1954: French defeated by Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu on 7 May after a 55-day siege. The defeat signals an end to French presence in Indochina.

1955: US begins to funnel aid directly to Saigon Government and agrees to train South Vietnamese Army.

1957: In September, South Vietnam's President Ngo Dinh Diem visits Australia. Menzies Government reaffirms support.

1960: Hanoi leaders form National Liberation Front for South Vietnam on 20 December, which Saigon regime dubs "Viet Cong", meaning Communist Vietnamese.

1961: On November 17, US Government seeks an indication through diplomatic channels of Australia's willingness to assist in Vietnam.

1962: On May 24, Australia's Minister for Defence, Athol Townley, announces 30 military advisers will be go to Vietnam.

1963: An adviser, William Francis Hacking, becomes first Australian to die in Vietnam on June 1.
On November 1, Vietnam's President Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu murdered in military coup with foreknowledge of US government, Lyndon Johnson becomes US president after assassination of John F. Kennedy.
On November 22, Johnson announces US will continue support of South Vietnam.
By year's end, 15,000 US military advisers are serving in Vietnam, which in this year receives $500 million in US aid.

1964: In June, Prime Minister Menzies visits Washington where talks centre on Vietnam.
Following a reported attack on US ships in Tonkin Gulf, US Congress, on August 7, passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving President Johnson extraordinary powers to act In South East Asia.
On November 10, Australian government introduces barrel lottery conscription for two years National Service. Opposition to the war in Vietnam is not accepted as reason for exemption.

1965: On April 29, Menzies Government announces that combat troops will go to Vietnam; the 1st Infantry Battalion leaves in June.
In September, Morgan Gallup Poll finds 56 per cent of those polled were in favour of continuing the war in Vietnam. A demonstration against the war in Sydney, on October 22, results in 65 arrests.

1966: Harold Holt succeeds Menzies as Prime Minister on January 26.
On March 8 he announces that the commitment of troops to Vietnam will be stepped up and will include conscripts. In Washington, Holt pledges to go "all the way with LBJ" on June 30.
On May 24, Errol Wayne Noack becomes the first conscript to die in Vietnam. Conscientious objector William White, 21, a teacher from Sydney, refuses to report as a National Serviceman on July 18 1968. After losing two battles for exemption, he is sacked and appears in court, on August 3, where it is ruled he should do "National Service training of a non-combatant nature". He appeals. Eighteen Australians and about 250 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers die at battle of Long Tan on August 18.
Morgan Gallup Poll on November 19 finds that 63 per cent favour conscription, but only 37 per cent favour sending "nashos" to Vietnam.

1967: In May, Morgan Gallup Poll finds 52 per cent favour continuing the war in Vietnam. Harold Holt drowns on November 17.
In this year the US drops 800,000 tonnes of bombs on Vietnam.

1968: John Grey Gorton sworn in as Prime Minister on January 10.
On January 31, Tet Offensive begins as Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops attack South Vietnamese cities and towns. Despite huge losses, Tet proves a propaganda coup for the Viet Cong and a turning point in the war.
On February 12, Gorton indicates that Australia will not increase its commitment to Vietnam.
Massacre of civilians by US soldiers at My Lai village on March 16, at least 450 unarmed people are killed.
March 31, US President Johnson orders partial halt of bombing of North Vietnam and announces he will not seek re-election in May. In Australia National Service Act amended to impose two-year civil jail term for draft evaders.
On October 14 1969, John Zarb, 21, the first person to be found guilty of having failed to comply with his call up notice is convicted in Melbourne and sentenced to two years jail. He loses his appeal to the full High Court on November 25, 1968. He served 10 months and seven days in Pentridge Gaol before his release on grounds of the distress his imprisonment caused his family.
By year's end, US forces in Vietnam total 536,000 with 14,592 killed in combat in this year alone.

1969: In August, Morgan Gallup Poll finds 55 per cent want Australians brought home from Vietnam.
On September 3, Ho Chi Minh dies in Hanoi, aged 79.
US Gallup Poll finds, October 4, that 58 per cent of Americans believe the war in Vietnam was a mistake.
Massive anti-war demonstration in Washington, October 15.

1970: On April 22. Australian Government announces that a battalion will be withdrawn from Vietnam.
As large anti-war demonstrations spread across the US, National Guardsmen kill four students at Kent State University in Ohio, on May 4.
On May 8, about 120,000 people throughout Australia demonstrate for an end to the war. The biggest of the moratorium marches is in Melbourne, where 70,000 people occupy the streets.
On September 18, about 100,000 people throughout Australia take part in a second moratorium.

1971: William McMahon replaces Gorton as Liberal leader and Prime Minister on March 10.
The third and last of the big anti-war rallies occurs on June 30, about 110,000 demonstrate in state capitals.
On August 18, McMahon announces that most Australian troops will be home by Christmas. Last major withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam is on December 17.

1972: Australian Labour Party elected to Government on December 2.
Conscription ends on December 5, draft resisters released from jail and pending prosecutions for draft resistance dropped.
On December 8, last Australian troops leave Vietnam as US president Nixon orders renewed bombing of Hanol-Haiphong area saying the US will bomb North Vietnam to the peace table.

1973: On January 23, Nixon announces agreement has been reached for "peace with honour". Ceasefire begins on January 27.
On February 26, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam announces establishment of diplomatic relations with Hanoi, but retains recognition of South Vietnam's Government. Last US troops leave Vietnam on March 29.

1974: South Vietnam's president Nguyen Van Thieu declares, on January 4, that war has begun again.

1975: In Cambodia, Phnom Penh falls to Khmer Rouge, April 17.
Australia closes its embassy in Saigon, completing withdrawal from Vietnam on April 25, Anzac Day.
Communist forces capture Saigon as the last Americans leave in scenes of panic and confusion, on April 30.