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The Vietnam War and the Story Behind the Pictures of Hanoi’s Communist Takeover

3 minute read

For the people who had fought for years to keep communist forces out of power in Vietnam, what happened in Hanoi was a bitter defeat. And yet, in hindsight, that moment might be viewed with a certain wistfulness by all sides involved.

The moment in October 1954, in which Vietnam’s colonial French rulers vacated the city to make way for communist forces, was the product of about a decade of fighting but the conflict in question was much older than that. The French had been in what was then called Indochina for nearly a century, but the uproar of World War II had offered occasion for many in Vietnam to decide to take up arms — especially in a group known as the Viet Minh — against Japanese and Vichy French aggression. When the World War ended, Vietnam’s fight did not. As the French struggled to regain control of their colony, the seeds of a new war were planted.

By 1954, after sustained fighting wore down opposition, it was decided at peace talks in Geneva that the nation would be split along the 17th parallel, with the Communist forces taking the north half and French Union forces in the south. Thus, at least in theory, would end the years of fighting between French colonial forces and those who rebelled against their rule. The idea was that, by two years later, general elections would decide on one single government to reunite the two sides. Of course, that is not what happened.

But in that moment, before the Vietnam War as Americans know it, there still seemed to be a possibility of peaceful resolution.

LIFE photographer Howard Sochurek was there to photograph the Communist takeover of Hanoi for the magazine, and several of his images (those seen below) appear in Sunday night’s premiere episode of the new series The Vietnam War, from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.

A soldier stands beside a line of packs in the rain, Hanoi, Vietnam, October 1954.
A soldier stands beside a line of packs in the rain, Hanoi, Vietnam, October 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

And what Sochurek saw, as evidenced by his notes, which are preserved in LIFE’s archives, was a relatively smooth transition. An early wave of Viet Minh soldiers and civil servants came to town to overlap with the French, to avoid an interruption in public services. “Many of the Viet Minh carry little note pads with them on which they assiduously take notes when being briefed on their new jobs,” Sochurek noted for his editors.

Boy walking past wall with writing that urges people to flee south from the Communists in Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Boy walking past wall with writing that urges people to flee south from the Communists in Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

And yet, even then, it was clear that any idea of an entirely seamless change was mere illusion. For example, the agreement gave civilians a period to choose which side of the DMZ they would rather live in, and nearly a year to go to the society of their choice. Of course, even a choice like that is not much of a choice, as families might find themselves (and their homes and livelihoods) on opposite sides of the line.

Man sewing new flag for Communist regime in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1954.
Man sewing new flag for Communist regime in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

About 900,000 refugees fled South, by Burns and Novick’s count. Many were Catholics who feared for their ability to practice their religion in a Communist nation; others merely sought the political system of their choice. But many who might have otherwise wanted to move stayed put, for the reasons anyone would do the same, and prepared to weather the consequences — consequences that, at that point, they could not have foreseen.

“This is my home,” one man in Hanoi told Sochurek. “I will never leave it.”

The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. In front of the Governor's office Vietminh troops follow the platoon leader's orders (foreground), happily wave their sun helmets.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. Residents dutifully bearing Vietminh flag watch reds enter Hanoi.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. Advance force of Vietminh soldiers comes into Hanoi, a cyclist with pack strapped to his bike and sneakered foot soldiers in monsoon season ponchos. This contingent went on to take over Bach Mai airport. As arranged by the Supervisory Commission, small cadres of Vietminh police and civil administrators entered over four-day period before the main force arrived to complete the occupation.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Vietminh soldier in Hanoi, 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Vietminh soldiers in Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
People standing on the side of a city street watching as Vietminh soldiers enter Hanoi.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Residents dutifully bearing Vietminh flag watch reds enter Hanoi.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Residents dutifully bearing Vietminh flag watch reds enter Hanoi.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. Slogan in French advised: "To Leave Is to Choose Freedom." Many wanted freedom but could not bring themselves to leave homes and businesses which had been in their families for generations.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. Red posters of Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh and Malenkov went on sale as Reds began arriving.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. Empty street was the result of a special daytime curfew ordered throughout Hanoi during the evacuation of the French troops. Transfer of city to the Communists was completed without incident.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Children playing at the Institution Saint Marie, a Catholic school in Hanoi, Vietnam.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Everyday life in Hanoi as the Vietminh take over, 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Everyday life in Hanoi as the Vietminh take over, 1954.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
A Taoist shrine in Hanoi, Vietnam.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
At the Hanoi rail station, Vietnamese families leaving for Haiphong by train.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. Eager evacuees who had escaped into Hanoi from Red-held delta, scramble through window of train headed for Haiphong. Devout Catholics, they feared religious persecution under the Reds.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
A Vietnamese boy named Minh holding onto a cross as he departs on a train leaving Hanoi.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
French troops paying last respects to fallen comrades prior to leaving city.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. In final french parade, held at Gia Lam airport, members of the fifth Moroccan regiment are mirrored in puddle as they pass in review.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The last days of Hanoi, Vietnam, 1954.
Caption from LIFE. In fading light French salute tricolor, lowered at Hanoi headquarters for last time.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Hanoi's Red Masters Take Over from the Oct. 25, 1954 issue of LIFE magazine. All photos by Howard Sochurek.
Hanoi's Red Masters Take Over from the Oct. 25, 1954 issue of LIFE magazine. All photos by Howard Sochurek.LIFE Magazine
Hanoi's Red Masters Take Over from the Oct. 25, 1954 issue of LIFE magazine. All photos by Howard Sochurek.
Hanoi's Red Masters Take Over from the Oct. 25, 1954 issue of LIFE magazine. All photos by Howard Sochurek.LIFE Magazine
Hanoi's Red Masters Take Over from the Oct. 25, 1954 issue of LIFE magazine. All photos by Howard Sochurek.
Hanoi's Red Masters Take Over from the Oct. 25, 1954 issue of LIFE magazine. All photos by Howard Sochurek.LIFE Magazine

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com