This podcast considers the complex history of the Vietnam War, exploring its origins in Vietnamese nationalism and French colonialism, and its escalation through the Cold War rivalry between the United States and communist powers. The hosts analyse the differing motivations and policies of US presidents from Truman to Nixon regarding involvement, highlighting the internal political and social factors within both Vietnam and the United States that influenced the conflict’s trajectory. Furthermore, the sources discuss the reasons for the US’s failure to achieve its objectives and the eventual withdrawal, alongside the war’s significant impact on international relations and domestic American society. The historiography of the war is also touched upon, noting the ongoing debates and varying interpretations of its causes and consequences.