The 1954 Geneva Conference resulted in the division of Vietnam into two separate entities: North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This partition was established along the 17th parallel as a temporary measure pending national elections, which were intended to unify the country under a single government. However, the elections never took place, and tensions escalated, leading to the Vietnam War. North Vietnam, supported by communist allies, aimed to unify the country under a communist regime, while South Vietnam, backed by the United States and other anti-communist nations, sought to establish a non-communist government, setting the stage for prolonged conflict.