After the signing of the Genève Accords (1954), the higher education system established by the French in Indochina (mainly based in Hanoi) from the beginning of the 20th century was gradually moved to Saigon. After taking over the system from the French, in order to meet the demand for human resources to serve the regime and under the auspices of the United States, the government of the Republic of Vietnam had made lots of efforts to build a new higher education system in South Vietnam. In 1955-1957, this system (consisting of universities and post-secondary schools) was gradually formed in South Vietnam on the basis of reconstructing and restructuring most French higher education institutions established earlier. In the context of the transition to a new, more pragmatic higher education system following American model, the results were not much and the transition proceeded relatively slowly despite the aid and political manipulation from the US. Until before 1960, French influence to the higher education system of Republic of Vietnam still prevailed, leaving clear marks on the structure, organization and operation of universities in South Vietnam.