Vietnam: The Birth of a Nation
The history of modern Vietnam, from French colonial rule to the present day.
Episodes
Under French colonial rule, Vietnam is not an independent state, but part of Indochina, a prosperous colony located in a distant paradise. In 1945, amid the chaos of World War II, Communist leader Ho Chi Minh spurs the revolution and demands Vietnam’s independence.
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, in 1954, marks the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam, but the country pays a heavy price: the peace negotiations let to the country’s division. The north comes under communist control, and the south becomes an ally of the United States.
When, in 1963, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is overthrown and assassinated during a military coup, U. S. President Lyndon B. Johnson sends troops to Vietnam.
In 1973, U. S. troops withdraw from South Vietnam. Saigon falls in 1975, marking the victory of North Vietnam and communism.
