Partition of Vietnam

History of Vietnam

2879–0258 Hồng Bàng Dynasty 2879–1913 • Early Hồng Bàng 1912–1055 • Mid-Hồng Bàng 1054–258 • Late Hồng Bàng 257–207 Thục Dynasty 207–111 Triệu Dynasty 111–40 1st Chinese domination 40–43 Trưng Sisters 43–544 2nd Chinese domination 544–602 Early Lý Dynasty 602–938 3rd Chinese domination 939–967 Ngô Dynasty 968–980 Đinh Dynasty 980–1009 Early Lê Dynasty 1009–1225 Later Lý Dynasty 1225–1400 Trần Dynasty 1400–1407 Hồ Dynasty 1407–1427 4th Chinese domination 1428–1788 Later Lê Dynasty 1527–1592 • Mạc Dynasty 1545–1787 • Trịnh Lords 1558–1777 • Nguyễn Lords 1778–1802 Tây Sơn Dynasty 1802–1945 Nguyễn Dynasty 1858–1945 • French imperialism from 1945 Republic Further subjects Champa Dynasties 192–1832 Historical capitals Prehistoric cultures List of monarchs Country's names Economic history Military history

The Partition of Vietnam was the establishment of the 17th parallel as the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone in 1954, splitting Vietnam into halves after the First Indochina War.

Partition

The Geneva Conference was held at the conclusion of the First Indochina War. As part of the post-war settlement announced on July 21, 1954, Vietnam was temporarily partitioned into northern and southern zones pending unification on the basis of internationally supervised free elections to be held in 1956. The elections were never held.

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north, controlled by Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh since the August Revolution in 1945, became formally recognized in the international communities as a separate state. The capital was Hanoi. The south under Emperor Bảo Đại became the State of Vietnam, commonly known as South Vietnam, with its capital at Saigon. The International Control Commission was formed to supervise the ceasefire and implementation of the Geneva Accords which included universal elections over the whole of Viet Nam.

With the failure to implement universal elections to end temporary partitioning of the country conflict between the new 'States' of north and the south commenced and soon developed into the Vietnam War. (See Background to the Vietnam War.)

Vietnam was re-united in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. The Fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces on April 30 is commemorated as Reunification Day or 'Liberation Day' (Ngày Giải Phóng), now a public holiday in Vietnam.

See also

• History of Vietnam
• Northern and southern Vietnam

Partitions:

• Partitions of Poland
• Partition of India
• Partition of Ireland
• 1947 UN Partition Plan for Palestine