The Vietnam War began as a civil war but escalated into a massively destructive international conflict. North Vietnam, led by the forces that had expelled the French, sought unification under communism, whereas South Vietnam aligned with Western-style capitalism. U.S. military support for South Vietnam intensified the war, but North Vietnam ultimately succeeded. After reunification in 1976 the country struggled with rebuilding, partially because of a communist economic policy that hindered growth. Economic hardships persisted until the market-oriented doi moi reforms, beginning in 1986, spurred recovery.
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