1. Start with this blank Vietnam map, and follow along with the next 17 steps Vietnam War Map Activity Follow along with 17 steps to turn your blank Vietnam map into an information-packed resource The Cold War 1960s-1970s Vietnam Map Activity

2. Step (zero): Dien Bien phu Since the mid 1800s, the French had colonized much of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Toward the end of the First Indochina War, French forces were defeated in the 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu. The French left Southeast Asia later that year. Vietnam Map Activity

3. Step (zero): Dien Bien phu Dien Bien Phu Since the mid 1800s, the French had colonized much of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Toward the end of the First Indochina War, French forces were defeated in the 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu. The French left Southeast Asia later that year. Vietnam Map Activity

4. Step One: CHINA Dien Bien Phu China played a role in the First Indochina War by sending military personnel to help defeat the French. In fact about 2,000 Soviet and Chinese military ‘advisors’ trained the Vietnamese and provided them with military equipment for this war. Soviet truck supplied by the Chinese to the Vietnamese against the French Vietnam Map Activity

5. Step One: CHINA CHINA Dien Bien Phu China played a role in the First Indochina War by sending military personnel to help defeat the French. In fact about 2,000 Soviet and Chinese military ‘advisors’ trained the Vietnamese and provided them with military equipment for this war. Soviet truck supplied by the Chinese to the Vietnamese against the French Vietnam Map Activity

6. Step Two: Thailand CHINA Dien Bien Phu Thailand was a member of SEATO (Southeast Asian Treaty Organization) and was therefore in a military alliance with the United States and many other Western Nations. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. would use airbases in Thailand, and many of the Hmong people would seek refuge there. Vietnam Map Activity

7. Step Two: Thailand CHINA THAILAND Dien Bien Phu Thailand was a member of SEATO (Southeast Asian Treaty Organization) and was therefore in a military alliance with the United States and many other Western Nations. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. would use airbases in Thailand, and many of the Hmong people would seek refuge there. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

8. Step Three: Laos CHINA THAILAND Dien Bien Phu During the Vietnam War, Laos simultaneously experienced their own Civil War between royalists and communists. Much of the Vietnam War was fought across the border in Laos. The U.S. invaded parts of Laos and bombed the country consistently. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

9. Step Three: Laos CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS Dien Bien Phu During the Vietnam War, Laos simultaneously experienced their own Civil War between royalists and communists. Much of the Vietnam War was fought across the border in Laos. The U.S. invaded parts of Laos and bombed the country consistently. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

10. Step Four: Cambodia CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS Dien Bien Phu Cambodia became a monarchy in 1953, and then a Republic in 1970. North Vietnamese used supply routes in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Americans invaded Cambodia during the war to disrupt these supply lines. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

11. Step Four: Cambodia CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Dien Bien Phu Cambodia became a monarchy in 1953, and then a Republic in 1970. North Vietnamese used supply routes in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Americans invaded Cambodia during the war to disrupt these supply lines. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

12. Step Five: Hmong CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Dien Bien Phu The Hmong were a nomadic people from China and Southeast Asia that were secretly allied to the U.S. in the Vietnam War. They were expecting to establish their own nation after a U.S. victory, which never occurred. Instead, the Hmong were (and still are) persecuted in the forests of Laos and Vietnam. Large numbers have come to the U.S. since the 1970s. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

13. Step Five: Hmong CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Dien Bien Phu The Hmong were a nomadic people from China and Southeast Asia that were secretly allied to the U.S. in the Vietnam War. They were expecting to establish their own nation after a U.S. victory, which never occurred. Instead, the Hmong were (and still are) persecuted in the forests of Laos and Vietnam. Large numbers have come to the U.S. since the 1970s. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

14. Step Six: Bodies of Water CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Dien Bien Phu Since the United States was the world’s dominant naval force, launching air strikes from ships and bombing raids from carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea or Gulf of Thailand would be a theme of the Vietnam War. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF

15. Step Six: Bodies of Water CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand Dien Bien Phu Since the United States was the world’s dominant naval force, launching air strikes from ships and bombing raids from carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea or Gulf of Thailand would be a theme of the Vietnam War. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy

16. Step Seven: 17 th Parallel CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand Dien Bien Phu Similar to the situation in Korea, the country of Vietnam was split close to a line of latitude; in this case the 17 th parallel. communist North Vietnam was above the line and democratic South Vietnam was below the line. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy

17. Step Seven: 17 th Parallel CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Dien Bien Phu Similar to the situation in Korea, the country of Vietnam was split close to a line of latitude; in this case the 17 th parallel. communist North Vietnam was above the line and democratic South Vietnam was below the line. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy

18. Step Seven: 17 th Parallel CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Dien Bien Phu Similar to the situation in Korea, the country of Vietnam was split close to a line of latitude; in this case the 17 th parallel. communist North Vietnam was above the line and democratic South Vietnam was below the line. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

19. Step Eight: Hanoi CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Dien Bien Phu Hanoi was the capital of North Vietnam after Japanese occupation in 1945, and then again after French occupation in 1954. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

20. Step Eight: Hanoi CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Dien Bien Phu Hanoi was the capital of North Vietnam after Japanese occupation in 1945, and then again after French occupation in 1954. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

21. Step Nine: Saigon CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Dien Bien Phu Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam prior to, and during the Vietnam War. After the fall of Saigon at the end of the war, the name of the city was officially changed to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

22. Step Nine: Saigon CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon Dien Bien Phu Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam prior to, and during the Vietnam War. After the fall of Saigon at the end of the war, the name of the city was officially changed to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

23. Step Ten: U.S. Air Raids CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon Dien Bien Phu Later in the war, the United States performed air raids on the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Operation Linebacker II was the codename for the so-called ‘Christmas Bombings’ or ‘December Raids’, which targeted Hanoi. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

24. Step Ten: U.S. Air Raids CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids Dien Bien Phu Later in the war, the United States performed air raids on the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Operation Linebacker II was the codename for the so-called ‘Christmas Bombings’ or ‘December Raids’, which targeted Hanoi. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

25. Step Eleven: Gulf of Tonkin Incident CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids Dien Bien Phu The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a naval confrontation between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese. Shots were fired and just a handful of North Vietnamese casualties (no U.S. casualties). This led to Congress passing a Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave president Johnson the authority to give military assistance to any Southeast Asian country without congress voting to go to war. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

26. Step Eleven: Gulf of Tonkin Incident CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Dien Bien Phu The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a naval confrontation between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese. Shots were fired and just a handful of North Vietnamese casualties (no U.S. casualties). This led to Congress passing a Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave president Johnson the authority to give military assistance to any Southeast Asian country without congress voting to go to war. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

27. Step Twelve: Ho Chi Minh Trail CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Dien Bien Phu Ho Chi Minh Trail, named after the North Vietnamese revolutionary leader, was a supply line used by the North through Laos and Cambodia. This allowed the North to attack at strategic locations in South Vietnam. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

28. Step Twelve: Ho Chi Minh Trail CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail Dien Bien Phu Ho Chi Minh Trail, named after the North Vietnamese revolutionary leader, was a supply line used by the North through Laos and Cambodia. This allowed the North to attack at strategic locations in South Vietnam. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

29. Step Thirteen: Tet Offensive CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail Dien Bien Phu The now-famous Cu Chi Tunnel system was another Vietcong innovation that helped them fight in South Vietnam. It was an elaborate system of underground pathways and rooms for the “Vietcong” or NLF (National Liberation Front). Americans weren’t aware of these tunnels until the 1960s, and the U.S. military later used heavy bombing and “tunnel rats” (U.S. soldiers willing to go inside the tunnels). Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

30. Step Thirteen: Tet Offensive CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail Dien Bien Phu Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM The now-famous Cu Chi Tunnel system was another Vietcong innovation that helped them fight in South Vietnam. It was an elaborate system of underground pathways and rooms for the “Vietcong” or NLF (National Liberation Front). Americans weren’t aware of these tunnels until the 1960s, and the U.S. military later used heavy bombing and “tunnel rats” (U.S. soldiers willing to go inside the tunnels).

31. Step Thirteen: Tet Offensive CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail Dien Bien Phu The Tet Offensive was a series of over 100 coordinated attacks by the North on January 30 th, 1968. Although it was not successful in terms of gaining land, there were casualties (c. 5,000 S. Vietnamese, c. 5,000 Americans, c. 20,000 N. Vietnamese). It was discouraging to American forces (and citizens back home), who realized that the war was not going to end any time soon. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

32. Step Thirteen: Tet Offensive CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Dien Bien Phu The Tet Offensive was a series of over 100 coordinated attacks by the North on January 30 th, 1968. Although it was not successful in terms of gaining land, there were casualties (c. 5,000 S. Vietnamese, c. 5,000 Americans, c. 20,000 N. Vietnamese). It was discouraging to American forces (and citizens back home), who realized that the war was not going to end any time soon. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

33. Step Fourteen: Invasion of Cambodia CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Dien Bien Phu In 1970, President Nixon ordered the invasion of Cambodia for the purpose of disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This included 30 separate operations between May and June of 1970. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

34. Step Fourteen: Invasion of Cambodia CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Invasion of Cambodia Dien Bien Phu In 1970, President Nixon ordered the invasion of Cambodia for the purpose of disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This included 30 separate operations between May and June of 1970. Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

35. Step Fifteen: Invasion of Laos CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Dien Bien Phu In 1971, The United States staged invasions into Laos from areas just south of the 17 th parallel. The purpose was the same as the Cambodian invasions; to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Invasion of Cambodia Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

36. Step Fifteen: Invasion of Laos CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Invasion of Cambodia Dien Bien Phu In 1971, The United States staged invasions into Laos from areas just south of the 17 th parallel. The purpose was the same as the Cambodian invasions; to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Invasion of Laos Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

37. Step Sixteen: Fall of Saigon CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Invasion of Cambodia Dien Bien Phu After Nixon began gradually pulling out U.S. troops (replacing them with Vietnamese forces), U.S. involvement in this war ended with the largest helicopter evacuation in history out of the city of Saigon (April 30 th, 1975). The city fell to North Vietnamese forces a week later. Invasion of Laos Vietnam Map Activity VietnamizationUSAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

38. Step Sixteen: Fall of Saigon CHINA THAILAND LAOS LAOS CAMBODIA Hmong Gulf of Tonkin South China Sea Gulf of Thailand  17 th parallel Hanoi Saigon U.S. Air Raids G.o.T. Incident Ho Chi Minh Trail = Tet Offensive Invasion of Cambodia Dien Bien Phu After Nixon began gradually pulling out U.S. troops (replacing them with Vietnamese forces), U.S. involvement in this war ended with the largest helicopter evacuation in history out of the city of Saigon (April 30 th, 1975). The city fell to North Vietnamese forces a week later. Invasion of Laos Vietnam Map Activity USAF USAF USAF USAF US Navy Ho Chi Minh City Cu Chi Tunnels SOUTH VIETNAM NORTH VIETNAM

39. 1) In your opinion, how could the world’s greatest superpower (the United States) lose in this conflict with a much smaller, technologically inferior North Vietnamese force? Be sure to explain your answer. On the back of your map, answer the following questions: