The Vietnam War was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam from 1957 to the spring of 1975. The war started because North Vietnam wanted a Communist government while South Vietnam favored a Republic. As the war began, both sides began to reach out for allies. North Vietnam received economic and military help from the Soviet Union and China. South Vietnam became allies with the United States of America. The Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the Philippines gave troops to the U.S. to help support the South Vietnamese side.