Vietnam (New Union)

Vietnam (officially: Socialist Republic of Vietnam) is a socialist state located in Southeast Asia. The country shares land borders with Cambodia, China, and Laos. It is one of the few socialist nations left internationally and is a vital ally to the Soviet Union in the region.

History
In the distant past, Vietnam was ruled by several dynasties that waged border wars with Siam, Cambodia, and the ancient dynasties of ancient China.

During the Colonial Era, Vietnam, along with Cambodia and Laos, became part of French Indochina - an overseas colony of France in Southeast Asia.

Upon the Fall of France in 1940, the Empire of Japan occupied the colony up until its defeat in 1945. The French immediately reclaimed control of their colony after World War II, however, local citizens began to take up arms against the French. This resulted in the independence of Vietnam in 1954 after the Viet Minh's victory (led by Ho Chi Minh) over the French at Dien Bien Phu. At the signing of the 1954 Geneva conference, the country was to be split similar to the Korean peninsula: the North would be under a socialist government while the South would be under a democratic government.

Dispute on whoever would rule the country led to the Vietnam War erupting in 1955. South Vietnam (officially the Republic of Vietnam) was backed by the United States in the late 50s to the early 60s before sending combat troops to the ground in 1965. Similary, North Vietnam was backed by communist countries such as the Soviet Union, China (PRC), North Korea, East Germany, and Cuba. The United States was militarily backed by their local allies in the region: Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. Despite the heavy support given to the Republic of Vietnam throughout the war, the U.S. was forced to pullout in 1973 due to massive losses incurred - both in manpower, resources, and funds - as well as the unpopularity of the war among Americans at home. On April 30, 1975, North Vietnam successfully reunited the nation by capturing the capital of Saigon. Countless South Vietnamese refugees would find refuge in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, Australia, and Europe.

In December 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and managed dispose the Khmer Rouge that conducted border raids into Vietnam since 1977. This drew the ire of China, which launched an invasion of North Vietnam in February 1979. However, the Chinese were not able to succeed in their goal of occupying Hanoi and pulled out a month later.