History of Vietnam

The first Vietnamese states Au Lac and Nam Viet are formed in the third century BC. These states come under control of China between the second century BC and ninth century. However, in 935 the state of Dai Viet becomes independent and develops into one of the most powerful feudal states in South-Eastern Asia. In 1472 Dai Viet conquers the kingdom of Champa. Dai Viet becomes an empire named Viet Nam Realm in 1804, and is renamed Dai Nam Realm or Great South Realm in 1839.

France conquers the south of Vietnam in 1862 and establishes the colony of Cochinchina. In 1883, also the central and northern regions come under French control and the protectorates of Annam and Tonkin are founded. These possesions are united in 1887 with Cambodia into the Union of Indochina. In 1893, also Laos is incorporated into Indochina.
Between 1940 and 1945, Indochina is occupied by Japan, that establishes in 1945 the Vietnam Empire. The empire collapses later that year and in Vietnam the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, a communist dictatorship, lead by the Dang Lao Dong Viet Nam (Vietnamese Workers' Party, DLDV) of Hô Chí Minh, is proclaimed. France recaptures the south in 1945 and in 1946, the south becomes the independent state Republic of Vietnam. France's post-World War II unwillingness to leave Vietnam leads to failed talks and an 8-year guerilla war between the communist-led Viet Minh on one side and the French and their anti-communist nationalist allies on the other.

In 1961, at the request of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, the United States send military advisers to South Vietnam to help the government there deal with the Viet Cong campaign. In 1963 the United States increase its military support for South Vietnam and in 1965 the first United States combat forces are sent to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh is in the north succeeded in 1969 by Tón Dúc Tháng. Peace talks lead in 1973 to the Paris Accords. As a result, the south is divided into a patchwork of zones controlled by the South Vietnamese Government and the Viet Cong. The United States withdraw its forces, although United States military advisers remain.

In early 1975, North Vietnamese regular military forces begin a major offensive in the south, inflicting great damage to the south's forces. The communists take Saigon in 1975 and announce their intention of reunifying the country. Both Vietnam's are unificated into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976.