The Beginning of the Colony Marathon Race

The rise of western nations had formed beliefs like nationalism and imperialism around the globe. These new ideologies motivated (western nations) to conquer weak nations, which they saw as their "holy" duty of civilizing the uncivilized.  In Asia, several countries such as China, Philippine and Korea were conquered by these Western nations. Vietnam was conquered and colonized by France during the 19^th century and converted the nation into a plantation country due to its rich resources.¹

European nations were like having a colony race among each other. France joined the race, and “wanted to establish its own Asian empire to rival those of the Dutch and the British.”² France had gained protectorate over Cambodia and Laos, and its final goal was to conquer Vietnam. French fleet attacked at Hue and forced a treaty recognizing French protectorate over Tonkin (North Vietnam) and Annam (South Vietnam)³. Behind the excuse of protecting Vietnam, France was actually controlling Vietnam in every aspect behind the scene. An imperial capital was left at Hue to keep in charge of internal affairs of Vietnam, and Vietnam was under the French colonial rule from now on.

          The colony race could be described as a marathon race, participants from every nation raced each other, the runners with the most practice and training are ahead of the weaker athletes, in this situation France is the elite runner, Vietnam and other weak nations are the callow runners. The faster and stronger the runner is, the bigger the reward is. And due to the fact that France was more modernized than Vietnam, France had conquered or ran past Vietnam and gained advantage over her.

The Traumatic Struggle

            Under the colonial rule of French, Vietnam was influenced in every aspect.  During the colonization, Vietnam underwent huge changes such as the promotion of plantation nation and the demotion of living condition of residents.

          The promotion of Vietnam into a plantation nation provided France resources and rare material.  Vietnam was transformed into a heavy food exporter, “rice formed, and forms, 90 percent of the diet of the people, and, under French, accounted for some 50 percent of total exports,”⁴ the high export amount of local food will cause great troubles such as over harvesting and insufficient food supply later on in the future.

During the colonization of Vietnam, France gained the administrative authority of the nation⁵.  New laws were created that divided peasants and people in classes, plus the encouragement of opium addiction was promoted under the rule of France.  Landless peasants were not able to get land due to the lands were given to high bidder or French inspectors due to the adjustment of new law⁶.  Health provisions and education were minimal to the residents and workers were paid in low wages and lacked medical care.

          France had indeed went pass Vietnam during the colonization and gained a better placement of the marathon race.  Better placement equals more benefits for France, and Vietnam was suffering from the colonial rule of France until Japan and other nations had joined the marathon colony race.

The Last Mile

   Wars and battles such as World War I, World War II and the Cold War were sparked during the 20^th century, putting every nation around the world in danger. Vietnam was harmed and got took over during World War II by Japan. Vietnam gained its independence after the Cold War from France in 1954 by internal revolts and successfully defended French aggressions⁷.

Countries for example Japan and the U.S.A. had joined the marathon colony race during the 20^th century. Japan modernized and became as competitive as the western nations in World War II. Japan raised and advanced its army into Asia and conquered several nations’ colonies, Vietnam was included in this conquest. France had lost the authority of Vietnam and was released from colonization from Japan until the end of World War II^8.

Once the Cold War declined, countries such as India and Pakistan started to rebel and wanted for independence, these facts had motivated Vietnam to stand up for its independence too⁹. Revolts and rebellions were formed under the command of leaders such as Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh and the Emperor Ham Nighi¹⁰. Vietnam obtained independence in 1954 by successfully defended French re-conquer of Vietnam and decolonized its nation.

The tide had changed and France was passed by several strong nations like Japan and the U.S.A. in the last few miles and they finished strong. France was weakened by World Wars and other conflicts; contrary Vietnam saved its strength at the end and decolonized its nation from France by consecutive revolts, which Vietnam had passed France at the end in the colony marathon race.