ABSTRACT
For centuries Vietnam was mostly an independent state, though not always unified, until the French established colonial rule in the late nineteenth century. This was interrupted by Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Following their defeat, Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam as an independent state on 2 September 1945. The French government attempted to reimpose colonial rule, but a growing resistance movement led to their defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. An international conference in Geneva during that year provided for a temporary partitioning of the country at the 17th parallel until national elections could be held. The elections never took place. The country was divided into two states when the Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed in the south in 1956.
