What was France's involvement in the Vietnam war?

After years of futile efforts to maintain a colonial presence in Viet Nam, the French finally got a tremedous butt-whupping at Dien Bien Phu, I think it was. After being thoroughly trounced by the Vietnamese forces, France finally gave up and went home. This prolonged a centuries-old tradition of the French military being repeatedly clobbered by virtually every enemy they ever fought. Come to think of it, probably the best known French warrior today is a teenage girl. Joan of Arc, they called her.Anyway, France was forced to yield the economic benefits of keeping Vietnam hostage to French economics. So, being totally oblivious of history, and the resolve of the Vietnamese forces, the US sent a few Green Berets to help out as consultants. Thus began the descent into the quagmire of war that the United States became enmeshed in. By the way, I have it on good authority that the rumor that graduates of French Army officer's training are NOT actually issued white flags, with instructions. They must provide their own.