Essay on VietnamBefore the Cold War, the majority of Vietnam was under French rule. Vietnam therefore had no established government and was a colony. Of course, there was a lot of French influence. One influence that the French brought with them was Roman Catholicism, which helped develop the already existing religion in Vietnam. Before the Cold War, the economy was primarily based on agriculture, with exports of tobacco, indigo, tea and coffee. Today, agriculture represents a significant part of the Vietnamese economy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay After World War II, a communist movement formed and its goal was to create independence from French rule. The French were ultimately defeated and the Geneva Accords of 1954 ended colonial rule. Vietnam was now divided at the 17th parallel north, with North and South Vietnam having opposing views on what the national government should be. North Vietnam was controlled by the communists, while the South was a republic. As the United States provided military aid to the South, North Vietnam attacked the South, starting the Vietnam War. However, the United States withdrew its troops at the end of the war, leaving the South much weaker. The Communist North soon took the capital of South Vietnam, which surrendered. The two camps united under a one-party communist state. These events did not remain without consequences. Approximately one and a half million people were killed or injured during the Vietnam War. Even after the war, the Vietnamese population was still affected by the war. Agent Orange, a devastating cocktail of chemicals intended to kill plants, was used in the war. As a result, millions of acres of forests and crops were destroyed. The deadly chemicals caused cancer and other illnesses in Vietnamese veterans and citizens. Ho Chi Minh was a leader of North Vietnam. Before the war, he supported the Vietnamese nationalist cause and formed the Viet Minh to help fight for Vietnam's independence from France. Ngo Dinh Diem was a leader of South Vietnam. Diem was Catholic, which was problematic because the majority of southerners were Buddhist. He ruled with an iron fist and imprisoned and killed all political enemies. Eventually, more than half of the South opposed him, which convinced the United States to remove him from power. A CIA-backed coup took place and Diem was assassinated, leaving South Vietnam without a stable government. He was never more vulnerable in North Vietnam. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Vietnam War devastated Vietnam's economy and overall stability. Despite this, the nation prospered and grew soon after. Relations with the United States have improved, with a trade embargo lifted and diplomatic relations restored. The economy has been one of the fastest growing in the world, but the Communist Party is still in control. Today, Vietnam is a major agricultural exporter and manufacturer. However, poverty persists in many regions.