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.