January 2, 1963
Ap Bac Criticism
Criticizes South Vietnamese performance after the Battle of Ap Bac
Database labels: Ap Bac Criticism
Vietnam War year hub
Vietnam War in 1963: Timeline, Events, Battles and People
The World History Database contains 44 Vietnam/Indochina records dated 1963. After consolidating near-identical rows that describe the same dated event, this year hub presents 38 distinct chronology entries. Frequently represented events include Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, Coup, Diem Coup, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Battle of Balaclava. Frequently represented people include Ngo Dinh Diem, Sihanouk, Henry Cabot Lodge, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson.
44 database rows38 consolidated events
Key events
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, Coup, Diem Coup, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Battle of Balaclava, Battle of Ap Bac, Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
People
Ngo Dinh Diem, Sihanouk, Henry Cabot Lodge, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Nhu Diem, Thich Quang Duc
Places
Saigon, Sihanoukville, Washington, Ap Bac, Honolulu, Balaclava, Phnom Penh
Chronology for 1963
January 2, 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
Database labels: Battle of Ap Bac
January 2, 1963
Battle of Ap Bac
Commands ARVN forces during the Battle of Ap Bac
Database labels: Battle of Ap Bac
January 2, 1963
Battle of Balaclava
Leads the South Vietnamese 7th Division which is defeated by an inferior Vietcong force
Database labels: Battle of Balaclava
March 18, 1963
Breakfast
The Americans begin bombing Communist Headquarters in Kampuchea
Database labels: Breakfast
June 8, 1963
Learns of US bombing of Communists in Kampuchea
Learns of US bombing of Communists in Kampuchea but allows their Embassy to reopen
Database labels: Learns of US bombing of Communists in Kampuchea
June 11, 1963
Buddhist Crisis
Faces international outrage after Buddhist protests and repression
Database labels: Buddhist Crisis
June 11, 1963
Self-Immolation
Self-immolates in protest against the Diem government's treatment of Buddhists
Database labels: Self-Immolation
June 11, 1963
Self-Immolation Crisis
His self-immolation intensifies US concern over the Diem government
Database labels: Self-Immolation Crisis
August 21, 1963
Demonstrations
Special Forces raided and vandalised Buddhist pagodas across the country, arresting thousands of monks and causing a death toll estimated to be in the hundreds
Database labels: Demonstrations; Massacre · 2 related database rows consolidated
August 21, 1963
Xa Loi Pagoda Raids
Directs or supports raids against Buddhist pagodas during the political crisis
Database labels: Xa Loi Pagoda Raids
August 22, 1963
Saigon Ambassadorship
Becomes US ambassador during the crisis of the Diem regime
Database labels: Saigon Ambassadorship
November 1, 1963
Arrest of Nhu Diem
Nhu Diem is captured & burnt to death
Database labels: Arrest of Nhu Diem
November 1, 1963
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh is captured & burnt to death. Captured & burnt to death
Database labels: Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
November 1, 1963
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
Kennedy approves a coup by Vietnamese Army officers during which Diem is assassinated. Kennedy approves a coup by South Vietnamese Army officers & Diem is assassinated
Database labels: Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem; Coup · 2 related database rows consolidated
November 1, 1963
Assassination of Nhu Diem
Captured & burnt to death
Database labels: Assassination of Nhu Diem
November 1, 1963
Coup
Overthrown & killed by a coup, with tacit US approval
Database labels: Coup
November 1, 1963
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem, assassinated
Database labels: Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
November 1, 1963
Diem Coup
Leads the military coup that overthrows Ngo Dinh Diem
Database labels: Diem Coup
November 1, 1963
Diem Coup
Represents US policy in Saigon during the coup against Diem
Database labels: Diem Coup
November 1, 1963
Diem Coup
Faces the consequences of the coup against Ngo Dinh Diem
Database labels: Diem Coup
November 1, 1963
Overthrow
Overthrown and killed after US officials indicate opposition to his rule
Database labels: Overthrow
November 2, 1963
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Marks the culmination of a successful CIA-backed coup led by General Duong Van Minh. Diem and his adviser, younger brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, are arrested after the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) had been successful in a bloody overnight siege on Gia Long Palace in Saigon
Database labels: Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); Coup · 3 related database rows consolidated
November 2, 1963
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
Killed after the coup that ends his presidency
Database labels: Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
November 20, 1963
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Operation Plan 34A is announced at the Honolulu Conference. Approves action against North Vietnam by CIA supported South Vietnamese forces
Database labels: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); Plan 34A · 2 related database rows consolidated
November 26, 1963
NSAM 273
Launches operation NSAM 273
Database labels: NSAM 273
1963
Alliance Mao Tse-Tung and North Vietnamese aggression
China supports North Vietnamese aggression
Database labels: Alliance Mao Tse-Tung and North Vietnamese aggression
1963
Alliance United States and Thailand
Sends 3,000 troops to Thailand on the Laos border to counter Vietcong insurgence
Database labels: Alliance United States and Thailand
1963
Amnesty
Offers an amnesty to communist soldiers
Database labels: Amnesty
1963
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
Urges Kennedy to support the coup against Diem which results in Diems assassination
Database labels: Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem; Coup · 2 related database rows consolidated
1963
Assistant Secretary of State
Appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs
Database labels: Assistant Secretary of State
1963
Battle of Balaclava
An inferior Vietcong force defeats a South Vietnamese Div led by officers picked by Diem
Database labels: Battle of Balaclava
1963
Break in Diplomatic Relations with The US
Rejects American military aid. Breaks off relations with the US after President Johnson sent marines ashore at Danang
Database labels: Break in Diplomatic Relations with The US
1963
Madame Nhu Statements
Defends the Diem regime during the Buddhist crisis
Database labels: Madame Nhu Statements
1963
Mobilization
Has a force of only 30,000 & lets the Vietcong use Sihanoukville
Database labels: Mobilization
1963
Neutralist Split
Breaks with Kong Le as neutralist factions divide during the civil war
Database labels: Neutralist Split
1963
Reballion of Pol Pot
Pol Pot begins his communist rebellion from the northern jungles
Database labels: Reballion of Pol Pot
1963
Reballion of Rebels in Saigon
A Buddhist burns himself to death & triggers off demonstrations against the Government
Database labels: Reballion of Rebels in Saigon
Explore related Vietnam War guides
Sources and historical verification
This authority page consolidates World History Database records into a readable chronology. The database rows are research-index entries; important claims should be checked against primary documents and specialist histories.
Provenance
This year page is generated from World History Database records for 1963. Near-identical rows sharing date and place context are consolidated for display while the original database remains unchanged. Last reviewed 2026-10-06.