Timeline by Lyric Watson

1945

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:12:28 UTC

Japanese occupation ended; Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, declared independence for Vietnam. French forces return to reclaim Indochina; tensions rise between French colonial authorities and Vietnamese nationalists.

1946

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:13:39 UTC

The war officially begins when French troops attack Hanoi, leading to armed conflict with the Viet Minh.

1947

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:14:34 UTC

Viet Minh adopted guerrilla warfare tactics; the French struggled to maintain control in rural areas.

1950

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:15:32 UTC

China and the Soviet Union began to support the Viet Minh; the conflict gained international dimensions.

1953

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:15:53 UTC

French forces, under General Henri Navarre, planned a decisive campaign to crush the Viet Minh.

1954

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:16:22 UTC

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu takes place; Viet Minh forces surround and besiege French troops.

May 7, 1954

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:17:29 UTC

The French surrendered at Dien Bien Phu, marking a significant victory for the Viet Minh.

July 1954

351238_2 — 2024-10-21 16:20:08 UTC

The Geneva Accords are signed, leading to the temporary division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel and setting the stage for future conflicts.