The French Influence...

The Vietnam War began in 1945 when the French
tried to re-occupy the land that was lost during World War
II. Ho Chi Minh became a revolutionary hero by leading
Vietnams struggles against the conquering French. In
1946 the French controlled most of southern Vietnam but
in 1954 the French rule in Vietnam crumbed. The
Vietminh, Ho's followers, won the war and forced
France to withdraw its military forces. Vietnam soo
became divided into two different countries, north and
South Vietnam.

After World War II, France requested that all of the French
pre-war colonies in Southeast Asia (Indochina) be
restored to them. After the removal of the Japanese, the
French regained Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia once
again. After the Japanese surrendered, Ho Chi Minh
proclaimed the independence of Vietnam. He declared
himself as the president of the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam. The French commissioner declared a
French-controlled government for South Vietnam
(Republic of Chochinchina) that was a big insult to Ho Chi
Minh.