Vietnam History - A Beginner's Guide

When it comes to understanding Vietnam history, it is best to start with the war. The French invaded the country in 1605, but they were soon forced to retreat. In 1623, the Mongols invade again, but this time the Chinese win. In 1407, the Chinese conquer Vietnam and set up the Ming Dynasty. In 1593, Le Loi overthrows the Chinese and founds the Le Dynasty. This is the beginning of modern Vietnam history. The Nguyen dynasty stretches for over 300 years, and its earliest records date back to the first recorded written record of the country. In 1889, Ho Chi Minh begins his political career as leader of the Communist Party, and in 1964, the communists make the first attempt to gain control of the country.

During the colonial period, the Vietnamese were invaded by various foreign powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese. In the 14th century, the French occupied the country and imposed a military presence in Cambodia. In the late 1970s, Vietnam invaded Laos, which caused it to alienate China. In 1979, the two nations fought a border war. During this time, Vietnam forged close ties with the Soviet Union and began to rely on the Soviet Union for defense. In the 1980s, the Vietnamese continued to struggle economically, exacerbated by the U.S. trade embargo.

Since ancient times, Vietnam has been affiliated with the dominant civilization and absorbed the ideas, institutions, and technologies of its neighbors. Its historical relationship with China is an excellent example of this. The mandarins and other elites from the Chinese were Vietnamese and eventually became communists to fight colonialism. The Communist Party also adopted Western cultural forms and embraced economic liberalization and integration into the world economy. And in recent years, the Vietnamese have become increasingly more independent, and have achieved a national consciousness rooted in the past. Click here for more details about Lịch Sử Việt Nam

The Vietnamese first appeared in history as "Lac" peoples in northern Vietnam. Then, in 192 AD, the Champa conquered southern Vietnam and set up their own state. The Champa also took over parts of northern and southern regions of the country, and even today, some descendants of these people live in Hoi An and My Son. In the early 20th century, the Japanese occupying the country and its many civil wars further fueled nationalism. In September 1945, the Democratic Republic of the Vietnamese was declared independent.

French involvement in Vietnam dates to the 10th century. This was a period of extended warfare, with the French returning to the region after World War II. In 1954, the Communists returned to the country and Vietnam won the war. In the following century, the Vietnamese were divided into two parts: the communist North and the anti-communist South. In 1976, the country reunified as a unitary socialist state. In the 19th century, the French were heavily involved in the Vietnamese nation. In 1858, Napoleon III ordered Rigault de Genouilly to attack the port of Da Nang. The attack failed but still caused a great deal of damage and the soldiers had to deal with the tropical diseases and humidity of the climate. In the aftermath, Rigault de Genouilly sailed south and captured the badly defended city of Gia Dinh.