The Vietnam War
May 1, 1959
North Vietnam begins engineering the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of trails used to infiltrate troops and supplies through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam.
Fig. 1. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 0:14.
August 5, 1964
After commanders on the U.S. destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy report a North Vietnamese torpedo boat attack in the Gulf of Tonkin, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson submits the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to Congress, which authorizes the president to use military force in Vietnam. The resolution is passed two days later on August 7, 1964. The attack was later revealed to be a misreading of sonar signals.
Fig. 2. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 1:23.
January 30-March 28, 1968
During the Vietnamese New Year holiday of Tet, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launch the Tet Offensive.
Fig. 3. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 2:09.
March 16, 1968
U.S. Army troops commit the My Lai Massacre.
Fig. 4. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 2:09.
January 27, 1973
Representatives of Viet Cong, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the United States sign the Paris Peace Accords.
Fig. 5. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 3:01.
March 29, 1973
The last U.S. military unit leaves Vietnam.
Fig. 6. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 3:01.
April 30, 1975
North Vietnam takes Saigon, and the Vietnam War ends.
Fig. 7. A map of Vietnam showing South Vietnam and allies in dark blue, anti-communist occupations in blue, anti-communist gains in light blue, North Vietnam and Viet Cong in maroon, communist occupations in red, and communist gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 3:17.
July 2, 1976
Vietnam officially reunifies as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Saigon is renamed to Ho Chi Minh City.
Fig. 8. A map of Vietnam showing Vietnam in maroon; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Vietnam War: Every Fortnight," YouTube, 3:22.
Bibliography
Ray, Michael. "Vietnam War Timeline." Encyclopedia Britannica. January 21, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/list/vietnam-war-timeline.