To what extent was the Vietnam War part of the cold War?

Main points:

• The Vietnam War was a turning point in the Cold War

• After the Vietnamese war, the Americans realized that they couldn’t win
using the 1945 strategy of containment alone

The Vietnam War, though not directly affecting the Cold War itself, was
definitely a turning point. After the Vietnamese war, the American’s realized
that it would be impossible to win using the 1946 strategy of containment
alone. Due to the Vietnam war, it became clear that a victory would be
impossible without interference, and it was this realization that made it
possible for America to win the Cold War (though really that in itself is a
matter of opinion). The United States, under the doubtful eye of many other
countries, came to the conclusion that they indeed wouldn’t be strong enough
to win the Cold War without a change in battle strategy. A strategy of détente
(a French term that means to relax and ease, in a War it is a way of previously
hostile nations to not allow a war to de-escalate) was proposed. The Vietnam
War was an eye-opener for the United States, who had lost a lot of
confidence. Because of this, they were able to see their previous faults and
detect their mistakes so that this time they would prevail.

Initially, The United States intended to put the Marshall Plan, The European
Recovery Plan into action. The Marshall Plan was made to prevent
communism from spreading. However, this proved a failure because some
countries either refused the help of the United States, and those who needed
help did not show signs of much improvement. This is what created panic in
America, and it is what led the United States to believe that what they were
doing was insufficient to win the war.

Since the Vietnam war was such a great blow to the United States ( due to
their inability to contain the spread of communism), and what pitted them
against communism, in a way it was useful for the Americans to have been
through that so that they would be more prepared for what was to come in
the Cold war. There was a growing tension between the Soviet Union and the
United states, creating a nuclear arms race. The U.S was forced to increase
military and economic pressure against the USSR. The fear that the United
States experienced in Vietnam is what made them see the spread of
communism as a real threat. It was not only Vietnam that affected the Cold
War, but it was also the Cold War that affected Vietnam. The Cold War
brought the end of the Vietnam War when they captured Saigon.

In conclusion to this essay answer, it can be said that the Vietnam War did
indeed affect the Cold War, both in strategy and overall outcome. It was the
Vietnam War itself that allowed the United States to gain an upper hand.