1945
September 1945

September 1945: Hồ Chí Minh’s Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence On 2 September 1945, approximately 500,000 people…

1948
November 1948
1949
January 1949

May 1949: Nguyễn Văn Tỵ’s Observations in North-Central Vietnam

The year 1949 was pivotal in the history of North…

1950
June 1950

26 June 1950: North Korea invades South Korea

At the onset of the Korean War, President Harry Truman

September 1950

September 1950: MAAG Sent to Aid French Forces in Vietnam

An American Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) was sent to…

September 1950

15 September 1950: The Battle of Đông Khê

The Battle of Đông Khê was a major battle of the First…

September 1950

1950: Tô Ngọc Vân and The Border Campaign

In modern-day Vietnam, one artist’s legacy unites Hanoi and Ho…

September 1950
November 1950
November 1950

Late-1950: Huỳnh Văn Thuận’s First Indochina War Series in the Việt Bắc

The autonomous zones of the Việt Bắc and the Tây…

December 1950

December 1950: Phan Kế An paints “Remembering the Northwest”

By the end of 1950, North Vietnam had politically and…

1951
February 1951

February 1951: Hồ Chí Minh creates Đảng Lao Động (the Vietnam Worker’s Party)

The formation of the Vietnam Worker’s Party (Đảng Lao Động)…

March 1951

1951-1953: The Campaigns for the Red River Delta and Hòa Bình

In the years leading up to 1953, both the French…

November 1951

November 1951: General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny leaves Vietnam

In November 1951, General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was…

1952
January 1952

Early-1952: Training in China and the “Soldiers of Bronze Foot and Iron Skin”

At the beginning of 1952, the First Indochina War between…

November 1952

1 November 1952: US explodes the world’s first hydrogen bomb in the Pacific

A weapon that would come to define world history, America’s…

November 1952

23 November-2 December 1952: Battle of Nà Sản

A crucial battle that succeeded France’s failed Operation Lorraine. Although…

1953
March 1953

5 March 1953: Joseph Stalin dies

An inspirational leader for the communist world at the time,…

November 1953

November-December 1953: Tô Ngọc Vân’s Re-educational Pilgrimage

Towards the end of 1953, Tô Ngọc Vân was sent…

1954
January 1954

January-March 1954: Prelude to The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ

On 28 April 2018, Colonel Phạm Thanh Tâm, at eighty-six years…

February 1954

22 February-11 March 1954: Phạm Thanh Tâm’s Journey to Điện Biên Phủ

Phạm Thanh Tâm describes his march to Điện Biên Phủ…

March 1954

13 March-7 May 1954: The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ

Phạm Thanh Tâm recounts his experiences and roles as a…

May 1954

8 May-21 July 1954: The Geneva Conference

A day after the French defeat at Điện Biên Phủ,…

1955
January 1955

1955: Northwest Countryside in Newly Liberated Vietnam

In the years that followed liberation from French colonial rule,…

February 1955

February-October 1955: The Battle of Saigon and the Battle of the Sects

On 22 February, in Tây Ninh, representatives from the Bình Xuyên…

October 1955

26 October 1955: Ngô Đình Diệm Elected President of South Vietnam

The State of Vietnam referendum scheduled for 23 October 1955 determined…

November 1955

1 November 1955: MAAG Formed for South Vietnam

On 1 November 1955, the American Military Assistance Advisory Group for South…

1956
January 1956

1956-1959: Nguyễn Sỹ Ngọc’s Intimate Paintings of his Re-education Pilgrimage

The period between 1956 and 1959 was one of consolidation…

1957
December 1957

12 December 1957: Vietnam Fine Arts Association Formed

Formation and Roles On 12 December 1957, the Vietnam Fine…

1958
January 1958

1958: Lê Huy Toàn’s ‘SMOLEVSK’ Revelation

Colonel Lê Huy Toàn became one of Vietnam’s best-known wartime…

1959
May 1959

6 May 1959: President Ngô Đình Diệm’s 10/59 Edict

In response to the increased insurgency efforts by National Liberation…

May 1959

19 May 1959: North Vietnam forms Group 559 to Build the Ho Chi Minh Trail

On 19 May 1959, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)…

July 1959

8 July 1959: Major Dale Buis and Sergeant Chester Ovnand killed at Biên Hòa

In July 1960, under continued pressure by northern insurgents, President…

1960
January 1960

April 1960: North Vietnam Imposes Military Conscription

In April 1960, North Vietnam imposed universal military conscription for…

April 1960

April 1960: Release of the Caravelle Manifesto Calling for Ngô Đình Diệm’s Resignation

In April 1960, eighteen South Vietnamese intellectuals signed the Caravelle…

December 1960

20 December 1960: The National Liberation Front is Formed

The National Liberation Front (NLF) was founded in South Vietnam…

1961
January 1961

20 January 1961: John F. Kennedy Inaugurated as President of the United States

On 20 January 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the 35th…

May 1961

May 1961: Formation of the Central Executive Committee of the People’s Revolutionary Party

The Central Office for South Vietnam (COSVN), loosely translated from…

May 1961

12 May 1961: Lyndon B. Johnson visits the Republic of Vietnam

On 12 May 1961, as part of his tour of…

June 1961

June 1961: Lê Quốc Lộc’s Peaceful Hanoi

In April 1961, America’s failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro…

October 1961

October-November 1961: More American aid sent to South Vietnam

In October 1961, top Kennedy aides General Maxwell Taylor and…

1962
February 1962

27 February 1962: Ngô Đình Diệm’s Palace Bombed

On 6 February 1962, the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam

March 1962

March 1962: Operation Sunrise

In March 1962, Operation Sunrise started what was known as the…

September 1962
October 1962

End of 1962: Nguyễn Thanh Minh’s Propaganda Art from the Tây Bắc

As well as documenting life in the Tây Bắc, Minh…

1963
January 1963

2 January 1963: The Battle of Ấp Bắc

On 28 December 1962, US intelligence services detected a Việt…

March 1963

March 1963: Nguyễn Thanh Minh’s Continued Propaganda Expedition to the Northwest of Vietnam

In 1963, Nguyễn Thanh Minh continued his assignment with a…

June 1963

11 June 1963: Buddhist Monk Commits Suicide by Self-immolation

Under Ngô Đình Diệm’s Roman-Catholic orientated regime, a ban had been…

September 1963

2 September 1963: Kennedy Openly Criticises Ngô Đình Diệm Regime on National T.V.

On 2 September 1963, President of the United States John…

November 1963

November 1963: A Bloody Month

Through the course of November 1963, both South Vietnam and…

1964
January 1964

30 January 1964: General Nguyễn Khánh seizes power in Saigon

Before dawn on 30 January 1964, General Nguyễn Khánh ousted…

February 1964

February 1964: Wilfred Burchett Questions the Strategic Hamlet Programme

In November 1963, veteran Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett embarked on…

April 1964

April 1964: Trịnh Kim Vinh and the Female Guerrilla

In 1964, Trịnh Kim Vinh began her diploma course at the…

May 1964

May 1964: Trần Viet Sơn in Hà Tĩnh Province

Between 1964 and 1966, Trần Viet Sơn returned to Hanoi and…

May 1964

May 1964: Thái Hà’s First Liberty Class in Bến Tre Province

In Bến Tre Province, South Vietnam, Thái Hà captured the…

August 1964

2 August 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident

On 2 August 1964, the USS Maddox was attacked by…

August 1964

10 August 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Enacted

On 7 August 1964, the United States Congress passed the Gulf…

September 1964
October 1964

14 October 1964: Leonid Brezhnev Becomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

On 14 October 1964, Leonid Brezhnev became the General Secretary…

November 1964

1 November 1964: Biên Hòa Air Force Base Attacked

The Attack on Biên Hòa At 2:00 am, a Việt…

1965
February 1965

7 February 1965: Operation Flaming Dart

After being authorised by President Lyndon Johnson, Operation Flaming Dart…

March 1965
June 1965

June 1965: Nguyễn Thanh Minh and Nghĩa Lộ Guerrillas

Nguyễn Thanh Minh describes his experience of student assignments and…

July 1965

July 1965: Phan Kế An in the Northern Central Provinces

An early member of the Việt Minh, Phan Kế An…

July 1965

July 1965: Quách Văn Phong Encamped with Battalion 840

Quách Văn Phong recounts his impressions of Cam Ranh Airforce Base.…

August 1965

August 1965: Phạm Thanh Tâm Documents Military Training in Hoà Bình Province

In 1963, Phạm Thanh Tâm began his art education at…

September 1965

September 1965: Văn Đa on Cát Bà Island

In 1965, during its prominence as a sanctuary for People’s…

November 1965

November 1965: Thái Hà’s Second Liberty Classes in the Mekong Delta

In 1962, Thái Hà went to study at Central Nguyễn…

1966
January 1966

1-8 January 1966: Operation Marauder

The Plain of Reeds (Đồng Tháp Mười) had long been…

March 1966
March 1966

9-10 March 1966: The Battle of A Sầu

In the decisive one-day Battle of A Sầu, US Amry…

April 1966

April 1966: Phạm Thanh Tâm in Quảng Trị Province

In 1963, Phạm Thanh Tâm began his art education at…

May 1966

May 1966: Quách Văn Phong Lives with the Raglai Ethnic Minority

Quách Văn Phong describes his experience of living with the…

August 1966

18-21 August 1966: The Battle of Lòng Tận

After constructing a base at Núi Đất in Phước Tuy…

October 1966
1967
January 1967

Early 1967: Artists Capture Resistance Life in North Vietnam

By the beginning of 1967, America had increased its troop…

March 1967

31 March 1967: The Battle of Ấp Gù

On the 31 March 1967, American military forces were sent…

May 1967

May 1967: Võ Xưởng in the Bunkers in Phước Long Province

A video on the Tết Offensive as described by prolific…

June 1967

Early-Mid 1967: Artists Capture Resistance Life in South Vietnam

Together with artists on assignment in the North, artists based…

August 1967
November 1967

November 1967: Nguyễn Văn Thiệu elected President of South Vietnam and Khe Sanh is Fortified

On 3 September 1967, Nguyễn Văn Thiệu was elected president…

1968
January 1968

January 1968: Nguyễn Thanh Châu Depicts the Tết Offensive in Saigon

At the end of January 1968, Nguyễn Thanh Châu witnessed the…

January 1968

21 January 1968: The Battle of Khe Sanh

On 21 January 1968, two to three divisions of the…

January 1968

30 January 1968: The Battle of Huế

By the end of January 1968, spelling the start of…

January 1968

31 January 1968: The Tết Offensive Begins

On 31 January 1968, General Võ Nguyên Giáp launched a series…

January 1968

31 January 1968: Battle of Quảng Trị City

The Tết Offensive, launched on 31 January 1968, aimed at…

February 1968

February 1968: Bằng Lâm Goes South for the Tết Offensive

Operation Rolling Thunder In the wake of Operation Rolling Thunder…

March 1968

March-May 1968: Nguyễn Thanh Minh Based at Dragon’s Jaw Bridge

During their studies at the Vietnam Fine Arts College, students…

March 1968

March-June 1968: Trần Hữu Chất Documents the Bà Nà Ethnic Minority

In 1964, Trần Hữu Chất enlisted in the army once…

March 1968

16 March 1968: The Mỹ Lai Massacre

On 16 March 1968, Charlie Company of the US 1st…

March 1968

31 March 1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson Announces Bombing Halt in Vietnam

On 31 March 1968, US President Lyndon B. Johnson announced…

July 1968

Mid-1968: Trenches and Guerrillas in South Vietnam

By mid-1968, the Second Indochina War had escalated into a…

August 1968

August-December 1968: Bùi Quang Ánh Reveals Life on the Hồ Chí Minh Trail

In 1968, the Hanoi Fine Arts College was transformed into…

November 1968

5 November 1968: Richard Nixon Elected 37th President of the United States

On 5 November 1968, Richard Milhous Nixon beat Hubert Humphrey…

December 1968

December 1968: US Troop Numbers in Vietnam Reach Approximately 540,000

Approximately 540,000 American troops were recorded in Vietnam by December…

1969
January 1969

January 1969: Lê Minh Trường on the Hồ Chí Minh Trail in the Trường Sơn Mountains

PhotographerLê Minh Trường was one of the most venerated photographers…

March 1969

8 March 1969: Lê Lam in Long An Province

Between 1965 and 1974, Lê Lam took the advice of…

March 1969

18 March 1969: Operation Menu and Secret Carpet Bombing in Cambodia

More than a year since the start of the Tết

April 1969

3 April 1969: Policy of “Vietnamisation” Announced by Melvin Laird

Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announced the US government’s new…

May 1969

10-20 May 1969: The Battle of Hamburger Hill

In May 1969, US involvement in Vietnam was at an…

June 1969

21 June 1969: PAVN Soldiers Storm the US Tây Ninh Combat Base

After shelling for two days, approximately 600 People’s Army of…

July 1969

25 July 1969: Nixon Doctrine Announced in Guam

On a stopover at the American air force base in…

September 1969

2 September 1969: Hồ Chí Minh Dies in Hanoi

On 2 September 1969, Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) President…

October 1969

15 October 1969: Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam Demonstrations Around the World

With anti-war sentiment reaching fever-pitch in America and around the…

November 1969

3 November 1969: President Nixon’s “Silent Majority” Speech

On 3 November 1969, President Nixon addressed the American nation…

December 1969

1 December 1969: US Government Institutes Draft Lottery

Contrary to the new Nixon Doctrine, in which the Nixon…

1970
January 1970

Early 1970: Artists Record the Growing Conflict in Southern NLF-controlled Regions

By the beginning of 1970, the conflict in Vietnam had…

February 1970

20 February 1970: Kissinger begins secret talks with Lê Đức Thọ and Xuân Thùy

On 20 February 1970, Kissinger began secret talks with Lê…

March 1970

18 March 1970: Cambodian Coup

On 18 March 1970, Cambodian Head of State King Norodom…

April 1970
April 1970

30 April 1970: The Cambodian Campaign

On 30 April 1970, US President Richard Nixon publicly announced…

May 1970

May-June 1970: Phan Kế An Sketches in the Tây Bắc

During the months of May and June, veteran artist Phan…

May 1970

May 1970: Kent State University Shootings

On 4 May 1970, in direct opposition the US incursion…

October 1970

October-December 1970: Phạm Đỗ Đồng’s Portraits of Guerrilla Commandos in South Vietnam

Immediately after leaving the Vietnam Fine Arts College, Phạm Đỗ…

October 1970

October 1970: Proposed Ceasefire and Start of the Khmer Republic

On 7 October 1970, US President Richard Nixon proposed a ceasefire…

October 1970

15 October 1970: Bằng Lâm at 148 Naval Workshop in Hạ Long Bay

In February 1965, Bằng Lâm enlisted in the People’s Army…

October 1970

19 October-13 November 1970: The Tchepone Operation

By 1970, it was determined that the Royal Laos Armed…

November 1970

12 November 1970: Calley Goes to Trial for Mỹ Lai Massacre

On 12 November 1970, 1st Lieutenant William “Rusty” Calley Junior…

December 1970

Late 1970: Bùi Quang Ánh on the Hồ Chí Minh Trail in Savannakhet, Laos

In April 1970, Bùi Quang Ánh travelled south with poet…

1971
February 1971

Early 1971: Bùi Quang Ánh Travels from Savannakhet, Laos, to Yên Bái Province

After spending over two months in Savannakhet, Laos, artist Bùi Quang…

February 1971

8 February-25 March 1971: Operation Lam Sơn 719

On 8 February 1970, Operation Lam Sơn 719 (Chiến dịch Lam…

March 1971

March 1971: Nguyễn Ðức Thọ and Operation Lam Sơn 719

Nguyễn Ðức Thọ describes his first-hand experience of participating in…

April 1971
June 1971

13 June 1971: The Pentagon Papers are Released

On 13 June 1971, The New York Times published leaked documents…

July 1971

July 1971: Phạm Đỗ Đồng Sketches in An Giang Province

Like other artists such as Nguyễn Thanh Châu, Phạm Đỗ Đồng…

August 1971

August 1971: Nguyễn Thanh Châu in the Sác Forest

After a nine-month journey down the Ho Chi Minh Trail

August 1971

18 August 1971: Australia and New Zealand Announce Troop Withdrawals from Vietnam

On 18 August 1971 Australia and New Zealand – US…

September 1971

September 1971: The Opening of Vì Dân Hospital in Saigon

Bệnh Viện Vì Dân (often known in English at the…

October 1971

3 October 1971: Nguyễn Văn Thiệu Re-elected as President of South Vietnam

On 3 October 1971, Nguyễn Văn Thiệu ran for re-election…

November 1971

November-December 1971: Bằng Lâm and the Vietnam People’s Navy

Before he joined the Naval Training Bureau in 1972, war…

November 1971

29 November 1971: North Vietnam Signs Agreement with the Soviet Union for Continued Support

The relationship triangle between the Soviet Union, China and North…

1972
January 1972

Early 1972: Artists Capture Increased Military Mobilisation in South Vietnam

At the beginning of 1972, two months before the Easter…

March 1972

Spring 1972: Communist Guerrillas Begin the Easter Offensive

Background In the spring of 1972, communist guerrillas launched the…

May 1972

May-June 1972: Nguyễn Thanh Châu and Resistance Life in Tiền Giang Province

From May to June 1972, Nguyễn Thanh Châu continued his assignment…

July 1972

July-October 1972: Trưóng Hiếu Documents Fighting in Mỹ Tho

Trưóng Hiếu in Mỹ Tho In the end stages of…

October 1972

October-December 1972: Nguyễn Thế Vinh Continues his Assignment in the Central Highlands

During October through to December 1972, artist Nguyễn Thế Vinh continued…

December 1972

December 1972: Hanoi’s Defence Against Operation Linebacker II

By December 1972, artist Nguyễn Thế Vinh had been a member…

1973
January 1973

January 1973: Trần Hoàng Sơn and Mr. Bội in Quảng Nam Province

Background During the Paris Peace Accord negotiations, war artist Trần…

January 1973

27 January 1973: Paris Peace Accords Signed

After five years of tense negotiations, the Paris Peace Accords…

February 1973

February 1973: Nguyễn Thanh Châu Captures a Scene of Hope int he Mekong Delta

After the Paris Peace Accords were signed on 27 January…

April 1973

April 1973: Trưóng Hiếu Documents Guerrilla Life

After volunteering to join the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN)…

May 1973

May 1973: Lê Lam Sketches a Female Guerrilla

Between 1965 and 1974, Lê Lam took the advice of…

July 1973

July 1973: Lê Minh Trường on Active Patrol in Cà Mau Province

Photographer and war correspondent Lê Minh Trường was one of…

September 1973

September 1973: Trịnh Kim Vinh Renders a Scene using Lithography

After her return to Vietnam after graduating from the Dresden…

October 1973

October 1973: Nguyễn Thanh Châu Captures the PLAF at War

In the remaining years of the Second Indochina War, Nguyễn…

1974
February 1974

February 1974: Phạm Đỗ Đồng and the Model Soldier of the Logistics Department

Artist Phạm Đỗ Đồng lived in the south of Vietnam…

May 1974

May 1974: Phạm Đỗ Đồng and the “Soldiers of Emulation” in Tây Ninh Province

From 1969 until 1975, war artist Phạm Đỗ Đồng lived…

July 1974

July 1974: Ngô Viễn Chí Battles “Fierce” Water to Deliver Supplies

In July 1974, artist Ngô Viễn Chí was stationed with…

July 1974

July 1974: Nguyễn Ðức Thọ Attends a Party Cell Meeting

In the period between 1970 and 1975, Nguyễn Ðức Thọ…

July 1974

Mid-July 1974: Phạm Đỗ Đồng at a Medical Camp in Tây Ninh Province

After his assignment to the southeastern provinces of South Vietnam,…

September 1974

September 1974: Ngô Viễn Chí and the Daily Chores of Unit Đ814

In September 1974, Ngô Viễn Chí was still encamped within…

October 1974

October 1974: Phạm Đỗ Đồng Documents Logistic Regiment 220 on the Đồng Nai River

In between 1969 and 1975, war artist Phạm Đỗ Đồng…

1975
January 1975

January 1975: Nguyễn Ðức Thọ Documents Defences in Hai Phong and Hạ Long

Nguyễn Ðức Thọ recounts his experience of witnessing missile controllers…

March 1975

15 March 1975: Bùi Quang Ánh Records Liberation Soldiers in The East Forest

At the beginning of March 1975, the People’s Army of…

April 1975

17 April 1975: The Fall of Phnom Penh

By April 1975, the Khmer Republic was in chaos and…

April 1975

End of April 1975: Nguyễn Thanh Châu Joins the March into Saigon

Towards the end of April 1975, forces from the People’s…

April 1975

April-May 1975: Phạm Thanh Tâm Documents the Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon in April 1975 was the second…

May 1975

Mid-May 1975: Phạm Thanh Tâm Continues to Document the Liberation of Saigon

After documenting the liberation of Saigon at the end of April…

September 1975

September 1975: Ngô Viễn Chí Searches for his Old Unit at the Vì Dân Hospital in Saigon

Five months after the liberation of Vietnam, Ngô Viễn Chí…

1976
July 1976

2 July 1976: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Established

On 2 July 1976, Vietnam became the Socialist Republic of…

November 1976

2 November 1976: Jimmy Carter Elected President

On 2 November 1976, Jimmy Carter was elected the 39th…

1977
January 1977

21 January 1977: President Carter Pardons 10,000 Vietnam War Draft Dodgers

Two days after being elected President of the United States,…

May 1977
1978
April 1978

April 1978: Chinese-Hoa Minority Flee Vietnam

In April 1978, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam took increasingly…

June 1978

June 1978: Sino-Vietnamese Relations Deteriorate After Vietnam Joins COMECON

In June 1978, Vietnam became the 10th member of COMECON,…

November 1978

3 November 1978: Vietnam and the Soviet Union Sign a Treaty of Friendship

Amid reports of increased clashes between Vietnamese and Chinese forces…

November 1978

End of November 1978: Chinese Exodus from Vietnam at an All-time High

With Sino-Vietnamese relations at their lowest in November 1978, the…

December 1978

25 December 1978: Vietnam Invades Cambodia

On 25 September 1978, the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN)…

1979
January 1979

7 January 1979: PAVN Forces Enter Phnom Penh

On 7 January 1979, the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN)…

January 1979

8 January 1979: People’s Republic of Kampuchea Established

On 8 January 1979, the day after the People’s Army…

February 1979

17 February 1979: China Invades Vietnam

On 17 February 1979, China invaded Vietnam, aiming to capture…

April 1979
June 1979

June 1979: Artists Capture the Destruction at Đồng Đăng

In June 1979, three months after the end of the…