Conference of Geneva
Despite general agreement the "Final Declaration" is not signed.
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Ho Chi-Minh Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Ho Chi-Minh through 133 dated historical records for Vietnam.
Ho Chi-Minh, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
133Distinct records
3 of 4Page
1954–1968Years on this page
1954
Conference of Geneva
French troops be withdraw from north Vietnam & the Vietminh will withdraw from the sth.
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Conference of Geneva
South Vietnam, Laos & Kampuchea will become independent states protected by SEATO.
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Conference of Geneva
Territory north of the 17th Parallel will go to the Government of Ho Chi Minh.
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Conference of Geneva
The US does not want to recognize Beijing & Hanoi.
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Conference of Geneva
Vietnam is partitioned above latitude 17 degrees north.
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Election
Agrees to temporarily divide Vietnam in half pending elections unite Vietnam
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Partition
Vietnam is partitioned above latitude 17 degrees north
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The French establish a garison in order to tempt the Viet Minh into battle
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
President of Vietnam
Appointed President of North Vietnam
Role range: 1954-1969
NLF
Forms the National Liberation Front, the "Viet Cong"
Role range: 1953-1954 – 1954-1969
1955
Alliance Ho Chi-Minh and give North Vietnam $338m in economic aid
China promises to give North Vietnam $338m in economic aid
Role range: 1954-1969
1959
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Hanoi established the 559th Transportation Group under the command of Colonel (later General) Vo Bam to improve and maintain a transportation system to supply the Vietcong uprising against South Vietnamese Government
Role range: 1954-1969
Group 559
Creates Group 559 to enlarge the Ho Chi Minh Trail into South Vietnam
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Group 759
Creates Group 759 to supply troops & provisions by Sea into South Vietnam
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Hanoi established the 559th Transportation Group under the command of Colonel (later General) Vo Bam to improve and maintain a transportation system to supply the Vietcong uprising against South Vietnamese Government. Creates Group 559 to enlarge the Ho Chi Minh Trail into South Vietnam
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1960
Coup
Creates a broad front to overthrow President Diem
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
NLF
Creates a broad front to overthrow President Diem. Announces the creation of the National Liberation Front in South Vietnam
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1961
Invasion of Vietnam
The Vietcong attack army posts in Phuoc Tahn & Darlac Provinces
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1963
Battle of Ap Bac
The Vietcong stand their ground against American machinery and South Vietnamese soldiers. The Vietcong 514th Battalion and local guerrilla forces ambush the South Vietnamese
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1964
Nuclear Power
China, North Vietnams neighbor and ally, successfully tests an atomic bomb
Role range: 1954-1969
Bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail
US Air Force Operation Barrel Roll carries out the first systematic bombardment of the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Ho Chi Minh Trail
US Air Force Operation Barrel Roll carries out the first systematic bombardment of the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Operation Barrel Roll
Barrel Roll was one of the most closely held secrets and one of the most unknown components of the American military commitment in Southeast Asia.
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Operation Barrel Roll
Due to the ostensible neutrality of Laos, guaranteed by the Geneva Conference of 1954 and 1962, both the US and North Vietnam strove to maintain the secrecy of their operations and only slowly escalated military actions there.
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Operation Barrel Roll
US Air Force Operation Barrel Roll carries out the first systematic bombardment of the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos.
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1966
Battle of Lo Ke
US air support succeeds in bombing the attackers into retreat. The 272nd Regiment of the Vietcong 9th Div attack the American 3rd Brigade
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Siege of Route 13
On Route 13 linking Vietnam to the Kampuchean border US forces are brutally assaulted
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) estimate credited the North Vietnamese with 600 miles (970 km) of truckable roads within the corridor, at least 200 miles (320 km) of which were good enough for year-round use
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Battle of Con Thien
Heavy fighting near Con Thien kills nearly 1,300 North Vietnamese troops
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1967
Ho Chi Minh Trail
By the end of the year the North Vietnamese had completed 2,959 kilometers of vehicle capable roads, including 275 kilometers of main roads, 576 kilometers of bypasses, and 450 entry roads and storage areas
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
1968
Tet Offensive
Launches the Tet Offensive. Launches the offensive during the Tet truce while the south celebrates New Year. 70,000 troops attack 100 cities
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Tet Offensive
4,000 troops reach Saigon but the offensive is routed a month later
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Siege of Saigon
The Viet Cong are driven back from Saigon
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Tet Offensive
The Tet offensive is contained by the US at the cost of 165,000 civilian lives
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Bombing of Vietnam
The Vietcong do not agree to negotiation conditions. The US announces a cessation of bombing & that negotiations will begin
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Capture of Hue
The Vietcong capture Hue & massacre many with "blood-debt-lists"
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Massacre
The Vietcong capture Hue & massacre many with "blood-debt-lists"
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Peace Negotiations at Visegrad
Demands as a precondition of peace talks the US cease all bombing & acts of war
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Siege of Hue
The Vietcong capture Hue & massacre the local population with "blood-debt-lists"
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1954-1969
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.