French Rule In Vietnam

Question 1

📍 Background:

Answer 1

• France colonised Vietnam (along with Laos and Cambodia) in the mid-19th century, creating French Indochina.
• Vietnam remained under French colonial control from the 1880s until 1954 (except during Japanese occupation in WWII).

Question 2

What was French rule like?

Answer 2

Land exploitation:
• Large areas of land were taken from peasants and turned into rubber and rice plantations.
• Profits went to French businesses, not Vietnamese workers.

Strict colonial control:
• Vietnamese had very little power in government.
• French officials ran everything — economy, law, education.

Harsh working conditions:
• Vietnamese workers faced low pay, long hours, and poor treatment.

Cultural suppression:
• French promoted French language and culture.
• Vietnamese traditions were discouraged or ignored.

Limited education:
• Only a small elite of Vietnamese were educated — mostly to help the French rule more efficiently.

Question 3

Vietnamese resistance?

Answer 3

Early movements included:
• Nationalist groups demanding independence.
• The Communist Party of Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, gained strength from the 1930s.
• After WWII, Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945, but France tried to regain control → led to the First Indochina War (1946–1954).

Question 4

Key event – End of French rule?

Answer 4

Dien Bien Phu (1954):
• French forces were defeated by the Viet Minh, led by General Giap.
• This was a huge shock to the French and the international community.
• Result: Geneva Agreement (1954):
• Vietnam was split at the 17th parallel into:
• North Vietnam (communist, led by Ho Chi Minh)
• South Vietnam (anti-communist, supported by the USA)
• France withdrew from Vietnam permanently.