The end of the Vietnam War and beyond

This lecture examines the end of the Vietnam War and its far-reaching consequences for regional and international relations. It argues that North Vietnam pursued its own strategic objectives despite extensive Chinese and Soviet support, often disregarding advice from both allies during peace negotiations and military campaigns. Following the 1973 Paris Peace Accords and the 1975 fall of Saigon, reunification generated confidence that shaped Vietnam’s domestic and foreign policies. However, tensions with China escalated over ideology, territorial disputes, and regional influence, culminating in conflict in Cambodia and the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. These developments reshaped Southeast Asian geopolitics and Cold War dynamics.