese Nationalism

May 1941 was the main date for this event

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1945: End of World War II and Rise of Communist Concerns

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1945: End of World War II and Rise of Communist Concerns

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Following WWII, Australia became increasingly concerned about the spread of communism in Asia. The victory of Communist forces in China in 1949 heightened these fears, leading to what became known as the 'Red Menace' or 'Yellow Peril' in Australia.

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1945 - ho chi minh declared independence

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1945 - ho chi minh declared independence

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The declaration followed Japan's surrender in World War II, creating a power vacuum in Vietnam that Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh seized to declare independence

Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh

September 2, 1945, in Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi

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October 1949: Mao Zedong led the Communist Party to power in China

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October 1949: Mao Zedong led the Communist Party to power in China

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This event in 1949 created the fear of communism, as the spread of communism was a threat. The same year, Robert Menzies became Prime Minister of Australia when he led the newly formed Liberal Party.

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After WWII Japan withdrew its colony and control over Korea. This led to the country splitting in two, with North Korea backed by by the USSR, and South Korea supported by the USA. In 1950, the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin supported the decision of the leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, to invade South Korea. This act was seen as a sign of communist aggression. Resulting in the UN getting involved through sponsoring US troops to defend South Korea. Australia immediately offered support by sending one aircraft carrier, two destroyers and a squadron of the RAAF.

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1950: Menzies Government Attempts to Ban Communist Party

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1950: Menzies Government Attempts to Ban Communist Party

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Prime Minister Robert Menzies introduced the Communist Party Dissolution Bill, attempting to ban the Communist Party of Australia. This was later defeated in a 1951 referendum, marking a significant moment in Australian political history.

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September 1st 1951: ANZUS Treaty between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States

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September 1st 1951: ANZUS Treaty between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States

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A security treaty between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States to ensure mutual defence and support from countries in treaty

Percy Spender (Australia), C.A. Berendsen (New Zealand), and Dean Acheson, John Foster Dulles, Alexander Wiley, and John J. Sparkman (United States) were all involved in the negotiation and signing of the treaty

Treaty was signed on the 1st of September, 1951

Originally created to deter Soviet agression in the Pacific

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Referendum to ban the Australian Communist Party failed due to the Australian High Court.

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The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and the fall of French control over Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) (May 1954) 

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The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and the fall of French control over Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) (May 1954) 

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A spy from communist Russia divulged secrets to capitalist Australia

In exchange for political safety

Began spying on Australian communist groups, reporting to Menzies' government

His wife was almost kidnapped and taken back

She was rescued

They both lived in Australia for the remainder of their lives

The affair spiked interest in communist problems once again

Was the key factor that led to the Menzies' party's re-election

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Vladimir Petrov, a Soviet diplomat, defected to Australia with his wife Evdokia, revealing Soviet espionage operations. This incident intensified anti-communist sentiment in Australia and contributed to the Liberal Party's election victory.

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Australia becomes a founding member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), designed to prevent communist expansion in Southeast Asia. This alliance would later influence Australia's involvement in Vietnam.

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1962: First Australian Military Advisers to Vietnam

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1962: First Australian Military Advisers to Vietnam

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The Menzies Government sends the first team of 30 military advisers to South Vietnam, marking the beginning of Australia's direct involvement in the Vietnam conflict.

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Operation Rolling Thunder was a gradual and sustained aerial bombardment campaign conducted by the United States (U.S.) 2nd Air Division (later Seventh Air Force), U.S. Navy, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) against North Vietnam from 2 March 1965

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1965: April 29: Menzies Announces Increased Military Commitment

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1965: April 29: Menzies Announces Increased Military Commitment

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Prime Minister Menzies announces the deployment of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) to Vietnam. This marked a significant escalation of Australia's involvement in the war.

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May 1965: Save Our Sons (SOS) movement opposing conscription

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May 1965: Save Our Sons (SOS) movement opposing conscription

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A movement formed in May 1965 in Sydney, opposing conscription, specifically for the Vietnam War. Founded by 15 Sydney women, including Joyce Golgerth and Pat Ashcroft. They were concerned about the conscription of young men for overseas service. They attended demonstrations, disributed leaflets, all to oppose conscription and demonstrate its impact on Australian families.

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September 1965 - An opinion poll revealed that 56 percent of Australians supported Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War 

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September 1965 - An opinion poll revealed that 56 percent of Australians supported Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War 

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The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a single-engined attack helicopter developed and manufactured by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter. A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1 is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake.

The AH-1 was rapidly developed as an interim gunship in response to the United States Army's needs in the Vietnam War. It used the same engine, transmission and rotor system as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, which had already proven itself to be a capable platform during the conflict, but paired it with a redesigned narrow fuselage among other features. The original AH-1, being a dedicated attack helicopter, came equipped with stub wings for various weapons, a chin-mounted gun turret, and an armored tandem cockpit, from which it was operated by a pilot and gunner. Its design was shaped to fulfill a need for a dedicated armed escort for transport helicopters, giving the latter greater survivability in contested environments. On 7 September 1965, the Model 209 prototype performed its maiden flight; after rapidly gaining the support of various senior officials, quantity production of the type proceeded rapidly with little revision.

During June 1967, the first examples of the AH-1 entered service with the US Army and were promptly deployed to the Vietnam theater. It commonly provided fire support to friendly ground forces, escorted transport helicopters, and flew in "hunter killer" teams by pairing with Hughes OH-6A Cayuse scout helicopters. In the Vietnam War alone, the Cobra fleet cumulatively chalked up in excess of one million operational hours; roughly 300 AH-1s were also lost in combat. In addition to the US Army, various other branches of the US military also opted to acquire the type, particularly the United States Marine Corps. Furthermore, numerous export sales were completed with several overseas countries, including Israel, Japan, and Turkey.

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Sir Robert Menzies retired as prime minister, and Harold Holt was officiated.

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March 1966 - Australia increased its military involvement in South Vietnam by establishing a task force of two battalions. With national servicemen required to serve in the war.

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March 1966 - Australia increased its military involvement in South Vietnam by establishing a task force of two battalions. With national servicemen required to serve in the war.

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May 1966: First deaths of Australian servicemen in Vietnam war

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May 1966: First deaths of Australian servicemen in Vietnam war

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On May 24th, 1996, private Errol Wayne Noack was the first Australian servicemen killed. He died by friendly fire during operation Hardihood near Nui Dat.

By the end of year 1996, there was a total of 63 Australian deaths during the Vietnam war

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On August 18, Delta Company, 6RAR engaged in one of Australia's most famous battles of the Vietnam War. 108 ANZAC soldiers fought against approximately 2,000 Viet Cong troops, demonstrating extraordinary courage and military skill.

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October 1967 - Australia increased the size of its forces in Vietnam 

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October 1967 - Australia increased the size of its forces in Vietnam 

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In October 1967, Australia significantly increased its military presence in Vietnam. Prime Minister Harold Holt announced the deployment of an additional 1,700 personnel, including a third infantry battalion and a tank squadron.

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1967: December: The death of Prime Minister Harold Holt

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1967: December: The death of Prime Minister Harold Holt

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He disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria on 17 December, 1967. His body was never recovered. He was replaced by John Gorton. The Gorton government inherited Australia's commitment to the war in South Vietnam and to the defence of Malaysia and Singapore from Communist insurgents.

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May 1968

The National Service Act is altered. Men who refuse to register for National Service will now be imprisoned.

This led to a spike in military participation in Australia, with Australian forces in South Vietnam reaching its peak under a year later in 1969.

Furthermore, the Act was amended so that national servicemen could be granted leave without pay for a 12 month period if national service would impose exceptional hardship. If this hardship had existed for an extended period of time and was presumed in all reasonable expectation to continue to exist, national servicemen could be granted an indefinite deferment by a magistrate's court.

These alterations also allowed men who had already commenced national service to be entitled to apply for exemption on grounds of conscience. This process remained was the same for those who registered or applied for partial or total exemption. Upon filing for the conscientious objector status, the serving soldier was granted leave without pay until his application was heard.

These amendments were principally designed to increase penalties for breaches of the Act and to increase the powers of the Government to trace defaulters. They were intensely debated in both Houses of Parliament before being eventually passed.

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Australian Forces in South Vietnam reached its peak at 8300 Men.

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October 1969 - John Zarb, was the first man to go to prison for refusing to enlist the National Service Law 

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October 1969 - John Zarb, was the first man to go to prison for refusing to enlist the National Service Law 

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The First Vietnam moratorium movement in Australia (May 1970)

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The First Vietnam moratorium movement in Australia (May 1970)

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The First Vietnam Moratorium in Australia, which took place on May 8, 1970, was a large-scale protest against Australian involvement in the Vietnam War and conscription. It involved hundreds of thousands of people marching in major cities across the country.

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1966 to 1988 - From Vietnam to Bicentenary: Social and Economic Change

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Massive anti-war demonstrations took place across Australia, with approximately 200,000 people participating in protests. These moratorium marches represented growing public opposition to Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.

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1972: December: Whitlam Government Ends Involvement

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1972: December: Whitlam Government Ends Involvement

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The newly elected Whitlam Labor Government withdraws remaining Australian troops from Vietnam, ending Australia's military involvement in the conflict. This marked a significant shift in Australian foreign policy.

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The capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces marked the end of the Vietnam War. Australia subsequently accepted thousands of Vietnamese refugees, significantly impacting Australian society and leading to increased multiculturalism.

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Background: As North Vietnamese forces advanced on Saigon in April 1975, the U.S. began its final evacuation plan to rescue remaining American personnel and at-risk South Vietnamese citizens.

Key Individuals: U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin, President Ford, and U.S. Marines.

Date: April 29–30, 1975.

Statistics: Over 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter in less than 24 hours, making it the largest helicopter evacuation in history.

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Vietnamese reunification of communism  1976

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Vietnamese reunification of communism  1976

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Vietnam was reunified as a communist country in 1976, following the fall of Saigon in 1975. The officially unified country, renamed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was ruled by the Communist Party of Vietnam. This reunification brought an end to the Vietnam War and established a single, communist-led government across the entire nation.