Title: The French Colonial Legacy in Vietnam | Asia Highlights
Headings: The French Colonial Legacy in Vietnam
The French Colonial Legacy in Vietnam
Quick Facts
Vietnam Under the French
Japanese Occupation (1941-45)
First Indochina War
French Colonial Buildings
French Influence on the Vietnamese Language
French Influence on Vietnamese Cuisine
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Content: Japanese Occupation (1941-45)
The Japanese took over after the fall of France during World War 2. A Vietnamese communist army led by Ho Chi Minh rebelled against the Japanese and eventually declared independence in 1945. After the defeat of the Japanese in 1945, there was a power struggle between Vietnamese nationalists and the French, which led to the First Indochina War. First Indochina War
The Indochina War period between 1945 and 1954 was terribly complex, during which Vietnamese were trying to decolonize but were stuck in a stalemate with the French. Eventually the war ended when the Viet Minh successfully attacked the French airbase at Dien Bien Phu. While this victory marked the end of French presence in Vietnam, Vietnamese were yet to gain full independence. Vietnam was yet to suffer 20 more years of conflict during the Vietnam War, before it was able to enjoy peace and begin rebuilding. French Colonial Buildings
When you visit Vietnamese cities, you will see French architecture left behind from the French colonial period. In Hanoi, the Hanoi Opera House, built in 1911, and the Hoa Lo Prison, built in 1896, are most prominent. On 16th August 1945, the Viet Minh announced from the balcony of Hanoi Opera House that they had taken over the city.