History of Vietnam and its Impact on today
Continuity and Change in Vietnam
To understand a country you must first look at the history of that country. The history is vital to
identify continuity and change, as well as making sense of the way fundamental concepts apply to
the country. You will also understand why a country is the way it is.
History has been extremely significant in the development of Vietnam’s society and culture. It
location bordering the traditional power of China, a periods as a French colony, and a bitter war with
the USA, there are many events that have contributed to the modern country of Vietnam.
A Timeline of Vietnamese History
Date
2879 BCE
200 BCE –
938 CE
Event
Legendary founding of Van Lang
Kingdom in what is today northern and
central Vietnam
Chinese rule
39 CE
Trung sisters lead a rebellion against
Chinese
43 CE
Trung sisters rebellion crushed by
Chinese
Naval battle of Bach Dang established
Ngo dynasty and Vietnamese
independence from China
Le Loi establishes Le dynasty and
defeats China using tactics remarkably
similar to those of North Vietnam in the
twentieth century
Internal struggles lead to the
partitioning of country at Linh River
939 CE
1428 CE
1672 CE
1860’s
1893
1904
French forces eventually seize military
control and annex Vietnam as a colony
Royal Vietnamese uprising against
French defeated
Japanese defeat of Russia convinces
Implications
Countries gain a sense of identity from
identifying a starting point in their history.
This is an ongoing theme in Vietnamese
history, with the Vietnamese seeing
themselves as fighting a continual battle to
remain independent.
All countries use heroes to provide a model of
what society values – this established females
as significant in history from an early period.
The Trung sisters become the first martyrs for
the cause of Vietnamese nationalism.
This becomes a significant step for
Vietnamese nationalism, which develops as a
key belief in Vietnamese nationalism.
This meant leaders, such as Ho Chi Minh in the
twentieth century, were able to call upon
historical precedents in their struggles.
This provides a precedent for those who
wanted Vietnam divided in the twentieth
century.
This led to an influx of French influences, as
well as a developing drive for independence.
Significant because Vietnamese traditionally
looked to their leaders for guidance on issues
such as national resistance.
This gave encouragement to the forces
1919
1921
1923
1930
1939 - 1945
1945
1946 - 54
1954
1954
1955 - 56
1959
1960
1964
1965
1968
many Vietnamese that European power
was not invincible
Ngyuen Ai Quoc (later Ho Chi Minh)
tries to argue for Vietnamese rights and
independence at the Treaty of Versailles
after World War I, but is turned away
Ho founds the French Communist Party
while studying in France
Ho goes to Moscow to be trained
wanting change.
This would lead Ho towards a lifelong passion
to see Vietnam independent, and to a distrust
of western diplomacy as a way to achieve it.
Communism presents the best solution for Ho
after rejection by west.
Ho’s links with communist Russia would
become vital in Vietnam’s ongoing struggle for
independence in the twentieth century.
Ho founds the Indochinese Communist
This is a major step towards what will
Party
ultimately become modern Vietnam, and is a
date still celebrated in the country.
World War II
Japan’s invasion forced the French to
withdraw, and greatly encouraged the
Vietnamese.
Eventually the Vietnamese side with the
Americans to help drive out the Japanese.
Ho declares Vietnam independent
This was the dream of many Vietnamese, and
ensured Ho’s status as a true hero of the
country.
Vietnam fights a war of independence
Vietnam use guerrilla tactics, which will prove
against the French
to be a dress rehearsal for their next war.
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
This was the final defeat of the French, and a
great psychological boost to the Vietnamese.
Geneva Accord
Vietnam divided at 17th parallel with a
communist state in North Vietnam, and a USsupported republic under Ngo Dinh Diem in
the South.
Diem fails to hold reunification elections US resolve to support South Vietnam as an
independent state, and North Vietnam vow to
reunify the country.
North Vietnam commences a process of Increased pressure on families who had
infiltrating the South
members on either side of the 17th parallel
regarding divided loyalties.
National Liberation Front (NFL) of South This group became known as the Vietcong
Vietnam formed
(communist South Vietnamese) and will grow
stronger over the next 15 years.
Gulf of Tonkin incident
United States uses an alleged attack to justify
increased military activity, starting what the
west calls the ‘Vietnam War’, but which
Vietnamese refer to as the ‘American War”
Foreign troops arrive in Vietnam as the
Vietnamese suffer many setbacks but mobilise
war escalates
all sectors of their population.
The inclusion of women in the resistance sees
recognition of gender equality in a time of
war.
My Lai Massacre
Once the world becomes aware of the actions
of a group of US soldiers massacring
Vietnamese villages, would opinion starts
1969
Ho dies
1973
Paris Peace Accords
1975
North Vietnamese troops enter the
Presidential Palace in Saigon and the
South Vietnamese government
surrenders
Vietnam officially reunified
1976
1978 -79
Border skirmishes lead to wars with
Cambodia and China
1986
Sixth Party Congress introduces the
policy of doi moi
1987
Law on foreign investment passed
1991
Relations with China normalised
1994
US trade embargo
1995
Diplomatic ties with United States
opened and Vietnam admitted to
Association of South-East Asian Nations
Communist Party General Secretary Le
Kha Phieu announces that Vietnam’s
glorious history in the past century will
give the nation full confidence that the
New Year will be marked with new
successes’
On 8 April a ‘2006 Manifesto on
Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam’ is
released and attracts 424 public
signatories in the first month.
On 11th November Vietnam joins the
World Trade Organisation
2001
2006
2007
2007
2007
Vietnam is one of the co-hosts of the
Asia Cup football tournament
Police suppress a protest by farmers
complaining about government seizures
of land on 18th July
turning dramatically against the United States.
Although he fails to see a Vietnamese victory,
‘Uncle Ho’ becomes a revered figure of social
unity in death.
Official recognition of the pull out of American
troops leaves North Vietnam poised to reunify
the country.
The long and necessary healing process has to
start as North Vietnam commences
integration those who had been enemies into
a cohesive society.
The symbolic moment that justified almost a
century of suffering during war against France,
Japan and the United States.
These wars mean that Vietnam is unable to
devote attention to much needed internal
concerns vital to restructure the country.
This major change of direction opens Vietnam
to ideas of economic renovation and marks a
break with past economic policies.
This built upon the impetus for change
presented by doi moi and opens Vietnam to
foreign investment.
A vital move given the 2 millenniums of
distrust between the two neighbours
This had been in place since the “American
War” – its lifting meant that American money
and investment could now enter Vietnam.
This symbolises Vietnam’s formal entry to full
diplomatic recognition.
This statement reinforces the important role
history plays in the way a country views itself
and its sense of national identity.
Although the number of signatories appears
small, it is a significant challenge to the
government and its restrictions on democracy.
By agreeing to the rules and conditions of
membership Vietnam becomes officially part
of the global economy.
A clear indication of the new global
acceptance of Vietnam as an open nation.
In contrast with the openness of the Asia Cup,
government willingness to suppress protest
lies at the heart of restrictions on human
rights and democracy which looms as a future
battlefield.
2008
21,000 workers strike for higher wages
and better food at the Ching Luh factory
that makes Nike shoes
Vietnam launches a television satellite
2008
This reflects the growing dissatisfaction of
Vietnamese workers and reflects issues
This satellite will allow television transmission
throughout Vietnam.
Using the timeline complete the following activities
1. Use the timeline to trace examples of continuity and change in Vietnam’s History. What do
you think are the most important continuities and changes?
2. What can you identify from this timeline as key events in determining Vietnams sense of
national identity?
3. What is the significance of Vietnam joining the World Trade Organisation?
4. How would you counter the argument that nothing has changed in Vietnam since the end of
the war?
5. From the timeline list the things that are distinct about Vietnam because of its history? E.g.
struggle for national independence.
Distinct about Vietnam:




long history of being conquered
religious and cultural links to China eg Confucianism and Buddhism and
communism
War
Sub tropical