LEC 21

French Indochina

The colony established by France in the 19th century comprising present-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, marked by exploitation of resources and strict control over local populations.

Viet Minh

A nationalist movement in Indochina led by Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap, employing Maoist guerrilla warfare tactics during the First Indochina War.

Dien Bien Phu

The site of a decisive battle in 1954 between the French and Viet Minh forces, resulting in a French defeat and leading to the Geneva Accords and the division of Vietnam.

NLF "Viet Cong"

The National Liberation Front, also known as the Viet Cong, gained support in South Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands, aiming for reunification under communist leadership.

Gulf of Tonkin incident

An event in 1964 used as a pretext by the United States to escalate its military involvement in Vietnam, citing the need to prevent the spread of communism.

General Suharto

Led the Indonesian military in the mass killings of suspected communists and leftist sympathizers in 1965, solidifying his control and shifting Indonesia away from the communist bloc.

Maoist guerrilla tactics

Strategies adopted by the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War, focusing on mobilizing rural support, engaging in guerrilla attacks, and avoiding direct confrontation with enemy forces.

Domino theory

The belief that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will also fall, used by the US to justify its intervention in Vietnam and concerns about Indonesia.