Tran, Nguyen Bao Han
Professor Catherine Braithwaite
330-1N1-00006
February 23, 2024
Time Travel Assignment
Today's global world is filled with news about events happening across the planet. Every minute,
different parts of the world are experiencing diverse and often troubling scenarios. How many times have you
heard news reports about shootings in America or the suffering of people in Palestine? These stories have
become so frequent that they blend into the background noise of our daily lives. People are migrating, war is
breaking out, different groups are being oppressed, and some governments are becoming more progressive;
some are becoming more authoritarian. It is disheartening to see our global world in such turmoil. Despite the
persistence of such events today, we cannot overlook the significant achievements of our predecessors. Suppose
we delve into the past, specifically into the emergence of Vietnamese nationalism in the late 19th century. In
that case, we find that the rise of nationalism in Vietnam brought about significant positive changes in the
country by securing independence from the French colonial, fostering national unity, and setting the stage for
significant socio-economic development thanks to the influence of the French. By traveling back to the late
19th century, we can see how enduring struggles have led to profound and positive transformations, and it is
also proof of how our present-day world has changed significantly from the past.
Before focusing on the 19th century, it is crucial to provide a concise overview of Vietnam's history
before the French colonization. Before the advent of French colonial rule, Vietnam was a land marked by a rich
cultural heritage and a complicated sociopolitical organization. Because of its rich history, this region has been
attacked by other countries many times over a long period. An example of this phenomenon occurred when the
Chinese forcefully took Vietnam into their empire in 1100 BC and ruled over it until AD 939 in order to expand
their dominance (Singh 620). Despite centuries of Chinese rule, the Vietnamese continuously resisted,
, eventually driving out the Chinese after the fall of the Tang Dynasty. However, the period of peace did not last
long. In the 19th century, Vietnam, like many other Asian countries, encountered the advent of European
powers, such as the French and the Portuguesee seeking trade and religious privileges. Gia Long, a Vietnamese
prince, accepted substantial military aid from France to consolidate his territorial gains, marking the beginning
of French interest in Vietnam (Singh 620). This long history of resistance against foreign domination laid the
groundwork for the strong nationalist sentiments that emerged later.
The first significant positive change was the emergence of Vietnamese nationalism in the late 19th
century. It not only helped the country achieve independence from French colonization, but it also fostered a
feeling of national solidarity and identity. When it comes to France, indeed, many Vietnamese people cannot
forget their dark times under the hands of the French. Under French rule, Vietnam experienced severe
exploitation and oppression. The French established a comprehensive administrative system for financial and
judicial supervision, imposing new taxes on opium, salt, wine, and many other imported goods (Vu and
Sharrock 177). In addition, French authorities were responsible for issuing licenses for new factories and they
often prioritizing French interests over local interests. The infrastructure of Vietnam and the rest of Indochina
was significantly transformed under the stewardship of Paul Doumer, who oversaw the construction of ports,
canals, roads, railways, and bridges. While these developments modernized the region, they were built on the
backs of Vietnamese farmers who were forced to do construction work under the traditional system of
conscription. This system-imposed labor as a form of taxation, forcing rice farmers to leave their fields up to 15
times a year to fulfill their obligations. Not only were these farmers not paid for their labor, but they also had to
sustain themselves on their resources during these periods, making their economic situation even more difficult.
In areas such as An Nam, the burden on farmers became heavier due to increased land and poll taxes (Vu and
Sharrock 178). This colonial exploitation and economic oppression disrupted traditional Vietnamese society,
leading to widespread poverty and social unrest. The harsh conditions imposed by the French aroused a strong
desire for independence among the Vietnamese. The nationalist movement emerged as a response to these
injustices, aiming to reclaim sovereignty and establish the foundation for Vietnam's future development and
modernization. At such a stalemate, Ho Chi Minh, who founded the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) in
Professor Catherine Braithwaite
330-1N1-00006
February 23, 2024
Time Travel Assignment
Today's global world is filled with news about events happening across the planet. Every minute,
different parts of the world are experiencing diverse and often troubling scenarios. How many times have you
heard news reports about shootings in America or the suffering of people in Palestine? These stories have
become so frequent that they blend into the background noise of our daily lives. People are migrating, war is
breaking out, different groups are being oppressed, and some governments are becoming more progressive;
some are becoming more authoritarian. It is disheartening to see our global world in such turmoil. Despite the
persistence of such events today, we cannot overlook the significant achievements of our predecessors. Suppose
we delve into the past, specifically into the emergence of Vietnamese nationalism in the late 19th century. In
that case, we find that the rise of nationalism in Vietnam brought about significant positive changes in the
country by securing independence from the French colonial, fostering national unity, and setting the stage for
significant socio-economic development thanks to the influence of the French. By traveling back to the late
19th century, we can see how enduring struggles have led to profound and positive transformations, and it is
also proof of how our present-day world has changed significantly from the past.
Before focusing on the 19th century, it is crucial to provide a concise overview of Vietnam's history
before the French colonization. Before the advent of French colonial rule, Vietnam was a land marked by a rich
cultural heritage and a complicated sociopolitical organization. Because of its rich history, this region has been
attacked by other countries many times over a long period. An example of this phenomenon occurred when the
Chinese forcefully took Vietnam into their empire in 1100 BC and ruled over it until AD 939 in order to expand
their dominance (Singh 620). Despite centuries of Chinese rule, the Vietnamese continuously resisted,
, eventually driving out the Chinese after the fall of the Tang Dynasty. However, the period of peace did not last
long. In the 19th century, Vietnam, like many other Asian countries, encountered the advent of European
powers, such as the French and the Portuguesee seeking trade and religious privileges. Gia Long, a Vietnamese
prince, accepted substantial military aid from France to consolidate his territorial gains, marking the beginning
of French interest in Vietnam (Singh 620). This long history of resistance against foreign domination laid the
groundwork for the strong nationalist sentiments that emerged later.
The first significant positive change was the emergence of Vietnamese nationalism in the late 19th
century. It not only helped the country achieve independence from French colonization, but it also fostered a
feeling of national solidarity and identity. When it comes to France, indeed, many Vietnamese people cannot
forget their dark times under the hands of the French. Under French rule, Vietnam experienced severe
exploitation and oppression. The French established a comprehensive administrative system for financial and
judicial supervision, imposing new taxes on opium, salt, wine, and many other imported goods (Vu and
Sharrock 177). In addition, French authorities were responsible for issuing licenses for new factories and they
often prioritizing French interests over local interests. The infrastructure of Vietnam and the rest of Indochina
was significantly transformed under the stewardship of Paul Doumer, who oversaw the construction of ports,
canals, roads, railways, and bridges. While these developments modernized the region, they were built on the
backs of Vietnamese farmers who were forced to do construction work under the traditional system of
conscription. This system-imposed labor as a form of taxation, forcing rice farmers to leave their fields up to 15
times a year to fulfill their obligations. Not only were these farmers not paid for their labor, but they also had to
sustain themselves on their resources during these periods, making their economic situation even more difficult.
In areas such as An Nam, the burden on farmers became heavier due to increased land and poll taxes (Vu and
Sharrock 178). This colonial exploitation and economic oppression disrupted traditional Vietnamese society,
leading to widespread poverty and social unrest. The harsh conditions imposed by the French aroused a strong
desire for independence among the Vietnamese. The nationalist movement emerged as a response to these
injustices, aiming to reclaim sovereignty and establish the foundation for Vietnam's future development and
modernization. At such a stalemate, Ho Chi Minh, who founded the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) in
