The Vietnam War (c. 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies.
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The Vietnam War, 1955–1975
Two decades of war in Southeast Asia
After Vietnam was split in two in 1954, the communist North, backed by the Soviet Union and China, fought to unite the country against the South, backed by the United States. American involvement grew from advisers to more than half a million troops by 1968.
Jungle warfare, heavy bombing and shocking images on nightly TV news fuelled huge anti-war protests across America. The Tet Offensive of 1968 convinced many that the war could not be won. US forces left after a 1973 peace deal, and in April 1975 North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon, ending the war. Millions of Vietnamese died, along with around 58,000 Americans.
Did you know?The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington was designed by Maya Lin, a 21-year-old architecture student.
The 71st anniversary falls on November 1, 2026.
