Military history of Vietnam
Army and warfare made their first appearance in
Hồng Bàng period
Weapons are the most common Bronze Age artifacts found so far. The presence of arms in many tombs of upper-class people indicates the existence of a warrior class in
Medieval period
Warfare during this 500-year period (938–1407) was characterized by a combination of amphibious and land assaults. Owing to the fragmented terrain and long coast line of the country, maneuvers by boats were favoured by most military forces who had fought in Vietnam. Small-scale coastal and border raids were frequent. Domestic violence as well as foreign incursions were equally common. It is possible that during this period that Vietnam was at its height of power, first by defeating the Southern Han in 938 AD. Then they emerged and decisively defeated the neighboring Dali, Khmer Empire, Champa, and the Song.
Mongol invasions of Vietnam
In the 13th century, the Vietnamese defeated the Great Yuan dynasty of the Mongol empire three times, and it was seen as one of the most famous historical victories of Vietnam. In an extent, the Vietnamese successful repelling of Mongol invasions, had been recognized as the main factor which would have saved all Southeast Asia from Mongols.
Cham–Vietnamese wars
Early modern period
Vietnam adopted firearms from the
Around 15th-16th century, firearms started to gain dominance on Vietnam's battlefields. Rivaling feudal lords were quick to adopt these new deadly weapons. Tactics were changed to accommodate guns and cannons and soon the country had as many guns as it could afford. Throughout the time, the Vietnamese state also annexed the Southern region of the declining Khmer Empire which would become Vietnam today.
Tây Sơn period
Future Emperor
Nguyễn period
French invasion of Indochina
Japanese invasion of French Indochina
The
Socialist period
- First Indochina War
Following the allied victory in
- Laotian Civil War
The Laotian Civil War began in 1953 when war escalated between the government forces and Pathet Lao, which received support from North Vietnam and China. In addition to their desire to support the communist movement in Laos, Vietnam also wanted to control the strategically important areas in Laos. The conflict ended in 1975, when Pathet Lao seized power in Laos, ending the Kingdom of Laos.
- North Vietnamese invasion of Laos
The
- Vietnam War
The Vietnam War started with the breach of the intended general election to unite the country by South Vietnam and the Việt Cộng initiation of a guerrilla war in the south. This led to an American intervention which lasted until 1973, when they withdrew their forces from Vietnam following a peace treaty. The war went on, and in 1975 North Vietnam emerged victorious.
- Cambodian Civil War
The
- Hmong Insurgency
When the Laotian Civil War ended in 1975, the government of Laos started to persecute the Hmong-tribes, who had been fighting alongside the United States in the Vietnam War. Vietnam has participated in the persecution, which has led to thousands of Hmong fleeing to the United States and Thailand. Although the Hmong no longer poses a military threat to the government of Laos, they are still under suspect by Laotian authorities.
- Cambodian-Vietnamese War
When the Vietnam War ended, the
- Vietnamese border raids in Thailand
The Vietnamese border raids in Thailand were a Vietnamese attempt to stop the Khmer Rouge from using Thailand as a base when fighting against Vietnam and the Vietnamese-friendly regime in Pnomh Penh. This nearly led to a war, as Vietnamese troops often penetrated into Thai territory, chasing Khmer Rouge guerrillas. This often resulted in clashes between Vietnamese and Thai forces. However, this never led to a war.
In response to Vietnam's 1978 invasion and occupation of Cambodia (which ended the rule of the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge), the People's Republic of China launched a brief punitive military campaign against Vietnam, lasting from 17 February to 16 March.[4] Chinese forces entered northern Vietnam and captured several cities near the border. On 6 March 1979, China declared that the gate to Hanoi was open and that their punitive mission had been achieved, before withdrawing their troops from Vietnam. Both China and Vietnam claimed victory in the war; as Vietnamese troops remained in Cambodia until 1989, it can be said that China was unsuccessful in their goal of dissuading Vietnam from involvement in Cambodia.[5][6]
- Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts 1979–1990
After China withdrew from Vietnam in 1979, border conflicts continued to occur. These conflicts often involved cross-border raids and battles, and claimed thousands of lives from both sides. The conflict subsided in 1990, without an outbreak of war.
- Thai–Laotian Border War
The Thai–Laotian Border War began in 1987, when Thailand invaded parts of Laos claimed by the former. Laos responded with force, and the Thai forces were pushed back to the border. During this brief war, Vietnam reinforced its communist ally, and helped them in their war against Thailand. The war ended with a ceasefire in 1988, when Laos had successfully regained all lost ground, and pushed the Thai forces out of the disputed territory.
Notable commanders
- Trưng Sisters
- Bà Triệu
- Bùi Thị Xuân
- Lý Bí
- Triệu Việt Vương
- Ngô Quyền
- Đinh Bộ Lĩnh
- Lê Hoàn
- Lý Thường Kiệt
- Trần Hưng Đạo: notable for the repellion of Mongol invasions to Vietnam twice
- Trần Quang Khải
- Trần Khánh Dư
- Lê Lai: the General who disguised as Lord Lê Lợi against the Ming
- Lê Lợi
- Nguyễn Huệ, Nguyễn Nhạc and Nguyễn Lữ
- Trương Định
- Võ Nguyên Giáp
Gallery
-
LateĐông Sơnmetal lamellae (3rd - 1st century BC)
-
Armour ofNam Việt(with reconstructed replica) in the 2nd century BC
-
Matchlock arquebuses, flintlock musket, percussion cap rifle and double barreled shotgun of medieval and early modern ages
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Model of a 17th-century gunboat called "Mông Đồng"
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17th century wood relief showing arquebusier alongside mounted archer, Hương Canh Communal house
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18th and 19th century sabers
-
Bùi Thị Xuân, last general of Dai Viet, Tay Son dynasty
Pictures of Vietnamese weapons from the Pacification of Tonkin were taken by westerners.[7]
Replicas of traditional bladed weapons serve as decorations in Vietnam.
Notes
- ^ Military Technology Transfers from Ming China and the Emergence of Northern Mainland Southeast Asia (c. 1390–1527) Sun Laichen Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Vol. 34, No. 3 (Oct., 2003), pp. 495–517 Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of Department of History, National University of Singapore Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20072535 Page Count: 23
- ISBN 978-1-136-81964-3.
- ISBN 978-0-7391-7230-8.
- ^ Concerning US backing, as Henry Kissinger in "On China" (p. 372) noted that "American ideals had encountered the imperatives of geopolitical reality".
- ISBN 9781134122684.
- ISBN 9780465056675.
- ^ http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/HappyAsian/sung-than-cong-hue.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/HappyAsian/vebinh.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/HappyAsian/guom.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/HappyAsian/hieu20lenh20va20binh20khi.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/HappyAsian/binh20khi.jpg http://images9.fotki.com/v178/photos/2/248599/2505348/Narmes_pris_aux_PavillonsNoirs-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v205/photos/2/248599/2505348/cNinh_le_lendemain_de_sa_chute-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v206/photos/2/248599/2505348/trailleuses_prises_aux_Chinois-vi.jpg http://images9.fotki.com/v186/photos/2/248599/2505348/ancaise_traversant_RiviereNoir-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v206/photos/2/248599/2505348/LStropher_armes_annamites-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v205/photos/2/248599/2505348/STSonTay_dans_la_citadelle-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v206/photos/2/248599/2505348/STporte_Est_citadelle_SonTay-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v205/photos/2/248599/2505348/STSonTay_le_soir_dela_prise-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v206/photos/2/248599/2505348/ns_reservoirs_citadelle_SonTay-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v205/photos/2/248599/2505348/QDPcanonniere_Eclair-vi.jpg http://images14.fotki.com/v206/photos/2/248599/2505348/orte_dela_citadelle_de_NamDinh-vi.jpg http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page4/tirailleurs_tonkinois.jpg http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page3/Absdeurs_chinois_ramenent_prisionn.jpg http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page6/Tirailleur_saigonnais_tirailleur_annamite.jpg http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page6/tirailleurs_tonkinois_Linh_Tap.jpg http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page4/photo_docteur_hocquard_4_vn.htm http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page3/photo_docteur_hocquard_3_vn.htm http://rusknife.com/uploads/monthly_05_2011/post-458-0-08882000-1305481640.jpg http://hinhxua.free.fr/autrefois/docteur-hocquard/page3/tropher_armes_annamites.jpg http://rusknife.com/topic/2184-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D1%85%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BE/ http://images15.fotki.com/v1631/photos/2/248599/2505348/Narmes_pris_aux_PavillonsNoirs-vi.jpg
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2014) |
- Cœdès, George. (1966). The Making of South East Asia (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of California Press. ISBN 0520050614. Retrieved 7 August 2013.