Country Pre-Modern Modern Vietnam in the Vietnam and

1 Overview
2 Regimes
3 Regimes
4 21st Century
5 ASEAN

C H A P T E R 4:

Vietnam

WITH NDL
Learning Objectives: Badges You Can Collect:

Students will understand the political

timeline of Vietnam since colonialism
Students will recall major political,
economic, and social events in Vietnam x3 x3 x1
since colonialism Given to the first 3 students
that finished all the tests
Given to 3 students who
scored the highest in the
Given to the student who
asked the most thought
and tasks of this chapter. Post-Test (Last Page). provoking question(s) in the
Students will explore Vietnam’s agenda and Post-Test (Last Page).

priorities in the 21st Century

Class Challenge:
Students will explore Vietnam’s roles and
+10% of Cluster Briefing Scores
interests in ASEAN. If at least 70% of the class finished
the Post-Test (Last Page) before
Tuesday, October 19
 1. Country Overview

2. Pre-Modern Regimes of Vietnam

Table of 3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Contents:
4. Vietnam in the 21st Century

5. Vietnam and ASEAN

 Before we start,
please take this pre-test first!
Don’t Worry! It is not a quiz!
TASK 1

Take the test!

After finishing the pre-test, you can start!

1. Country Overview
Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital City: Hanoi
Area Size: 331,210 square km.
Population Size: 97.34 million (2020 est.)
Nationality: Vietnamese
National Language: Vietnamese
Religion: Buddhism, etc.
Political System: One-Party Communist State
Economic System: Socialist-Oriented Market Economy
Economic Status: Lower Middle-Income Country
GDP: 271.2 billion USD (2020 est.)
GDP per Capita: 2,786 USD (2020 est.)

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1. Country Overview

Ruling Party Prime Minister President

Communist Party of Vietnam His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh His Excellency Nguyen Xuan Phuc
(CPV)

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2. Pre-Modern Regimes of Vietnam

Early Vietnamese Independence from China Early State

In 939 AD, the Vietnamese took Two tendencies could be

Early Vietnamese settled in the
advantage of the political observed in Vietnam after
Red River Delta before their
disorder in China and seized independence. The first was the
state was absorbed into the
their independence and development of a Confucian
empire of the Han Dynasty of
re-established the Vietnamese state modelled on China and the
China. For over 1,000 years, the
state. second was southward
Vietnamese state was a under
expansion. As a result, they
China’s rule, allowing it to be
The early Ming managed to take gradually extinguished the
familiar with Chinese political
and hold Vietnam for 20 years kingdom of Champa and took
and social institutions, writing
(1407-1428) but Le Loi was able the Mekong Delta from the
system and arts, and religion.
to oust the Chinese forces. Khmers.

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 2. Pre-Modern Regimes of Vietnam
OPTIONAL READING
Read Chapter 11 in “A Short Divided State
History of Southeast Asia”, The two tendencies led to a division of clans (Trinh in the North Vs. Nguyen in the South) and the
Page 231-234 North-South differences (administration, economy, culture, way of living).

In 1771, the Tay Son Rebellion or revolution from below swept away the Ngyuen and Trinh
regimes,removed the Le Dynasty, and repelled a Chinese invasion.

However, in 1802, Nguyen Anh who was a member of the Nguyen clan subdued the rebel forces and
became emperor Gia Long. He was the first emperor to preside over a united Vietnam for more than
two centuries.

LECTURE 1

Watch my lecture and take

notes!

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 READING TASK

3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam Read Chapter 11 in “A Short

History of Southeast Asia”,
Page 234-239
The 19th Century Confucian Revival

Copying China
From 1802 to 1820, Gia Long faced administrative and defense challenges
due to its geography.

After establishing is capital in Hué, Gia Long and his son, Minh Mang, started
to create a replica of Chinese administrative concepts and methods.

From 1830s, rebellion flared frequently due to significant bureaucratic

intervention in daily life, the rigid policies, and the absurd level of taxes.

Most importantly, Minh Mang and his successors (Thieu Tri and Tu Duc) chose
to repress Christianity, leading to killing of thousands of Christians and
destruction of Christian villages.

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Colonial History (1858-1845)
Why did France establish a colony in
Vietnam?

Missionary Expansion of Military

Purposes Capitalism Expansion

Colonizing Vietnam
In 1859, a French naval expedition seized Saigon and in 1862, emperor Tu Duc
conceded to the French, allowing the French to gain control of Saigon and its
three surrounding provinces. In 1869, the French controlled Cochin China.

On the other hand, Northern Vietnam collapsed and China asserted their
influence over the territory before being repelled by the French.

The French then declared “protectorates” over northern Vietnam and central
Vietnam while the Nguyen emperors remained puppet rulers until 1926.
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 3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Colonial History (1858-1845)
The French imposed a western-style administration and opened Vietnam to economic exploitation.
Vietnam was to become a new source of raw materials and market for French products.

There was no significant industrialization as the French had no intention of developing any industry
there and most profits were transferred back to France.
Paul Doumer
Impacts of the French Former French President
Colonization on Vietnam

Modernization Economic Changes Geographical Division Social and Cultural Political Division
● Infrastructures (Sewers, ● Limited ● Cochin China (Saigon) Division ● Western Political Model
electricity, railways, Industrialization ● Annam: Hué ● Western Model Vs. (Constitutionalist Party)
ports, roads) ● Expansion of farm lands ● Tonkin: Hanoi Eastern Model Vs. Marxist/Leninist
● Modern education Communism (Indochina
● Medicine Communist Party) Vs.
● Romanization of the Radicalist (VNQDD)
Writing System

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 LECTURE 2
3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam Watch my lecture and take
notes!
World War II and the First Indochina War (1940-1954)

The Japanese Imprisoned Viet Minh

The revolution was led by Viet Minh (Viet Nam Doc Lap Dong Minh:
all French and Set Up A League for the Independence of Vietnam).
Government under Bao Dai
March 1945 Viet Minh was established since 1941 and was joined by Ho Chi Minh,
the founding father of Vietnam. Viet Minh was a front organization of
the Indochina Communist Party (ICP).

1940 August 1945 Ho was a Comintern agent for Southeast Asia in 1920s and 1930s before
Japanese Forces Entered Famine and the returning to Vietnam for a revolution.
Indochina August Revolution
A few days after the Japanese surrender, Viet Minh took control of most
The Japanese reached an The disrupted economy, northern and central Vietnam under the banner of independence.
agreement with the French, Japanese seizures of rice,
allowing the French to and disastrous weathers led On September 2, 1945, Ho declared Vietnam’s reunification and
continue to their rule. to famine in Tonkin and independence despite facing oppositions from various actors.
Annam, killing over a million
people.
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 READING

3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam Read Chapter 11 in “A Short

History of Southeast Asia”,
World War II and the First Indochina War (1940-1954) Page 239-245

The First Indochina War (1946-1954)

Vietnam remain divided after declaring independence. In the north, the Allies appointed Chinese
nationalist forces to replace the Japanese and they occupied Northern Vietnam until May 1946 while the
South was mainly under the British and Indian troops who re-armed the French.

The First Indochina War broke out in December 1946 when the French attempted to re-establish their
control.

While the French had significant advantage, Viet Minh started to organize and educate the population to
support their guerrilla campaign.

In 1950, Viet Minh received arms and other assistance from the new Chinese communist government and
the USSR.

The fall of the French garrison at Diem Bien Phu in May 1954 marked the end of the First Indochina War.

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam Partitioned and the Vietnam War (1954-1975)
After the fall of Diem Bien Phu, great powers met at Geneva to seek a settlement of the war, resulting in a ceasefire, the
partition of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, and a promise of national election for a united Vietnam which never took
place.
● The North was to be known as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) headed by Ho Chi Minh
● The South became Republic of Vietnam (RVN) which was governed by Bao Dai as chief of state and Ngo Dinh Diem as
prime minister. In 1955, Diem declared himself President and Bao Dai left Vietnam.

North Vietnam (DRV) South Vietnam (RVN)

The DRV government went ahead with its socialist agenda, Diem was never popular in the South except among
including collectivization of agriculture. Catholics.

The capitalists and rich peasants suffered while the He was not interested in developing the country’s economy
majority - the poor - was more accepting of socialism. nor move the country towards democracy as he spent most
of the received aids on his security forces.
Overall, people were highly supportive of Ho Chi Minh’s
government.

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam Partitioned and the Vietnam War
(1954-1975)
In 1959, Ho’s government took advantage of the people’s resentment of Diem and
launched Viet Cong or NLF (National Liberation Front) in the South.

Viet Cong appealed to Vietnamese patriotism and morality, promosting to oust

American influence and to set up fair and honest government.

By the early 1960s, Viet Cong already commanded a wide area of the southern
countryside and won support from the people. As a result, U.S. President Kennedy
increased aid to Diem and sent American military advisers (17,500 by 1963).

In mid 1963, Diem and his brother, Nhu, angered more people, causing many
Buddhist monks to burn themselves in protest.

In October, 1963, Diem and Nhu were murdered.

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
OPTIONAL VIDEO

Watch this to learn more

Vietnam Partitioned and the Vietnam War about the Vietnam War

(1954-1975) The DRV launched a massive attack on

the South. Although they were
China, the USSR and the Eastern Bloc repelled, they shocked the American
raised their aid to the DRV. government and public.

Eastern Bloc Responded Tet Offensive

1965 1968

1965 1967 1968

President Johnson’s Policy Western Bloc Got Involved The U.S. Launched
Kennedy’s successor, President The U.S. also raised the stakes further “Vietnamization”
Johnson, decided to confront Viet Cong by increasing the number of troops to After being elected, Richard Nixon
directly with U.S. power. The U.S. air 525,000 personnels by 1967. Australia, started to reduce the U.S. troops and
force began bombing targets in both New Zealand, and some increase aerial warfare, causing
South and North Vietnam, and the U.S. anti-communist Asian governments destruction in Vietnam, Cambodia,
ground troops landed in the South, also assisted the U.S. and Laos.
starting the Second Indochina War or
Vietnam War. 1 2 3 4 5
3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam Partitioned and the Vietnam War
(1954-1975)
The bombing had little impacts on weakening the DRV and even failed to take
out the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

While some Americans urged for more U.S. troops on the ground, Nixon and
Kissinger opposed due to the fear of full scale wars with China and the USSR.

Meanwhile, Nixon and Kissinger also pursued diplomacy by launching talks

between the U.S. and the DRV in Paris in 1968. On January 1973, the Paris
Peace Agreement were signed. Paris Peace Agreement:
● Recognizes the independence, sovereignty,
The morale of the Southern forces began to slide after Nixon’s resignation unity and territorial integrity of Vietnam
following the Watergate scandal. On the other hand, the DRV was gaining ● Calls for a ceasefire
● Calls for a total withdrawal of the U.S. troops
more confidence and receiving more advanced weaponry. and military personnel within 60 days (The
only article that was fully carried out)
The DRV launched another attack in March 1975 and on 30 April, the DRV
forces entered Saigon while the Southern government collapsed.
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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam since 1975
READING
Vietnam’s Economy after the War: Damages Caused by the War: Read Chapter 11 in “A Short
High inflation 20,000 bomb craters History of Southeast Asia”,
Government budget deficit (expenditure > 10 million refugees Page 245-250
revenue) 1 million widows
Trade deficit (import > export) 880,000 orphans
Unemployment rate was above 20% 300,000 prostitutes
Poor infrastructure 3 million unemployed
Poor banking system 5 million hectares of forest destroyed
GDP per capita was around $200 per person Health issues caused by Agent Orange
OPTIONAL VIDEO

Watch this to learn more

Peace with about Agent Orange
Honor!

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 LECTURE 3
3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam Watch my lecture and take
notes!
Vietnam since 1975

After True Independence

After the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, Vietnam was concerned with its re-integration due to the
divide between the North and South.

From 1975 to 1985, Vietnam prioritized national security and military measures and alliance.

In 1976, the country was renamed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) and initiated various
policies:
● Collectivization of southern agriculture
● Reorganization of the south’s entire economy along socailist lines
● Invasion/Liberation of Cambodia in 1978
● Allied with USSR, Laos, and the PRK in rivalry with China

The economic policies failed to introduce development and the decision to invade/liberate
Cambodia invited China to retaliate.

The economic crisis resulting from socialist policies and the economic reforms in the USSR led by
Gorbachev forced Vietnam to shift to doi moi or renovation policy in 1986.
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 OPTIONAL VIDEO
3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam Watch this to learn more
about Vietnam’s Economy
Vietnam since 1975

Planned Economy Market Economy Socialist-Oriented Market Economy

● Mixture between Planned Economy and Market
The key characteristic of the Market economies are Economy
command economy is centralized characterized by a complete lack ● Conforms to the principle of Market Economy
decision-making. One leader (or a of centralized decision- making. but guided by the values and nature of
group of powerful individuals) Individuals (people and Socialism (serving the interests of the working
makes the key economic businesses) trying to satisfy their class).
decisions for the entire society. own self-interest answer the
questions of what, how, and for
whom to produce.

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam since 1975

Purposes of Doi Moi Policies under Doi Moi:

● 1986: Land reform - expand land ownership to farmers and extend
their decision on what to produce
Expansion of Expansion of Trade ● 1987-1988: Reduction of state enterprise committees, and
Agricultural
Consumer Goods and Foreign agencies, and introduced foreign investment law
Development
Production Relations ● 1989: Reduction in subsidies and allowing producers to export
their products
● 1990-1991: Company law and private enterprise law were
introduced along tax reforms
● 1994: Labor rights were introduced and the government launched
the promotion of domestic investment
● 1995-1996: Liberalization of foreign trade
● 2000: Introduced the new enterprise law, allowing for a reduction
in business constraints and improved transparency between state
and enterprises

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam since 1975

1975-1985 ● Invaded/liberated Cambodia

National Security and Military ● Allied with the USSR bloc against China
Measures and Alliance

1986-1991 ● Gradually reduce troops and military spending

Survival (security and ● “Make more friends, less enemies”
economics) and Diplomacy ● Peaceful co-existence with Indochina states, China and ASEAN

● Signed the Paris Peace Agreement in 1991 freed Vietnam to use its resources for development
1991 Onwards ● Normalized relations with China in 1991
Befriend Everyone ● U.S. lifted trade embargo and normalized relations with Vietnam in1994
● Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995

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3. Modern Regimes of Vietnam
Vietnam since 1975

Vietnam’s Economy Since Doi Moi

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4. Vietnam in the 21st Century
Foreign Policy (2021):
Vietnam consistently implements the foreign policy doctrine of independence, self-reliance, OPTIONAL READING
diversification, and multilateralization.
Read more about Vietnam’s
New Foreign Policy Developments: Foreign Policy in 2021 here.
● Emphasis on diplomacy for national development and defense
● Introduction of pillars of diplomacy - the Party, the state, and people-to-people
● Recognition that great power competition, local conflicts, the rise of nationalism, and the
drawbacks of globalization and international integration as challenges OPTIONAL READING
● Stronger Emphasis on ASEAN, United Nations, APEC, the Greater Mekong sub-region, and other
international and regional institutions in its multilateral diplomacy Read more about Vietnam’s Four
Nos and One Depends here
Security Policy: Four Nos and One Depends (2019):
1. No Military Alliances
2. No Siding with One Force in International Relations
3. No Foreign Military Bases
4. No Using Forces or Threatening to Use Forces in International Relations
5. Depending on circumstances and specific conditions, Vietnam will consider developing
necessary, appropriate defense and military relations with other countries.

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 4. Vietnam in the 21st Century
DID YOU KNOW?

Vietnam has 30 strategic and

comprehensive strategic
partners, including all P5 and
10 ASEAN members.

Moreover, Vietnam was

elected to be a non-permanent
member of the UNSC twice.

LECTURE 4

Watch my lecture and take

notes!

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5. Vietnam and ASEAN OPTIONAL READING
Read here for more information
For a long time, ASEAN provided Vietnam with a perfect venue to about the evolving roles of
socialize into the international community and re-emerge from Vietnam in ASEAN
the isolation that it fell into in the late 1970s.

As a latecomer to ASEAN, having joined in 1995 -- nearly three

decades after the organization was founded -- Vietnam has been
disinclined to take up a leadership position, despite rapid
economic progress and encouragement from some other
member states. TRIGGER QUESTION

Hanoi has taken up a pivotal role in conflict management in the Does Vietnam standing up to
South China Sea, emerging as the region's front-line defender of China signify their quest for
the territorial status quo and demonstrating its interest in leadership in ASEAN or just an
investing more diplomatic capital in the regional body. example of how ASEAN is
Importantly, Hanoi has shown strong support for ASEAN's merely a tool for Vietnam to
institutional relevance in the region, unlike some bigger and achieve its national interests?
better resourced neighbors with longer tenure in the
organization.

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 Great job!
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TASK 2

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