The Vietnam Civil War was a part of the broader Indochina Wars, which included conflicts in neighboring Laos and Cambodia.¹⁾

The conflict resulted from the division of Vietnam into two separate states after the Geneva Accords of 1954, which followed the French Indochina War.²⁾

The war's main participants were the communist forces of North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, and the anti-communist forces of South Vietnam, led initially by Ngo Dinh Diem.³⁾

The war escalated as the United States became involved to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, marking the beginning of American involvement in the Vietnam War.⁴⁾

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a network of supply routes used by North Vietnam to transport troops and supplies to the South.⁵⁾

The Viet Cong, also known as the National Liberation Front (NLF), were communist guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam.⁶⁾

Agent Orange and other chemical defoliants were used by the U.S. military to destroy dense jungle foliage and expose Viet Cong hiding spots, leading to severe environmental and health consequences.⁷⁾

The Tet Offensive in 1968 was a major turning point in the war, where the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces launched surprise attacks on South Vietnamese cities during the Lunar New Year.⁸⁾

The My Lai Massacre in 1968 shocked the world when U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians, including women and children.⁹⁾

The war brought forth strong anti-war protests and demonstrations in the United States and worldwide.¹⁰⁾

The phrase “Living Room War” was used to describe how television coverage of the conflict brought the war's realities into the homes of American citizens.¹¹⁾

The U.S. military used a draft system to conscript soldiers, leading to controversy and opposition to the war effort.¹²⁾

The war was highly controversial, and public opinion in the U.S. shifted over time from supporting the war to opposing it.¹³⁾

Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation in 1963 in protest against the Diem regime became a symbol of resistance and Buddhist discontent in South Vietnam.¹⁴⁾

The war was known by several names, including the Second Indochina War, the American War (in Vietnam), and the Vietnam War (in the West).¹⁵⁾

The M16 rifle, an iconic U.S. military weapon, was first introduced during the Vietnam War.¹⁶⁾

The war inspired a vast amount of anti-war music and protest songs, with artists like Bob Dylan and John Lennon expressing their opposition through their music.¹⁷⁾

The Pentagon Papers, leaked by Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, revealed classified documents detailing the extent of U.S. government deception regarding the war.¹⁸⁾

The war had significant impacts on the environment, including deforestation and soil erosion due to extensive bombing and chemical usage.¹⁹⁾

The “Hanoi Hilton” was a nickname for the Hoa Lo Prison in North Vietnam, where American prisoners of war (POWs) were held captive.²⁰⁾

Jane Fonda, an American actress and anti-war activist, made a controversial visit to North Vietnam in 1972, earning her the nickname “Hanoi Jane.”²¹⁾

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was passed by the U.S. Congress in response to concerns over the president's ability to unilaterally commit military forces without congressional approval.²²⁾

The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 aimed to establish a ceasefire and pave the way for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam.²³⁾

Operation Rolling Thunder was a sustained U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam, lasting from 1965 to 1968.²⁴⁾

North Vietnam's political structure was based on Marxist-Leninist principles, with the Communist Party holding central control.²⁵⁾

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 was a decisive victory for the Viet Minh (communist forces), leading to the French withdrawal from Vietnam.²⁶⁾

The Saigon Execution, a photograph capturing the moment a South Vietnamese general executed a Viet Cong prisoner, became a symbol of the brutality of the war.²⁷⁾

The “Domino Theory” was a belief that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow suit, just like falling dominoes.²⁸⁾

The war saw the extensive use of helicopters for troop transport, combat support, and medical evacuations.²⁹⁾

The famous quote “We had to destroy the village in order to save it” was attributed to an anonymous U.S. military officer describing the bombing campaign's approach.³⁰⁾