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| 1955, March 21 |
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| Three armed opposition religious groups gave Premier Diem a five-day ultimatum to reorganize the government to suit them. Diem rejected the ultimatum on March 24, and on March 29 heavy fighting broke out between government forces and well-armed religious groups. A cease-fire was negotiated on March 30, and the next day one of the groups switched to the government's support. | 1 |
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| April 28 |
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| Civil war broke out in Saigon. Premier Diem declared all-out war against the Bing Xuyen rebels. After five days of heavy fighting, government troops forced the rebels out of the capital (May 2). | 2 |
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| May 1 |
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| Diem won a 15-hour struggle for power with the supporters of Bao Dai over control of the army. | 3 |
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| May 5 |
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| Diem gained backing when a political congress in Vietnam called for Bao Dai's ouster and the establishment of a republic. Another congress urged that all of Bao Dai's powers be transferred to Diem until the National Assembly decided on a government. Diem indicated (May 8) that the French plan—wherein Bao Dai would return under a reorganized system of government—would be unacceptable. | 4 |
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| May 12 |
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| The government asked France either to move its troops to where the Viêt Minh threat existed (in the north) or withdraw them completely. France agreed (May 20) to move its troops to the northern border. | 5 |
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| July 7 |
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| Pres. Hô Chi Minh of North Vietnam concluded an agreement with Chinese Communist leaders, providing for $338 million worth of Chinese economic aid. | 6 |
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| Oct. 18 |
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| Bao Dai dismissed Diem, but Diem refused to resign. The Oct. 23 referendum was held as scheduled, with an overwhelming vote for Diem and against Bao Dai. On Oct. 26, Ngô Dinh Diem proclaimed a republic. As South Vietnam's first president, he promised early elections for a national legislature. He drew most of his backing from the 900,000 Catholics, an anti-Communist group, many of whom had fled the regime in the north. | 7 |
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