Vietnam had been governed by France since the late 1800s as part of its empire. During WWII, when France was defeated, Japan took over Vietnam. The Vietminh was set up to fight against the Japanese. When Japan were forced out of Vietnam at the end of WWII, the French tried to take back control.
The Vietminh then fought against France for 8 years in an attempt to drive them out. The US were scared of the Vietminh as they were communist. They sent money and weapons to the French as they hoped that they would be able to stop the spread of Communism in SE Asia.
France had governed Vietnam as part of Indo China since the late nineteenth century. During WWII, Japan successfully occupied Vietnam and the Vietminh (a nationalist and communist organisation led by Ho Chi Minh) fought against them. When Japan were forced to leave the country at the end of WWII, the French tried to take back control. The Vietminh then fought against France for 8 years in an attempt to drive them out.
The US did not want the Vietminh to win as they were communist and so, as part of its Containment Policy, the US gave $3bn of support to the French in money and weapons as they hoped that they would be able to stop the spread of Communism in SE Asia.
France had governed Vietnam since the late nineteenth century, and together with Laos and Cambodia, this region was known as Indo China. During WWII, Japan successfully occupied Vietnam and the Vietminh (a nationalist and communist organisation led by Ho Chi Minh) fought against them. When Japan were forced to leave the country at the end of WWII, the French tried to take back control. The Vietminh then fought against France for 8 years in an attempt to drive them out.
The US did not want the Vietminh to win as they were communist and so, as part of its Containment Policy, the US gave $3bn of support to the French in money and weapons as they hoped that they would be able to stop the spread of Communism in SE Asia.
