Cold War vs Vietnam War: Difference and Comparison

World War II added major powers to the United States and created diplomatic relations between the US and the Soviet Union.

During World War II, the USA and the Soviet Union or the USSR fought for power, making their relationship tense. The ministers of the United States were alarmed and terrified because of the strength the Soviet community party was gaining.

These tensions then led to 2 of the two most famous conflicts: the Cold War and the Vietnam War.

Key Takeaways

  1. The Cold War was a global political and ideological struggle between the US and USSR, whereas the Vietnam War was a proxy conflict within the Cold War.
  2. The Cold War didn’t involve direct combat between the US and USSR, while the Vietnam War featured active military involvement from the US and its allies against North Vietnam.
  3. The Cold War lasted from 1947 to 1991, whereas the Vietnam War lasted from 1955 to 1975.

Cold War vs Vietnam War

The Cold War was an ideological conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It had a significant impact on economics, and culture, shaping the post-World War II world order. The Vietnam War was a military conflict between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, resulting in millions of deaths and a significant impact on U.S. society.

Cold War vs Vietnam War

The Cold War was minute attention between the Western and the Eastern bloc. It continues for 44 years, from 1974 to 1991. This world was fought between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. It ended because the Soviet Union fell in 1991.

The Vietnam War was the world between North Vietnam, backed by the Soviet Union, and South Vietnam, which The United States of America backed. The Vietnam War continued for 21 years, from 1954 to 1975.

Comparison Table 

Parameters of ComparisonThe Cold WarThe Vietnam War
DescriptionThe Vietnam War was between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, in which the United States was in the favor of South Vietnam while the Soviet Union backed North Vietnam.The Cold War continued for 44 years.
The commencementThe cold war commenced in 1974.The Vietnam War started in 1954.
EndedThe Cold War ended in 1991.The Vietnam War halted in 1975.
The durationThe Vietnam War continued for 21 years.This world was fought between the Soviet Union and its allies and the United States of America and its partners.
ParticipantsThis world was fought between the Soviet Union and its allies and the United States of America and its allies.This war was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam.
ResultsIn 1991, when the Soviet Union fell, the Cold War ended.The Vietnam War ended after the United States withdrew their soldiers. The country was called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976.

What is Cold War?

After World War Two, the ministers of the United States were worried about the expansion of the Soviet Union. The Cold War was fought for two main reasons. They are for space and the field of nuclear armament.

During World War II, atomic bombs were dropped on two cities in Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which caused a humanitarian catastrophe.

This encouraged the American officers to develop arms of mass destruction, and the president of that time, President Truman, authorized the hydrogen bomb, also called the Super bomb.

In 1949, the Soviet Union also tested an atomic bomb which then cost fear and uncertainty among people worldwide.

The cold war was not a war, but it was a military tension between the Western and the Eastern bloc that occurred after the Second World War. The eastern bloc was of the Soviet Union, while the Bloc of the West was of the United States and its allies.

The political parties of the USA and the USSR were strong and thus were threatened by each other. They were threatened by each other because both of these countries had nuclear weapons and an enormous military soldier.

The world continued to tell 44 years, from 1947 to 1991, which caused struggle and trouble in both countries. In 1991, the Soviet Union finally fell, ending the Cold War.

the vietnam war 1

What is Vietnam War?

During the Vietnam War, the United States of America was in favour of South Vietnam, while the Soviet Union or the USSR was in favour of North Vietnam. Diem led South Vietnam, while Ho Chin Min led North Vietnam.

Vietnam War was dramatically long. Its southern allies backed north Vietnam, while the United States of America supported the South Vietnam War. Around 3 million people lost their lives in this war that continued from 1954 to 1975.

As the tension increased, commander involvement in the United States also increased.

By 1967, the United States of America had deployed around five lakh troops or military in the Vietnam War, and 15 thousand soldiers vo killed, end 1,09,000 soldiers were wounded.

After this, America wanted an immediate withdrawal, but in response to the protest, the president of that time, President Johnson, halted the bombing on North Vietnam. This war caused the US to spend over 120 billion dollars.

In 1973, the American president withdrew their soldiers from the Vietnam War, resulting at the end of the wavenumber in 1975, and the country was called the socialist republic of Vietnam in 1976.

The Vietnam War cost many people the life of many people. Around two million Vietnamese died, and three million were wounded. About twelve million became refugees, and the country suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

Main Differences Between Cold War and Vietnam War

  1. The Cold War continued for 44 years from 1974 to 1991, while the Vietnam War lasted 21 years from 1954 to 1975.
  2. The Cold War ended because the Soviet Union fell in 1991, whereas the wait number ended. After all, the United States of America withdrew its soldiers.
  3. The Cold War was not a war but a military tension, whereas the Vietnam War was between North and South Vietnam.
  4. The Cold War was fought between the USSR and its allies and the United States of America and its allies, whereas this war was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam.
  5. The Vietnam War halted in 1975, whereas the Cold War ended in 1991.
Difference Between Cold War and Vietnam War
References
  1. https://academic.oup.com/maghis/article-abstract/18/5/18/1009044
  2. https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/books/mono/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.4324/9780203500095&type=googlepdf

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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13 thoughts on “Cold War vs Vietnam War: Difference and Comparison”

  1. The article offers significant historical knowledge and a well-defined contrast between two consequential events.

    Reply
  2. The comparison table really clarifies the key differences and details of these two significant events. Great input of information.

    Reply

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