Battle of Saigon begins

The agreements set a ceasefire and a provisional military regrouping line near the 17th parallel, with nationwide elections envisaged for 1956. Vietnam was not intended to be permanently...

The ceasefire provisions following the Geneva agreements took effect, ending large-scale hostilities between France and the Việt Minh. The settlement temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel...

U.S. Navy and French vessels began transporting civilians from northern to southern Vietnam after Geneva. Hundreds of thousands moved in both directions during the regroupment period. The movement...

Eight states signed the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty in Manila. Its protocol designated Cambodia, Laos, and the “free territory” under the State of Vietnam for treaty protections,...

French forces withdrew from Hanoi and DRV forces entered the capital under the Geneva settlement. The transfer marked the consolidation of northern state power after nearly a century of colonial rule,...

Diệm publicly stated that his government would not be bound to consultations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam about the nationwide elections envisaged at Geneva. U.S. backing for Saigon’s...

Voters were asked to choose between Bảo Đại and Ngô Đình Diệm. The official landslide for Diệm followed an uneven campaign and was described by U.S. officials as one-sided. The vote helped establish...

Ngô Đình Diệm proclaimed the Republic of Vietnam after a contested referendum that removed Bảo Đại. The new state consolidated power with U.S. backing and did not participate in the nationwide...

France dissolved the expeditionary corps command structure after the Geneva settlement and transfer of military responsibilities. The date marks an institutional transition, not necessarily the...

The planned nationwide elections did not occur. Diệm’s government opposed them, while U.S. officials doubted the result would be free under northern conditions. The failure entrenched division and...