First Indochina War: Viet Minh versus French (1946–1954)

1. Ho–Sainteny Agreement seeks negotiated settlement

   Mar 6, 1946Labels: Ho Chi, Ho Sainteny

   • Ho Sainteny
   • Britannica

2. Shelling of Haiphong escalates Franco–Viet Minh tensions

   Nov 23, 1946Labels: Haiphong, French Navy

   • Haiphong
   • Tonnesson

3. Fighting breaks out in Hanoi, marking full war

   Dec 19, 1946Labels: Hanoi, Viet Minh

   • Hanoi
   • Britannica

4. Operation Léa fails to destroy Viet Minh leadership

   Oct 7, 1947Labels: Operation L, Vi t

   • Operation L a
   • Britannica

5. Élysée Accords create the State of Vietnam

   Mar 8, 1949Labels: lys e, B o

   • lys e
   • Britannica

6. China recognizes the DRV, boosting Viet Minh support

   Jan 18, 1950Labels: People's Republic, DRV

   • HISTORY
   • FRUS

7. Route Coloniale 4 disaster weakens French border positions

   Sep 30, 1950Labels: Route Coloniale, Viet Minh

   • RC4
   • TIME

8. French hold at Vĩnh Yên under de Lattre

   Jan 13, 1951Labels: V nh, de Lattre

   • V nh Y
   • Britannica

9. Hòa Bình campaign ends in Viet Minh advantage

   Nov 10, 1951Labels: H a, French withdrawal

   • H a B
   • Spector

10. Operation Lorraine strikes Viet Minh supply areas

    Oct 29, 1952Labels: Operation Lorraine, Vi t

    • Lorraine
    • Fall

11. French defend Nà Sản, shaping later “base” strategy

    Nov 23, 1952Labels: N S, air supply

    • N S n
    • Britannica

12. Operation Castor establishes French base at Điện Biên Phủ

    Nov 20, 1953Labels: Operation Castor, i n

    • Castor
    • Memoire

13. Siege of Điện Biên Phủ begins

    Mar 13, 1954Labels: Siege of, Viet Minh

    • Britannica
    • Dien Bien Phu

14. French garrison at Điện Biên Phủ falls

    May 7, 1954Labels: i n, French garrison

    • Britannica
    • Memoire

15. Mendès France takes office, prioritizing an end to war

    Jun 18, 1954Labels: Pierre Mend, French government

    • Britannica
    • Britannica

16. Geneva Accords end the First Indochina War

    Jul 21, 1954Labels: Geneva Accords, 17th parallel

    • Britannica
    • Britannica