Facts on the Vietnam War

Facts on the Vietnam War The Vietnam War began on November 1, 1955, and ended April 30, 1975. It lasted for 19 and 1/2 years.  Although the bulk of the fighting took place in Vietnam, the war also spilled over into neighboring Laos and Cambodia in the early 1970s. Communist North Vietnamese forces, led by Ho Chi Minh, were allied with the Viet Cong in South Vietnam, the Peoples Republic of China, and the Soviet Union. They faced an anti-communist coalition made up of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the United States, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Laos. Troops Deployed and Outcomes North Vietnam and its allies deployed approximately  500,000 troops South Vietnam and its allies deployed 1,830,000 (peak in 1968). The North Vietnamese army and their Viet Cong allies won the war. The United States and other foreign nations withdrew their troops by March 1973. The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the communist forces on April 30, 1975. Estimated Total Deaths: South Vietnam - approximately 300,000 soldiers dead, up to 3,000,000 civilians North Vietnam Viet Cong - approximately 1,100,000 soldiers dead, up to 2,000,000 civilians Cambodia - 200,000 or more civilians dead United States - 58,220 dead Laos - approximately 30,000 dead South Korea - 5,099 dead Peoples Republic of China - 1,446 dead Thailand - 1,351 dead Australia - 521 dead New Zealand - 37 dead Soviet Union - 16 dead. Major Events and Turning Points: Gulf of Tonkin Incident, August 2 and 4, 1964. My Lai Massacre, March 16, 1968. Tet Offensive, January 30, 1968. Large Anti-war Protests Begin in US, October 15, 1969. Kent State Shootings, May 4, 1970. Fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975.