Does it surprise you to know that the French claimed French Indo China as "theirs" in 1887? If that's not enough, let's add Laos and Cambodia in 1893. You may find it interesting to note that the capitol moved from Saigon to Hanoi in 1902 which was only 9 years later.
During the Second World War, between 1939 and 1945, it was moved to Da Lat but after the Japanese surrender, it moved back to Hanoi.
In 1941, the Viet Minh, a communist Army led by Ho Chi Minh, revolted against the French and other foreign rule. They used guerilla warfare against all who opposed their demand for independence. Please note that an anti communist State was granted in 1949 and Saigon became it's capitol.
Despite the end of World War II, the French attempted to maintain their presence there. It's odd, don't you think, that the French lost it all 9 years after that at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. After all that, now comes the 1954 Geneva Accords. During those negotiations, Cambodia and Laos was involved and within 15 days of the cease fire on August 22, 1954, the French agreed to withdraw.
This will end the first notes I wanted to make about the beginning of hostilities in South East Asia. It also begins the legacy of colonialism. If I don't make any points here, I do want to instill in the readership that the trouble started long before any of us ever heard of Vietnam. Comments are appreciated.
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Tim, thanks for the history points. I took a college course on the history of Vietnam in 1972, but I don't recall the points about the French of the late 1890's after their taking of the country. I would presume that the chief resource that the French were obtaining was rubber.
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