Nguyen van Thieu Biography

Appointed President of South Vietnam

Appointed President of South Vietnam

Meets President Nixon on Midway Island & agrees to his peace proposals

Launched to block the Viet Cong supply lines & prevent an invasion

Giap leads the Nguyen Hue Campaign, intended as the decisive invasion of the war

Giap leads the Nguyen Hue Campaign, intended as the decisive invasion of the war

Nixon announces an additional 72,000 troops wil leave Vietnam

The Paris Peace talks resume

Nixon ultimatum to NV to resume negotiations or "suffer the consequences"

"Christmas bombing" Dec. 17-30 - most intense bombing campaign of the war

The Paris Peace Agreement is signed. The Paris Accords specify a ceasefire but do not delineate territorial boundaries

The Paris Accords specify a ceasefire but do not delineate territorial boundaries

The Paris Peace Agreement is signed

A truce goes into effect

Under the terms of the peace agreement the ICCS is to establish regional and sub-regional administrations based in the demilitarised zone below the Seventeenth Parallel. The International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS) was created at the Paris Peace Accords - signed by the US, the Vietcong, North Vietnam & South Vietnam

Under the terms of the peace agreement the ICCS is to establish regional and sub-regional administrations based in the demilitarised zone below the Seventeenth Parallel. The International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS) was created at the Paris Peace Accords - signed by the US, the Vietcong, North Vietnam & South Vietnam

Thieu announces a "Popular Front" for peace & self-determination

Declares that the war has begun again

The NV attack on Phuoc Long starts the 3rd Indochina War

The north make a succesful attack on Ban Me Thuot in the central highlands

Thieu decides to abandon all of the highlands, except the Ban Me Thuot region. Leads to a speedy collapse of resistance in the south & an end to the war

Meets with his commanders at Camranh & orders withdrawal from the Northern Provinces

Hue falls to the Communists

Danang falls to the Communists

The Khmer Rouge attack Phnom Penh

The Khmer Rouge attack Phnom Penh

Says US Secretary of State Kissinger had tricked him into signing the Paris Peace Agreement two years ago, promising military aid which failed to materialise

The communist Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) has said President Thieu must step down before any peace talks with Saigon could begin

Nine days after Nguyen Van Thieus resignation, the Vietnam war ends with the fall of Saigon

On TV & radio address, outgoing President Nguyen Van Thieu says his forces failed to stop the advance of the Vietcong because of lack of funds promised to him by the USA.

Says US Secretary of State Kissinger had tricked him into signing the Paris Peace Agreement two years ago, promising military aid which failed to materialise.

The President of South Vietnam is forced to resign accusing the United States of betrayal. The communist Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) has said President Thieu must step down before any peace talks with Saigon could begin.

North Vietnamese troops have surrounded Saigon and military expert are predicting the city will fall within weeks if not days. 5 divisions of South Vietnamese infantry troops, a division of US Rangers & 2 brigades of US Marines in position around Saigon are outnumbered by more than 2 ro 1

Nine days after Nguyen Van Thieus resignation, the Vietnam war ends with the fall of Saigon

Ambassador Graham Martin and 7100 US & SV personnel are evacuated

Thieu escapes to begin a life in exile, in London, then in Boston

Death of Nguyen van Thieu