Question about the Vietnam War?

Can anyone tell me what happen during the Vietnam war? I used to live in Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and we basically were forced to have a portrait of Ho Chi Minh somewhere in our house. Was he the bad guy or was the Viet Cong the bad guy? Which side did the US sides for? The north or the south? I would just like to know a little more about my country. Thanks! :)