In OTL the US tried and failed to save South Vietnam from rule by a Communist government. (Some say that this was because the US was too nice- they tend to forget Agent orange and some of the heaviest bombing in the history of the planet)
The actual outcome was huge damage to Vietnam and huge numbers of deaths.
In addition when South Vietnam fell it was taken over by the North because the Southern supporters of the new regime were mostly dead.
WI either
the US had recognized Ho's declaration independence in the autumn of 1945
OR An all Vietnam election had happened in the 1950s.
OR John Kennedy had got better advice and not sent in ground troops in the early 60s
OR (harder I suspect) LBJ had not sent in large numbers of troops from 1965.
1) How different would Vietnam be as a place? It would still be a dicatorship. I think it likely that at some stage the market style reforms would still have happened. The economy has to have been in better shape.
Also would a Vietnam united earlier have been a Soviet satelite? How would it have related to China? Could it have been seen in the same way Yugoslavia was up to 1989. (I do not believe that Vietnam has the particular explosive mixture of cultures that the balkan state had)
2) What would be the effect on internal US Politics? I can guess that a change in the 1940s of 50s might not have had such a huge immediate effect.
The absence of the war would have helped Johnson a lot and I think he would be widely seen as a successful President.
On the other hand had US Policy been different after 1960 Conservatives and Republicans would have blamed Kennedy and Johnson for the 'loss' of South Vietnam.
3) How much of a difference would it have made to the World image of the USA?
I believe that the Vietnamese was did imense damage to the World's view of the USA. On the other hand being the most powerful state on the planet always guarantees some fear and suspicion.
The actual outcome was huge damage to Vietnam and huge numbers of deaths.
In addition when South Vietnam fell it was taken over by the North because the Southern supporters of the new regime were mostly dead.
WI either
the US had recognized Ho's declaration independence in the autumn of 1945
OR An all Vietnam election had happened in the 1950s.
OR John Kennedy had got better advice and not sent in ground troops in the early 60s
OR (harder I suspect) LBJ had not sent in large numbers of troops from 1965.
1) How different would Vietnam be as a place? It would still be a dicatorship. I think it likely that at some stage the market style reforms would still have happened. The economy has to have been in better shape.
Also would a Vietnam united earlier have been a Soviet satelite? How would it have related to China? Could it have been seen in the same way Yugoslavia was up to 1989. (I do not believe that Vietnam has the particular explosive mixture of cultures that the balkan state had)
2) What would be the effect on internal US Politics? I can guess that a change in the 1940s of 50s might not have had such a huge immediate effect.
The absence of the war would have helped Johnson a lot and I think he would be widely seen as a successful President.
On the other hand had US Policy been different after 1960 Conservatives and Republicans would have blamed Kennedy and Johnson for the 'loss' of South Vietnam.
3) How much of a difference would it have made to the World image of the USA?
I believe that the Vietnamese was did imense damage to the World's view of the USA. On the other hand being the most powerful state on the planet always guarantees some fear and suspicion.