January 30, 1964
Coup
General Nguyen Khanh led a coup replacing Duong Van Minh as Prime Minister
Database labels: Coup
Vietnam War year hub
Vietnam War in 1964: Timeline, Events, Battles and People
The World History Database contains 49 Vietnam/Indochina records dated 1964. After consolidating near-identical rows that describe the same dated event, this year hub presents 39 distinct chronology entries. Frequently represented events include Operation Barrel Roll, Coup, Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Commander in Chief, Mobilization. Frequently represented people include Nguyen Khanh, Ho Chi-Minh, Lyndon Johnson, Lyndon Baines Johnson, William Sullivan.
49 database rows39 consolidated events
Key events
Operation Barrel Roll, Coup, Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Commander in Chief, Mobilization, Tonkin Resolution Opposition, No British Troops Policy
People
Nguyen Khanh, Ho Chi-Minh, Lyndon Johnson, Lyndon Baines Johnson, William Sullivan, Vang Pao, Daniel Elseberg
Places
Washington, Saigon, Vientiane, Long Tieng, Gulf of Tonkin, Hanoi, London
Chronology for 1964
January 30, 1964
January Coup
Seizes power from Duong Van Minh's military junta
Database labels: January Coup
May 4, 1964
Bombing of Vietnam
Requests the US Ambassador Henry Lodge to bomb North Vietnam
Database labels: Bombing of Vietnam
May 24, 1964
Alliance United States, Laos and South Vietnam
Asks the NSC to authorize the request of Laos & South Vietnam for armed forces
Database labels: Alliance United States, Laos and South Vietnam
July 19, 1964
Invasion of Vietnam
During the Vietnam War at a rally in Saigon, General Nguyen Khanh made a statement "calling for expanding the war into North Vietnam"
Database labels: Invasion of Vietnam; Mobilization · 2 related database rows consolidated
August 2, 1964
Battle of Tonkin Gulf
USS Turner Joy & Maddox report they have been attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. The Tonkin Gulf incident is used to escalate the war in Vietnam. Claims USS Maddox was attacked 30 miles offsore not 13 miles claimed by North Vietnam. A clash that triggers U.S. bombing against North Vietnam
Database labels: Battle of Tonkin Gulf
August 2, 1964
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
On duty on the evening of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, reporting the incident to McNamara
Database labels: Gulf of Tonkin Incident
August 2, 1964
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Commands the USS Maddox during the first Gulf of Tonkin incident
Database labels: Gulf of Tonkin Incident · 2 related database rows consolidated
August 4, 1964
Gulf of Tonkin Address
Addresses the nation after reported attacks in the Gulf of Tonkin
Database labels: Gulf of Tonkin Address
August 5, 1964
Retaliatory Air Strikes
Orders retaliatory air strikes against North Vietnamese targets after reports of attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Database labels: Retaliatory Air Strikes
August 7, 1964
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Receives congressional authorization to use military force in Vietnam
Database labels: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
August 7, 1964
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Enables Johnson to use armed force to help SEATO members to "defend their freedom". Congress authorizes "measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the US"
Database labels: Tonkin Gulf Resolution
August 7, 1964
Tonkin Resolution
Defends administration policy during passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Database labels: Tonkin Resolution
August 7, 1964
Tonkin Resolution Opposition
Votes against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Database labels: Tonkin Resolution Opposition · 2 related database rows consolidated
August 1964
Adviser
Serves in the Pentagon from August under Secretary of State for Defence Robert McNamara. Serves for two years in Vietnam working for General Edward Lansdale as a civilian in the State Department
Database labels: Adviser
August 1964
Strike
General Nguyen Khanh is faced with an attempted coup, rioting and demonstrations in the northern provinces, a massive labor strike in Saigon, and an armed revolt by Montagnards
Database labels: Coup; Strike · 2 related database rows consolidated
September 13, 1964
Coup
The South Vietnamese Air Force, under the leadership of Air Marshall Nguyen Cao Ky, crushes a coup plot against General Nguyen Khanh
Database labels: Coup · 2 related database rows consolidated
September 26, 1964
President of Vietnam
The Vietnamese Revolutionary Council elect Phan Khac Suu as Chief of State and the former Mayor of Saigon, Tran Van Huong, as Premier, but General Nguyen Khanh retains real power under the title of Commander in Chief of the armed forces
Database labels: President of Vietnam
October 1964
Memo
Issues a memorandum, a "challenge to the assumptions of our current Vietnam policy"
Database labels: Memo
December 14, 1964
Barrel Roll Support
His forces rely on US air support as Operation Barrel Roll expands
Database labels: Barrel Roll Support
December 14, 1964
Operation Barrel Roll
Authorizes expanded US air operations over northern Laos
Database labels: Barrel Roll Bombing; Operation Barrel Roll · 2 related database rows consolidated
December 23, 1964
Secret War Coordination
Arrives as ambassador and coordinates US air and covert operations in Laos
Database labels: Air War Coordination; Secret War Coordination · 2 related database rows consolidated
1964
Aid Policy for North Vietnam
Supports expanded Soviet assistance to North Vietnam after US escalation begins
Database labels: Aid Policy for North Vietnam
1964
Air Defence Expansion
Oversees expansion of air defence as American pressure increases
Database labels: Air Defence Expansion
1964
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.
Database labels: Bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail; Ho Chi Minh Trail; Operation Barrel Roll · 3 related database rows consolidated
1964
Chairman
Appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Database labels: Chairman
1964
Chief of Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff of the Army
Database labels: Chief of Staff
1964
Commander in Chief
Appointed Air Force Commander in South Vietnam
Database labels: Commander in Chief
1964
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Database labels: Commander in Chief
1964
Deputy Ambassador
Appointed Deputy Ambassador of South Vietnam
Database labels: Ambassador; Deputy Ambassador · 2 related database rows consolidated
1964
Deputy Defence Secretary
Appointed Deputy Defence Secretary
Database labels: Deputy Defence Secretary
1964
General
Appointed Commander of US Military Assistance Command in Vietnam
Database labels: General
1964
Head of State
Appointed Head of State for South Vietnam
Database labels: Head of State
1964
Long Tieng Base
Expands Long Tieng as the main Hmong and CIA-supported base
Database labels: Long Tieng Base
1964
Mobilization
Asks SAC to improve its capabilities for limited war
Database labels: Mobilization
1964
No British Troops Policy
Maintains support for the US alliance while refusing to send British troops to Vietnam
Database labels: No British Troops Policy
1964
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.
Database labels: Operation Barrel Roll
1964
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.
Database labels: Operation Barrel Roll
1964
War Escalation
Pushes Hanoi toward greater commitment to victory in the South
Database labels: War Escalation
Explore related Vietnam War guides
Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1964: USS Maddox, the Resolution and Escalation
Follow the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964, including USS Maddox, USS Turner Joy, Operation Pierce Arrow and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.Ho Chi Minh Trail: Supply Route, Interdiction and Vietnam War Timeline
Explore the Ho Chi Minh Trail and its role in the Vietnam War, including North Vietnamese logistics through Laos and Cambodia and U.S. interdiction campaigns.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 1964. Near-identical rows sharing date and place context are consolidated for display while the original database remains unchanged. Last reviewed 2026-10-06.