In the 15th century the first European came to the Mekong region. They came from Spain and Portugal to mount some missionary expeditions. In the 19th century, the French took interest in the zone, and took control of Saigon. In 1863 the French extended their control to Cambodia. In the 20th century the French invaded Laos, and established the French Indochina.
From 1946 through 1954 took place the First Indochina War. Ho Chi Minh led the resistance against the French. On July 21, 1954 the Geneva Conference divided the country of Vietnam in two. The north became North Vietnam, under Ho Chi Minh control, and the south become the Republic of Vietnam, under Ngo Dinh Diem.