First Indochina War (1946–1954)

1. Haiphong bombardment escalates Franco–Viet Minh tensions

   Nov 23, 1946Labels: Haiphong, French Navy, Viet Minh

   • Britannica
   • Haiphong

2. Hanoi fighting begins the First Indochina War

   Dec 19, 1946Labels: Hanoi, Viet Minh, French Union

   • Hanoi battle
   • Indochina War

3. Operation Léa targets Viet Minh base areas

   Oct 7, 1947Labels: Operation L, Vi t, French high

   • Operation L a

4. Élysée Accords expand Bảo Đại’s authority

   Mar 8, 1949Labels: lys e, B o, French Republic

   • lys e Accords

5. State of Vietnam is proclaimed

   Jul 2, 1949Labels: State of, B o, Associated State

   • State Vietnam
   • Britannica

6. China recognizes the Democratic Republic of Vietnam

   Jan 18, 1950Labels: People's Republic, Democratic Republic, Diplomatic recognition

   • HISTORY

7. United States recognizes the State of Vietnam

   Feb 7, 1950Labels: United States, State of, Diplomacy

   • US Historian
   • FRUS

8. Route Coloniale 4 disaster weakens French position

   Sep 30, 1950Labels: Route Coloniale, Viet Minh, French convoy

   • RC4 battle

9. French win at Vĩnh Yên under de Lattre

   Jan 13, 1951Labels: V nh, Jean de, French Union

   • V nh Y

10. Hòa Bình campaign ends with French withdrawal

    Nov 10, 1951Labels: H a, French withdrawal, Viet Minh

    • H a B

11. Nà Sản entrenched-camp defense succeeds

    Nov 23, 1952Labels: N S, Entrenched defense, French Army

    • N S n

12. Operation Camargue targets Viet Minh near Route 1

    Jul 28, 1953Labels: Operation Camargue, Route 1, French forces

    • Camargue

13. Operation Castor seizes Điện Biên Phủ valley

    Nov 20, 1953Labels: Operation Castor, i n, French airborne

    • CheminsM moire
    • Castor

14. Operation Atlante opens in south-central Vietnam

    Jan 20, 1954Labels: Operation Atlante, South-Central Vietnam, French campaign

    • Atlante
    • ImagesD fense

15. Siege of Điện Biên Phủ begins

    Mar 13, 1954Labels: Siege of, Viet Minh, French garrison

    • Dien Bien Phu
    • Britannica

16. French garrison at Điện Biên Phủ falls

    May 7, 1954Labels: Fall of, French defeat, Viet Minh

    • Britannica
    • Dien Bien Phu

17. Geneva Accords end the Indochina War in Vietnam

    Jul 21, 1954Labels: Geneva Accords, Cease-fire, Partition line

    • Britannica
    • Geneva 1954