Vietnam

History  Thousand year occupation by the Chinese.  1847 French colonization began; region called Indo China.  Frustration at colonization by the Nationalists and the Communists.  People and resources exploited by the French.

Communism and Ho Chi Minh  1 st communist group founded by Ho Chi Minh in  1941, Ho Chi Minh creates the Viet Minh party and pushed for national unity against any occupier.  During WWII, Vietnamese treated terribly by the Japanese.  1945, Ho Chi Minh declared independence for Vietnam under Viet Minh control.

“You will kill 10 of our men, and we will kill 1 of yours, and in the end it will be you who tire of it.”

 End of WWII, the French returned to Vietnam to reclaim their colony.  Franco-Viet Minh War from ; Viet Minh win and French and kicked out.  U.S. helped French to stop the spread of communism.  Vietnam is divided into two sections:  North led by Ho Chi Minh.  South led by Ngo Diem anti-communist Catholic and friend of the U.S.

South Vietnam  National elections were not held to unify the country.  Diem became a tyrant and the government became family run rather than a democracy.  South Vietnamese students and monks protested against Diem.  Military coup killed Diem and South Vietnam went into chaos.

North Vietnam  Ho Chi Minh begins to eliminate any opposition.  Private land is seized and given to the State.  Hasty trials results in 10-15,000 executions.  Attempt to “liberate” the South begins in  National Liberation Front (NLF) aka, Viet Cong started taking over the south.

U.S. interaction with Vietnam  U.S. believed if Vietnam became a communist country a “domino effect” would occur in the world.  U.S. belief that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow.  Started sending money and advisors in American soldiers there for 25 years.  Combat troops sent in 1965 to take out the Viet Cong village by village.  Napalm used destroying the environment.

 Viet Cong continued to fight against the U.S.  Innocent villagers were killed and many turned to the VC for help.  Tet Offensive was the largest battle and turning point; Americans became unsupportive of fighting.  2,000 South Vietnamese deaths  32,000 VC deaths.

 American soldiers, at Mai Lai, killed innocent Vietnamese and was leaked to media.  American resentment toward the war increased and antiwar protests began.  1969, President Nixon began “vietnamisation” to make Vietnamese fight on their own.

Vietnam War Impact  1973, Paris Peace Accords made a cease fire and withdrew U.S. troops.  Over 200,000 South Vietnamese soldiers killed.  Estimated 1 million North Vietnamese and VC deaths.  Approximately four million civilians were injured or killed during the war.

 South vs. North.  1975, South surrendered making Vietnam one communist country.  Throughout the conflict the U.S. never declared war on Vietnam.  Reunification for Vietnam was difficult; destroyed countryside, physically and mentally battered people, anger at each other.

 Tens of thousands of people who supported the south were imprisoned without trial and sent to labor camps.  Business people, intellectuals, artists, journalists etc.  Anti-capitalist campaign was launched, seizing private property and businesses.  1989, Vietnamese embrace the market economy.  1994, U.S. embargo lifted and diplomatic relations started again.  Embargo  restriction of trade with a country.  Today Vietnam has economic freedom, but remains controlled by the Communist Party.