Was colonization a peaceful process between the French and the Vietnamese?

Answer

It was not peaceful (I don't think any colonization was peaceful). The French bombarded Vietnamese harbors in the late 1850's, and captured Saigon in 1859. In 1862, the French forced the Vietnamese royal court to sign the Treaty of Saigon, which ceded three southern Vietnamese provinces to France. France established the colony of Cochinchina (southern Vietnam) in 1867. Over the next 30 years, France absorbed northern Vietnam (1884), Cambodia (1887) and Laos (1893) into its Indochina colonial empire. In their policy of colonial control, the French allowed the Vietnamese monarchy to exist as a puppet government. However, there was intermittent, low-level guerilla resistance against the French throughout the colonial years. This mostly took the form of sporadic attacks on tax collectors and other Vietnameee officials that were viewed as complicit with the French. There were a couple notable revolts, such as in 1910 and again in 1931, but they were crushed by the French. It wasn't until after WWII in 1945 that Vietnamese rebels (communists & nationlists) started large-scale rebellion against French forces. The French withdrew in 1955-56.

First answer by Max Fleming. Last edit by Max Fleming. Question popularity: 94 [recommend question]