Learn the history of the Vietnam War
Plain-language resources for students, teachers and anyone who wants to understand the war and its legacy. Everything here is free to use in the classroom.
Timeline, 1945–1995
Five eras, from French colonial rule to normalized relations.
Key events
Tet, My Lai, Kent State and more, with sources and discussion questions.
Glossary
Key terms and acronyms defined in one or two sentences.
Primary sources
The key documents and where to read them in official archives.
Equipment of the war
Weapons, aircraft and vehicles used by both sides, with a short description of each.
Veterans in politics
From John McCain to Al Gore: what they did in the war and in public life.
Famous veterans
Heroes, athletes, authors and business leaders who served in Vietnam.
Famous protesters
Muhammad Ali, Dr. King and others, and the reasons they gave.
Women in the war
Nurses, soldiers, workers and leaders in the U.S., South Vietnam and North Vietnam.
For teachers
Discussion questions, activities and how to use this site.
At a glance
- Direct U.S. involvement grew from advisers in the 1950s to combat troops in 1965, and ended with the 1973 Paris Peace Accords.
- More than 58,000 Americans died. Estimates of Vietnamese deaths run into the millions.
- Saigon fell on April 30, 1975, and Vietnam was reunified in 1976.