How long was The Vietnam War (US Involvement)?

The Vietnam War (US Involvement) lasted 20 years (1955 – 1975) across 5 major phases.

Duration Overview

Duration

20 years

Start

1955 AD

End

1975 AD

Advisory Phase 9 years

1955 AD – 1964 AD

Military advisors, MAAG, growing commitment. ~900 advisors to 16,000.

Escalation 4 years

1964 AD – 1968 AD

Gulf of Tonkin. Ground troops deployed. 500,000+ troops by 1968.

Tet & Turning Point 1 years

1968 AD – 1969 AD

Tet Offensive. Public opinion turns. Johnson doesn't seek reelection.

Vietnamization 4 years

1969 AD – 1973 AD

Nixon withdraws troops gradually. Cambodia bombing. Paris Peace Accords.

Fall of Saigon 2 years

1973 AD – 1975 AD

US withdraws. North Vietnam advances. Saigon falls April 30, 1975.

That's 20 years — roughly a human lifetime. Someone born at the start could have lived to see the end.

How long was The Vietnam War (US Involvement)?

20 years of US involvement (1955-1975). Active combat: 1965-1973. 58,220 Americans killed. 2-3 million Vietnamese dead.

When did The Vietnam War (US Involvement) start and end?

The Vietnam War (US Involvement) began in 1955 and ended in 1975, spanning 20 years.