Battle of Ap Bac
Commands ARVN forces during the Battle of Ap Bac
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1963 in Vietnam
Explore 35 historical events and records for Vietnam in 1963.
Historical records for Vietnam in 1963
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 35 of 35 unique records.
35Unique records
1 of 1Page
22Named events on this page
13Named people on this page
4Places on this page
January
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
Battle of Balaclava
Leads the South Vietnamese 7th Division which is defeated by an inferior Vietcong force
June
Buddhist Crisis
Faces international outrage after Buddhist protests and repression
Self-Immolation
Self-immolates in protest against the Diem government's treatment of Buddhists
Self-Immolation Crisis
His self-immolation intensifies US concern over the Diem government
August
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
Massacre
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
Xa Loi Pagoda Raids
Directs or supports raids against Buddhist pagodas during the political crisis
November
Arrest of Nhu Diem
Nhu Diem is captured & burnt to death
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh is captured & burnt to death. Captured & burnt to death
Assassination of Nhu Diem
Captured & burnt to death
Coup
Overthrown & killed by a coup, with tacit US approval
Coup
Overthrown & killed by a coup, with tacit US approval
Coup
Joins General Duong Van Minh and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) generals in a coup against President Ngo Dienh Diem which led to the Presidents death
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem, assassinated
Diem Coup
Leads the military coup that overthrows Ngo Dinh Diem
Overthrow
Overthrown and killed after US officials indicate opposition to his rule
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
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
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Marks the culmination of a successful CIA-backed coup led by General Duong Van Minh
Coup
Marks the culmination of a successful CIA-backed coup led by General Duong Van Minh
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
Death of Ngo Dinh Diem
Killed after the coup that ends his presidency
December
Lieutenant General
Appointed Lieutenant General to command I Corps
Other events (month unknown)
Amnesty
Offers an amnesty to communist soldiers
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
Military Junta led by General Minh assassinates Diem, allegedly with US support
Battle of Balaclava
An inferior Vietcong force defeats a South Vietnamese Div led by officers picked by Diem
Coup
Helps organise a coup which overthrows President Diem of South Vietnam
Death of Dinh Diem Ngo
Military Junta led by General Minh assassinates Diem, allegedly with US support
Demonstrations
A law against the flying of religious flags was selectively invoked; the Buddhist flag was banned from display on Vesak while.
Demonstrations
Discontent with Diem and Nhu exploded into mass protest during the summer of 1963 when nine Buddhists died at the hand of Diems army and police on Vesak, the birthday of Gautama Buddha.
Demonstrations
the Vatican flag was displayed to celebrate the anniversary of the consecration of Archbishop Ngo Dinh Thuc, Diems brother.
Foreign Secretary of Vietnam
Appointed Foreign Minister
Madame Nhu Statements
Defends the Diem regime during the Buddhist crisis
Rebellion of Rebels in Saigon
A Buddhist burns himself to death & triggers off demonstrations against the Government
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.