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Vietnam Research Paper

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Vietnam is situated in Southeast Asia on the eastern coast of the Indochinese peninsula. At over 2,000 miles in length, the coastline is surrounded on two sides by the smaller Gulfs of Tonkin and Thailand, and also the South China Sea. Neighboring countries include Cambodia, China, and Laos (Vietnam-Geography, n.d.). The landscape within Vietnam varies greatly depending on location and is comprised of mountains, hills, dense forests, deltas, and lowlands. The importance of the topography will come to fruition later on. Vietnam has an extensive history and is no stranger to fighting for their independence, having dealt with hundreds of centuries of Chinese occupation. The Vietnamese people would continue to struggle between eras of Chinese rule and their own …show more content…

It was here that the French began losing their stronghold on the region. After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Japan accords power to the Viet Minh and Ho who declares Vietnam’s independence from France. French officials tried desperately to regain control of the territory but were met with strong opposition from the League for the Independence of Vietnam or Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap (Vietnam War facts, n.d.), The French were not interested in severing its ties with Vietnam so easily and after failing to negotiate with Ho and his exponents, France ended up reneging on their agreement to grant the country its freedom. Growing tensions between the foes gradually escalates into violence, and in May of 1954 after 57 days of fighting the French military crumbles at Dien Bien Phu at the hands of the Viet Minh (Vietnam War facts, n.d.), essentially ending French dominance in Vietnam. But in doing so creates cease-fire and a temporary division of the country at the 17th parallel where the North will be under communist control and democracy for the South (Walbert,

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