Vietnam BackgroundVietnam Background

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► officially the officially the Socialist Republic of VietnamSocialist Republic of Vietnam ((Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt NamCộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam))

► It is bordered by It is bordered by ChinaChina to the north, to the north, LaosLaos to to the northwest, the northwest, CambodiaCambodia to the southwest, to the southwest, and the and the South China SeaSouth China Sea to the east to the east

►With a population of over With a population of over 86 million86 million, Vietnam , Vietnam is the is the 13th most populous country13th most populous country in the in the world. world.

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►The capital is The capital is HanoiHanoi in the North in the North

►The largest city is The largest city is Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City in the South. Was known as Saigonin the South. Was known as Saigon

►The official language is The official language is VietnameseVietnamese, , a derivative from the Asian language a derivative from the Asian language groupsgroups

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► Vietnam was under Vietnam was under Chinese controlChinese control for a for a thousand years before becoming a nation-thousand years before becoming a nation-state in the 10th century state in the 10th century

► Vietnam's independence was gradually Vietnam's independence was gradually eroded by France when the entire country eroded by France when the entire country became part of became part of French IndochinaFrench Indochina

► the French maintained control until the the French maintained control until the JapaneseJapanese invaded French Indochina in invaded French Indochina in 1941 during World War II1941 during World War II

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► In 1941, the In 1941, the Viet MinhViet Minh — a communist  — a communist and nationalist liberation movement — and nationalist liberation movement — emerged under emerged under Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh, to seek , to seek independence for Vietnam from France independence for Vietnam from France and to oppose the Japanese occupation and to oppose the Japanese occupation

►After the defeat of Japan, the Vietminh After the defeat of Japan, the Vietminh occupied the city of Hanoi in the North occupied the city of Hanoi in the North and set up a and set up a provisional governmentprovisional government

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► The The French still occupied SouthFrench still occupied South which led which led to continued fighting between 1945 and 1954to continued fighting between 1945 and 1954

► The French were finally defeated and forced The French were finally defeated and forced to withdrawal in 1954 after the Battle of to withdrawal in 1954 after the Battle of DienbienphuDienbienphu

► This battle for Independence left the nationThis battle for Independence left the nation divided politically into two countriesdivided politically into two countries

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►Bitter fighting between the two sides Bitter fighting between the two sides continued during the continued during the Vietnam WarVietnam War

►True to form, the US got involved to stop True to form, the US got involved to stop the spread of the spread of CommunismCommunism; the ultimate ; the ultimate goal of US Foreign policy at the timegoal of US Foreign policy at the time

►In 1975In 1975, the war ended with a , the war ended with a Communist victoryCommunist victory