The Vietnam War, and the United States' active participation in it, began in 1954, despite decades of conflict in the region.

The treaty, signed in July 1954 at a Geneva conference, divided Vietnam along the 17th Parallel (17 degrees north latitude), with Ho in charge in the north and Bao in the south. The treaty also stipulated that nationwide reunification elections be held in 1956.

The United States got involved in the war in 1954.

The Gulf of Tonkin incident was a major international incident that led to the US taking a more active role in the Vietnam War. It involved a confirmed confrontation on August 2, 1964, between North Vietnamese and US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin, in response to covert operations in the coastal region of the gulf, and a second, claimed confrontation on August 4, 1964, between North Vietnamese and US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin.

In the war, many tactics were used, some of them are:

Bombing - US President Johnson ordered the bombing of strategic military targets in North Vietnam. This included air raids on the capital city, Hanoi, and bases and supply routes. 

Air & Artillery - American troops were sent on patrols, to be supported by air and artillery if attacked by the Vietcong. This demoralised soldiers, who realised they were being used as bait to draw out the enemy.

Peasants - Vietnamese peasants in the village provided food, shelter and hiding places.

The Vietnam war had numerous battles, some key battles were: 

Gulf of Tonkin Incident - August 2 - 4, 1964.

Battle of Ia Drang Valley - First major battle between American and Vietnamese forces, it would be claimed as a victory by both sides, it would offer important lessons for each army.