Ho Chi Minh's life before he came to power in 1945 remains ambiguous due to his multiple aliases and general lack of reliable resources. He had first emerged in France during World War I, providing a voice for Vietnamese independence. In 1941 alongside communist colleagues, he established the League for Independence of Vietnam, known as Viet Minh, a movement sought to resist French and Japanese occupation.

In 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared an independent North Vietnam, declaring, “All men are born equal: the Creator has given us inviolable rights, life, liberty, and happiness!” His proclamation was modeled after the United States Declaration of Independence of 1776 in a failed attempt to get their support. When France proposed to grant Vietnam limited autonomy, Ho Chi Minh led Viet Minh into a guerrilla war against the French for eight years. Following their defeat in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, French rule came to an end in May 1954.