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The Vietnam People's Army (VPA) (Vietnamese: Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam) is the official name of the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. During the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War) (1957–1975), the U.S. referred to it as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), or People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and this term is commonly found throughout Vietnam War-related subjects. During the war, the VPA was distinguished from the Vietcong, or southern communists, although northerners and southerners were always under same command structure. According to Hanoi's official history, the Vietcong, or Liberation Army, was a branch of the VPA.[1] During the war against the French (First Indochina War, 1946-1954), the VPA was often referred to as the Việt Minh even though Việt Minh was the name of the overall independence movement that preceded the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. The VPA now includes the: Vietnamese People's Ground Forces (including VPA Strategic Rear Forces and Border Defence Forces), Vietnamese People's Navy (including VPN Marine Corps), Vietnamese People's Air Force, and Vietnamese People's Coast Guard.
