"The objective of this book is to tell the story of the Vietnamese communists' struggle against the Americans to unify Vietnam. The account begins at the end of the Geneva Conference of 1954 which marked the departure of the French. It describes the thinking, debates, and planning for the anticipated military confrontation with the United States which eventually came about in 1965. The account ends appropriately with the death of Ho Chi Minh in 1969, which coincided with the Paris Peace Talks as well as the Sino-Soviet border clash. At the same time, the United States had a new President and also a new strategy to end the Vietnam War."--Jacket.

"Transferred to digital printing 2006"--Title page verso.

Map : Indo-China: South Vietnam's main towns, railways and roads -- Map : North and South Vietnam's provinces -- Map : South Vietnam's major war zones and battles -- 1. Prelude to the Armed Struggle -- 2. The Armed Struggle Begins -- 3. The Armed Struggle Intensifies -- 4. Breaking the Stalemate.