The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its main ally, the United States. The conflict began in 1959 and ended in 1975.The war was fought largely on the ground in South Vietnam, with the United States and other nations providing financial, military and logistical support to the South Vietnamese government. More than 3 million people, including 58,000 Americans, were killed in the conflict.The war had a devastating impact on Vietnam. The country was left with physical and emotional scars that have not healed even 40 years later.