the war ( c . 1957-75) between North Vietnam and South Vietnam: the U.S. participated on the side of South Vietnam, with its greatest military involvement in the period c. 1965-69

a region of N Vietnam , on the Gulf of Tonkin : an independent Communist state from 1954 until 1976. Area: 164 061 sq km (63 344 sq miles)

a former republic (1955–76) occupying the S of present-day Vietnam on the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand

the name (from 1955–75) for South Vietnam , as an independent republic , following the division of the country in 1954 into North Vietnam and South Vietnam

a republic in SE Asia: an ancient empire , conquered by France in the 19th century; occupied by Japan (1940–45) when the Communist-led Vietminh began resistance operations that were continued against restored French rule after 1945. In 1954 the country was divided along the 17th parallel , establishing North Vietnam (under the Vietminh) and South Vietnam (under French control), the latter becoming the independent Republic of Vietnam in 1955. From 1959 the country was dominated by war between the Communist Vietcong , supported by North Vietnam, and the South Vietnamese government; increasing numbers of US forces were brought to the aid of the South Vietnamese army until a peace agreement (1973) led to the withdrawal of US troops ; further fighting led to the eventual defeat of the South Vietnamese government in March 1975 and in 1976 an elected National Assembly proclaimed the reunification of the country. Official language: Vietnamese. Religion : Buddhist majority . Currency : dong . Capital: Hanoi . Pop: 95 540 800 (2017 est). Area: 331 041 sq km (127 816 sq miles)

a revolutionary movement that seeks the national independence of a country, usually by guerrilla warfare