List of wars involving Vietnam

This is a list of wars involving the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and its predecessor states.

Hồng Bàng Dynasty (2879 BC – 257 BC)

Conflict	Hùng Kings and allies	Opponents	Result
Lac Viet-Au Viet War (257 BC?)	Lạc Việt tribe	Âu Việt tribe	Lac Viet was annexed into Au Viet. Establishment of Au Lac under Thục Dynasty

Thục Dynasty (257 BC – 207 BC or 179 BC?)

Conflict	Thục Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Baiyue-Qin War (221 BCE–214 BCE)	Baiyue tribes Âu Lạc under Thục dynasty Minyue tribe Nanyue tribe	Qin Empire	Partial victory Minyue and Nanyue tribes were annexed into Qin Empire Âu Lạc retained independence
Au Lac–Nanyue War (207 BCE or 179 BC?)	Âu Lạc under Thục dynasty	Nanyue under Triệu dynasty	Defeat Âu Lạc was annexed into Nanyue

Triệu Dynasty (207 BC – 111 BC)

Conflict	Triệu Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Han–Nam Viet War (111 BCE)	Nanyue under Triệu dynasty	Han Empire	Defeat First Chinese domination of Vietnam

First and Second Chinese Domination (111 BC – 544)

Conflict	Yue people	Opponents	Result
Trưng Sisters Revolt (40–43)	Trưng Sisters rebels in Lingnan	Han Empire	Defeat Second Chinese domination of Vietnam
Lady Triệu Revolt (248)	Lady Triệu rebels in Jiuzhen	Wu	Defeat Lady Triệu Revolt was suppressed.
Liang–Yue War (542–545)	Lý Bí rebels in Jiaozhi	Liang	Victory Establishment of Vạn Xuân under Early Lý dynasty.

Early Lý Dynasty (545 – 602)

Conflict	Early Lý Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Sui-Van Xuan War (545–602)	Vạn Xuân under Early Lý dynasty	Sui	Defeat Third Chinese domination of Vietnam

Third Chinese Domination (602 – 905)

Conflict	Yue people	Opponents	Result
Mai Hắc Đế Revolt (722)	Mai Hắc Đế rebels in Annam	Great Tang	Defeat
Phùng Hưng Revolt (791)	Phùng Hưng rebels in Annam	Great Tang	Defeat

Autonomous era under Khúc Family (905 – 938) and Ngô Dynasty (938 – 967)

Conflict	Khúc Family and allies	Opponents	Result
First Southern Han–Annam War (930–931)	Dương Đình Nghệ forces in Annam	Great Han	Victory Beginning of autonomous era of Vietnam under Khúc Family
Second Southern Han-Annam War (938)	Ngô Quyền forces in Annam	Great Han	Victory Establishment of Ngô dynasty Beginning of independence era of Vietnam

Warlord era (944 – 968) and Đinh Dynasty (968 – 980)

Conflict	Đinh Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
12 Warlords Rebellion (944–968)	Đinh Bộ Lĩnh clan	11 Warlords	Victory for Đinh Bộ Lĩnh clan Unification of Vietnam into Đại Cồ Việt Establishment of Đinh dynasty

Early Lê Dynasty (980–1009)

Conflict	Early Lê Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
First Dai Co Viet-Song War (981)	Đại Cồ Việt under Early Lê dynasty	Great Song	Victory Establishment of Early Lê dynasty
Champa-Dai Co Viet War (982)	Đại Cồ Việt under Early Lê dynasty	Champa	Victory

Later Lý Dynasty (1009–1225)

Conflict	Later Lý Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Champa–Dai Co Viet War (1044)	Đại Cồ Việt under Later Lý dynasty	Champa	Victory
Champa–Dai Viet War (1069)	Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty	Champa	Victory
Lý–Song War (1075–1077)	Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty	Great Song	Indecisive
Dai Viet-Khmer War (1123–1150)[1]	Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty	Khmer Empire Champa	Victory

Trần Dynasty (1225–1400)

Conflict	Trần Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
First Dai Viet-Mongol War (1257–1258)	Đại Việt under Trần dynasty Champa	Mongol Empire	Victory
Second Dai Viet-Mongol War (1284–1285)	Đại Việt under Trần dynasty Champa	Great Yuan	Victory
Third Dai Viet-Mongol War (1287–1288)	Đại Việt under Trần dynasty Champa	Great Yuan	Victory
Champa–Dai Viet War (1367–1396)	Đại Việt under Trần dynasty	Champa	Defeat in early periods, Victory in final periods

Hồ Dynasty (1400–1407)

Conflict	Hồ Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Champa–Dai Ngu War (1400–1407)	Đại Ngu under Hồ dynasty	Champa	Victory[2] [3]
Dai Ngu-Ming War (1406–1407)	Đại Ngu under Hồ dynasty	Great Ming	Defeat Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam

Fourth Chinese Domination (1407–1427)

Conflict	Yue people	Opponents	Result
Later Trần revolt (1407–1413)	Later Trần rebels in Jiaozhi	Great Ming	Defeat
Lam Sơn uprising (1418–1427)	Lam Sơn rebels in Jiaozhi	Great Ming	Victory Establishment of Later Lê dynasty

Later Lê Dynasty (1428–1778)

Conflict	Later Lê Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Champa-Dai Viet War (1446)	Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty	Champa	Victory
Dai Viet-Lan Xang War (1478–1480)[4]	Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty	Lan Xang Muang Phuan Lan Na	Indecisive
Champa–Dai Viet War (1471)	Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty	Champa	Victory
Trần Cảo Rebellion (1516–1521)	Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty	Trần Cảo's rebels	Victory Trần Cảo rebellion was suppressed
Lê-Mạc Civil War (1533–1677)	Southern Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty	Northern Đại Việt under Mạc dynasty	Victory for Later Lê dynasty Re-establishment of Later Lê Dynasty
First Trịnh–Nguyễn Civil War (1627–1672)	Đàng Ngoài under Later Lê dynasty and Trịnh lords Dutch East India Company	Đàng Trong under Nguyễn lords	Indecisive
Dutch-Nguyễn War (1643)	Đàng Trong under Nguyễn lords	Dutch East India Company	Victory for Nguyễn lords
Cambodian Civil War (1714-17)[5]	Kaev Hua III Nguyễn lords	Thommo Reachea III Ayutthaya Kingdom	Defeat for Nguyễn lords
Dai Viet-Siam War (1769–1773)[6][7]	Đàng Trong under Nguyễn lords	Thonburi Kingdom	Defeat
Second Trịnh–Nguyễn Civil War (1774–1775)	Đàng Ngoài under Later Lê dynasty Trịnh lords	Đàng Trong under Nguyễn lords	Victory for Trịnh lords

Tây Sơn Dynasty (1778–1802)

Conflict	Tây Sơn Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Tây Sơn–Nguyễn Civil War (1772–1777)[8]	Tây Sơn rebels	Đàng Trong under Nguyễn lords	Victory for Tây Sơn rebels Establishment of Tây Sơn dynasty
Dai Viet-Siam War (1785)	Đại Việt under Tây Sơn dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom Đàng Trong under Nguyễn lords	Victory Near-annihilation of Siamese force.
Tây Sơn–Trịnh Civil War (1775-1786)[8]	Đại Việt under Tây Sơn dynasty	Đàng Ngoài under Trịnh lords	Victory for Tây Sơn dynasty
Dai Viet-Qing War (1788–1789)	Đại Việt under Tây Sơn dynasty	Qing Empire Later Lê dynasty	Victory for Tây Sơn dynasty
Tây Sơn–Nguyễn Civil War (1778–1802)[8]	Đại Việt under Tây Sơn dynasty	Gia Long leading the Nguyễn lords	Regime change Establishment of Nguyễn dynasty

Nguyễn Dynasty (1802–1887)

Conflict	Nguyễn Dynasty and allies	Opponents	Result
Cambodian Rebellion (1811–1812)	Việt Nam under Nguyễn dynasty Ang Chan forces of Khmer	Rattanakosin Kingdom Ang Snguon forces of Khmer	Victory Ang Chan regained the throne of Cambodia
Chao Anu Rebellion (1825–1828)	Việt Nam under Nguyễn dynasty Anouvong forces of Laos	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Defeat Siam regained control over Laos
Siamese–Vietnamese War (1831–1834)	Việt Nam under Nguyễn dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Victory Siam repelled from Cambodia.
Lê Văn Khôi revolt (1833–1835)	Việt Nam under Nguyễn dynasty	Lê Văn Khôi rebels Rattanakosin Kingdom	Victory Lê Văn Khôi revolt was suppressed
Dai Nam-Siam War (1841–1845)	Đại Nam under Nguyễn dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Inconclusive Cambodia came under joint protection.
Cochinchina Campaign (1858–1862)	Đại Nam under Nguyễn dynasty	Second French Empire Spain Philippines	Defeat Cochinchina became a French colony.
Tonkin Campaign (1883–1886)	Đại Nam under Nguyễn dynasty Qing under Qing Empire Black Flag Army	France	Defeat Tonkin and Annam became French protectorates.
Sino-French War (1884–1885)	Đại Nam under Nguyễn dynasty Qing under Qing Empire Black Flag Army	France	Both sides claimed victory[9] [10] Treaty of Tientsin

French Indochina (1887–1945)

Conflict	French Indochina and allies	Opponents	Result
Cần Vương Rebellion (1885–1896)	France French Indochina	Cần Vương forces	Victory Insurrection crushed.
Yên Thế Insurrection (1884–1913)	France French Indochina	Hoàng Hoa Thám forces	Victory Insurrection crushed.
Franco-Siamese War (1893)	France French Indochina	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Victory Laos ceded to French Indochina.
Cochinchina uprising (1916)	France French Indochina	Cochinchina rebels	Victory Uprising crushed.
Thái Nguyên uprising (1917)	France French Indochina	Thái Nguyên rebels	Victory Uprising crushed.
Yên Bái mutiny (1930)	France French Indochina	Nationalist forces	Victory Mutiny defeated.
Nghệ-Tĩnh Soviets (1930–1931)	France French Indochina	Communist forces	Victory Uprising crushed.
Japanese invasion of Indochina (1940)	France French Indochina	Japan	Defeat Japanese occupied Northern French Indochina
Franco-Thai War (1940–1941)	France French Indochina	Thailand	Military Indecisive Thai Political victory Disputed enclaves returned to Thailand.
Southern uprising (1940)	France French Indochina  Japan	Communist forces	Victory Uprising crushed.
Bắc Sơn uprising (1940)	France French Indochina  Japan	Communist forces	Victory Uprising crushed.

Modern Vietnam (1945–present)

Conflict	Vietnam and allies	Opponents	Result	President
Operation Masterdom (1945–1946)	Viet Minh	United Kingdom British India France French Indochina Japan	Defeat (for Viet Minh) Restoration of French rule in Indochina. First Indochina War begin	Hồ Chí Minh
First Indochina War (1946–1954)[lower-alpha 1]	Viet Minh Pathet Lao Khmer Issarak	France State of Vietnam Kingdom of Cambodia Kingdom of Laos	Victory (for Viet Minh and allies) Geneva Conference; French Indochina partitioned into four countries.
Laotian Civil War (1953–1975)	Pathet Lao  North Vietnam	Kingdom of Laos  United States  South Vietnam  Thailand	Victory Establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Vietnam War (1955–1975)[lower-alpha 2]	North Vietnam Viet Cong Khmer Rouge Pathet Lao  China  Soviet Union  North Korea	South Vietnam United States  South Korea  Australia  New Zealand  Taiwan  Thailand  Philippines Kingdom of Laos Khmer Republic	Victory (for North Vietnam and allies) Communist governments take power in South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Vietnam reunited in 1976
Cambodian Civil War (1967–1975)	National United Front of Kampuchea Khmer Rouge Khmer Rumdo Khmer Việt Minh  North Vietnam Việt Cộng	Kingdom of Cambodia (1967–1970) Khmer Republic (1970–1975)  United States  South Vietnam	Victory Fall of the Kingdom of Cambodia Creation but eventual collapse of the Khmer Republic Creation of the Democratic Kampuchea Beginning of the Cambodian genocide
Insurgency in the Central Highlands (1975–1992)	Vietnam	FULRO	Victory Insurgency quelled	Tôn Đức Thắng
Insurgency in Laos (1975–2007)	Vietnam  Laos	Hmong insurgents	Victory Insurgency quelled
Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1977–1989)[lower-alpha 3]	Vietnam FUNSK	Khmer Rouge KPNLF FUNCINPEC  Thailand	Victory Removal of the Khmer Rouge from power 1991 Paris Peace Accords
Sino-Vietnamese War (1979)	Vietnam	China	Both sides claimed victory Chinese withdrawal from Vietnam
Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979–90 (1979–1990)	Vietnam	China	Inconclusive Normalization of bilateral relations	Nguyễn Hữu Thọ
Thai–Laotian Border War (1987–1988)	Vietnam  Laos	Thailand	Victory Thai withdrawal, status quo ante bellum	Võ Chí Công

Notes

1. Official start date at December 19, 1946, when France captured Hanoi. However, the conflict started already in September 1945, when British troops took Saigon during Operation Masterdom. The Haiphong conflict, lasting from March 3, 1946 until 1947, also lead to tensions between France and China.
2. Start date remains disputed, but North Vietnam did not intervene before 1959. Includes the Laotian Civil War, the North Vietnamese invasion of Laos and the Cambodian Civil War. First battle between the South Vietnamese army and FNL occurred at September 26, 1959; Origins of the Insurgency in South Vietnam, 1954–1960 The Pentagon Papers (Gravel Edition), Volume 1, Chapter 5, (Boston: Beacon Press, 1971), Section 3, pp. 314–346; International Relations Department, Mount Holyoke College.
3. See also: Vietnamese border raids in Thailand.

Citations

1. Kohn, p. 524.
2. Dupuy, p. 483.
3. Kohn, p. 522.
4. Stuart-Fox, pp. 65-67.
5. Kohn, p. 445.
6. Kohn, p. 447.
7. Dupuy, p. 768.
8. Kohn, p. 523.
9. Chen
10. Elleman, p. 297.

References

Chen, King C. "China's War Against Vietnam, 1979: A Military Analysis". School of Law University of Maryland. Retrieved 21 August 2019.

Dupuy, R. Ernest; Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present (Fourth ed.). New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-270056-1.

Elleman, Bruce A. (2001). Modern Chinese Warfare, 1795-1989. Routledge. ISBN 0415214742.

Kohn, George Childs (1999). Dictionary of Wars (Revised ed.). New York: Facts On File, Inc. ISBN 0-8160-3928-3.

Stuart-Fox, Martin (1998). The Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang: Rise and Decline. White Lotus Press. ISBN 974-8434-33-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)