Section 1

• When was the battle of bien dien phu?

  1954
• What were the main reasons for the Viet Minh's victory at Dien Bien Phu?

  • Local knowledge of terrain
  • Support from China
  • Underestimation by the French
  • Commitment of Viet Minh fighters
  • Local support from villages
• How did local villages support the Viet Minh at dien bien phu?

  • Helped dig roads for supplies
  • Provided food and shelter
  • Spied on French movements
• When were the geneva accords signed?

  1954
• What did the geneva accords decide?

  • Division of Vietnam across the 17th parallel
  • formal french withdrawal from vietnam
  • french indochina -> Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
  • North vietnam led by Ho chi minh (communist, vietminh)
  • South vietnam led by Ngo Dinh Diem (capitalist, USA puppet)
• Causes for French indochina war

  • France originally occupied Vietnam
  • Japan invaded in ww2
  • France wanted the colony back after ww2
  • Vietnam wanted independence - US feared independent Vietnam would be communist
• Impacts of Dien bien phu


  • France exited Vietnam - geneva accords (1954)
  • 20,000 Vietminh causalities, 8000 dead
  • 2,200 French dead
  • Paris peace treaty- North & south vietnam temporarily split
• Key features of french indo china war

  • US involvement - 80% of french expenses were covered by US
  • Vietminh Guerilla tactics - secret tunnels, setting traps