Political events that led to the creation of modern day Vietnam, from pre-colonial times to the 2010s. For our Southeast Asian Politics class (comparative politics).

1. POLSC 131 REPORT
VIETNAM
Group 9
UP DILIMAN
POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS

2. Presentation
Outline
A Discussion Overview
General Info
History
• Early Vietnam
• Chinese Rule
• Monarchial Rule
• Modern Period
French Rule
Republican Era
Indochina Wars
• Vietnam Today

3. flag
Red: traditional Communist
color, stands for revolution and
blood signifies good luck and
victory in Vietnamese,
Star: symbol of progress.
5-pointed star represents the 5
elements of the populace -
peasants, workers, intellectuals,
traders, and soldiers - that unite
to build socialism.

4. geography
long narrow country in mainland SEA
bordered by Laos & Cambodia in the West, China
in North
3/4 of Vietnam is mountainous, but majority of
people live in the lowland plains.
more than 2000 rivers
North: highlands and Red River Delta, home to
various ethnic groups
South: coastal lowlands and Mekong River,
home to ethnic Viet

5. demographics
P O P U L A T I O N
C U L T U R E
estimated of 91.5 million
2nd most populated in SEA, next to Indonesia
Kinh (or Viet) make up 86% of the population
Chinese comprise 3%, while 54 ethnic minorities make
up the rest of the population
ie. Tay, Murong, and Khmer Krom
Religion: Tam Giáo (triple religion) referring to a
combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism
have more in common with Confucian China than
Buddhist Southeast Asia

6. government
communist™
Nguyen Phu Trong - president
Nguyen Xuan Phuc - PM
highly centralized government
dominated by Vietnamese
Communist Party (VCP) (Viet Nam
Cong San Dang)
Society is ruled by the party's
constant presence, which is
manifested in a network of party
cadres at almost every level of
social activity.

7. economic
structure
socialist-oriented market
economy
Doi Moi: policy which combines
government planning with free-
market incentives
poverty declined from 70 to 20%
in the last 15 years
One of the lead countries in low-
cost manufacturing (sweatshops,
child labor)
World's 3rd largest exporter of
rice

8. Early Vietnam
Dongson era
one of the earliest distinct civilizations of SEA
Lac Viet: Dongson people; ancestors of modern
Vietnamese
lived in North, by the Red River
cultivated rice, produced bronze artifacts
- weapons, Dongson drums
- traded with nearby countries
Funan Kingdom
at some point, South Vietnam was part of the
Cambodian kingdom of Funan
heavily influenced by Indians, adopted Buddhism

9. Chinese Rule
111BC - 938 AD
lasted for over 1000 years
Vietnam = Annam (Southern
Domain)
led to many revolts and adoption of
Chinese culture of Confucianism

10. 1st
Chinese
Domination
Began when Chinese started settling by the
red river delta in the North.
China: taught large-scale rice agriculture,
Confucian values, Mandarin language
Han empire: economic exploitation, cultural
assimilation ≥≥ repression, brutality ≥≥
resistance & desire for autonomy from
Chinese ≥≥ scattered, violent revolts

11. TRUNG SISTER
REBELLION
peasant army revolt led by sisters
Trung Nhi and Trung Tac
intially successful, but uprising
was eventually suppressed
commited suicied instead of
surrendering to Chinese by
drowning themselves in a river
Chinese back in power

12. 2nd Chinese
Domination
T R I E U R E B E L L I O N
more effort put into eliminating power of
Vietnamese nobles, further indoctrination of
Chinese culture and politics
led by Lady Trieu who successfully won in
battles against Wu forces. girl power.
eventually defeated by the Chinese.
more rebellion

13. Annam under Tang
Dynasty
Vietnam = Annam
more oppressive imperialism of China ≥ stronger rebellions
Tang dynasty, (Vietnam) was not only a colony for
exploitation, but also a starting point for expansion into
Southeast Asia.
collapse of Tang dynasty left China vulnerable
Battle at Bach Dang River
led by Ngo Quyen who defeated the Southern Han forces
by sinking their ships using stakes hidden by the river’s low
tide
939 AD: King Ngo declared Vietnam independent of
Chinese rule

14. Monarchial
Rule by
Vietnam

15. Vietnamese Monarchial Rule
L Y
1 0 1 0 - 1 2 2 5
consolidation of state,
more developed govts,
new system of taxation,
peak of Buddhism,
expansion of territory,
repelling of foreign attacks
T R A N
1 2 2 5 - 1 4 0 0
gained power through
arranged marraige. led
development through
shipbuilding and trading.
defeated Mongols. dynasty
short-lived due to Chinese
invasion
L E D Y N A S T Y
1 4 2 8 - 1 7 8 8
longest dynastic rule by Le Loi
Vietnamese golden age in 15th
century, produced much
literature, philosophy, art
Massacre of Chams
Coming of Europeans

16. Trinh-Nguyen Civil War
1627-1673
After the reinstating Le rule
together and gaining power,
Nguyen and Trinh ruling families
had several internal conflicts
before civil war finally broke out
in 1627
Nguyens in the South built a wall
to fend off the Trinhs, splitting
Vietnam into 2
Civil between Trinh-Nguyens ≥
higher taxes ≥ widespread
famine & suffering ≥ more revolts

17. Tay Son Rebellion & Dynasty
launched by Tay Son brothers against the
corruption of Nguyens. Robin hood vibe.
Unified Era under Gia Long
Nguyen Anh, with French help, gathered
forces in south and overcame the rebellion.
renamed self Gia Long

18. French Rule

19. French Colonial Era (1858-1955)
Persecution and killing of French missionaries prompted them to seek help from the
French govt ≥ justification of Vietnam invasion
Cochinchina Campaign
series of military operations
* began with the capture of Da Nang city (wherein 10k ppl were killed) and Gia Dinh
* French forces continued their attacks until the Treaty of Saigon was signed
* French control over surrounding provinces of Gia Dinh. they renamed the city Saigon
(French Pearl of the Orient)
1882: French had control over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, establishing the French
Indochina
(+) introduced Western education, built railroads and bridges, improved agricultural
production ≥ increased population
(-) imposed heavy taxes ≥ expoloited resources ≥ suppressive and violent
French rule ≥ rise of Anticolonialist/Modernization leaders and movements
these were suppressed by French, but
spread of Marxism ≥ radicalization of Viets, fueled revolutions across the country

20. Japanese Rule

21. Japanese Colonial Era
French allowed Japanese military
operations in Indochina, in exchange for
recognition of French authority of
Indochina.
1941 League for the Independence of
Vietnam (Viet Minh) a communist-led
nationalist guerilla movement founded
by Ho, was the only armed opposition
group at the time
Upon secession from puppet emperor
Bao Dai, under Japanese tutelage, Viet
Minh siezed power and independence
was declared

22. REPUBLICAN ERA (1945-today)
1945: Democratic Republic of Vietnam
French return after defeat of Japan
Indochina Wars
a. 1st Indochina War (Vietnam vs France)
1946-1954
Provisional Govt of French republic & associated statehood offered
nominal democracy, no one bought it
BUT some Viets formed alliances w French out of dissent of Viet Minh
North-South divide: was a result of Ho Chi Minh’s order to assassinate
non-communists in the south
NORTH Viet Minh supported by communist countries Moscow and
China
SOUTH Nationalist govt supported by France and USA
Siege of Dien Bien Phu: Viet Minh successfully ended French rule with
help from China
1954 Geneva Conference to end conflict
created a peace treaty that split Vietnam between North Communist
Govt of Ho Chi Minh & South Republic of Ngo Dinh Diem

23. 2nd Indochina War
G U L F O F
T O N K I N
I N C I D E N T
T E T
O F F E N S I V E
P A R I S
A C C O R D S
S P R I N G
O F F E N S I V E
S O C I A L I S T
R E P U B L I C
O F V I E T N A M

24. 3rd indochina War (Vietnam vs Cambodia, Vietnam vs China) 1978-1991
All of former Indochina now Communist, but Khmer Rouge in Cambodia
led to conflict with Vietnam ( killed their ppl, took their land)
led to war with China since China was in support of Cambodia
Vietnam occuppied Cambodia, defeated Khmer Rouge, stayed there for 10
years
China briefly took over Vietnam
both sides declared themselves winners
(in Vietnam) communist assertion of control ≥ restrictive policies,
agricultural production crisis ≥ refugees fleeing (as boat people) ≥ 1986 Doi
Moi economic development

25. RECENT VIETNAM
(Renovation policy)
≥ transition from
Socialist to a Free-
Market economy ≥
encouraged foreign
investment
D O I M O I In pursuit of
economic
development and
security ≥ helped
establish diplomatic
relations with US
and China
J O I N E D
A S E A N Monopoly of VCP
allowed for the
violation of human
rights. Freedom of
expression and
public assembly is
suppressed by the
govt as it holds
control over media.
Police often use
force against civillian
protests
V C P A N D
H U M A N
R I G H T S