Amethyst

Tran dynasty replaced the Later Ly dynasty (1009--1225), started the process of Vietnamese expansion south of the Red River region at the expense of the kingdom of Champa. Shortly thereafter, Indochina was invaded by a Mongol army under Kublai Khan. The Tran capital at Hanoi was sacked in 1257, but the Tran rulers repulsed this first Mongol invasion; and a united --(Vietnam-Champa)-- effort repelled second and third Mongol invasions in 1284 and 1287.

source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/602237/Tran-Dynasty

Thereafter, the Mongols decided that discretion was the better part of valor and accepted the Vietnamese and Cham triennial tribute in return for peaceful mutual relations

Book: (Vietnam, past and present
By D. R. SarDesai) page 23

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China's Involvement in Vietnam War
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China began a military buildup in its provinces near Vietnam. Beijing also opened the spigot on military aid, sending the DRV thirty-six MiG-15 and MiG-17 jet fighters, the first in the Vietnamese air force. A fresh PLA military survey team also made the rounds in North Vietnam.

As for DRV lines of supply, the Chinese claim to have built 130 miles of railroad and upgraded 217 more, constructed 30 bridges, 14 tunnels, and 20 stations or yards; while making 1,778 repairs, neutralizing 3,100 delayed-action bombs, and keeping open many miles of railroad and almost 900 miles of telegraph lines.

Chinese aid quickly grew from a trickle to a torrent. In 1965, aid included 18 aircraft, 4,439 guns or mortars, 220,000 small arms, over 10,000 sets of communications gear, seven naval vessels, and more. Shipments fell in 1966 but were still substantial: 3,362 artillery pieces, 141,000 rifles, 14 warships, and other items. More than 70 aircraft were delivered in 1967, the peak year for these weapons, along with the first Chinese-made tanks. During 1968, deliveries included more than 7,000 guns and about 220,000 small arms, along with 18 tanks.

In the final analysis, the People's Republic of China played a key role in the Vietnam War. Offstage and in the wings, its influence remained important in Hanoi, and its actions posed key constraints on United States strategy. China's actual involvement was greater than generally recognized, and its maneuvers affected both sides. Beijing's weight proved that indirect action could move the pendulum of conflict farther than anyone anticipated.

Source: www.vva.org/veteran/1006/chinese_military.html

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The remarkable thing now about the American involvement in Vietnam is that it was not remarkable then. It reflected a mainstream consensus that if South Vietnam fell to communism, then other dominoes like Thailand, Malaysia, even Indonesia could be next. Dulles' successors believed that they were following the lessons of World War II when they committed American troops to fight in Vietnam. If Hitler had been challenged early, they were convinced, the carnage of World War II might have been avoided. Now, by challenging Chinese and Soviet aggression in Vietnam, they hoped to head off World War III.

Because Vietnam was a hot war in the midst of a cold war, it was afflicted with contradictions. On the one hand, America's leaders assumed they had to fight; but at the same time, the U.S. had to fight within tight, self-set limits, fearful that using too much force would prompt China to intervene.

source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982841,00.html

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