Thousand Years of Vietnamese History

The sweeping scope of this anthology covers almost two millennia of Chinese dominance, four centuries of independence, the Ly, Tran, and Ho dynasties, and the rise and fall of the Communist regime. The book traces how Southeast Asian political practices shifted toward bureaucratic governance and Buddhism, and how the three centuries of political competition were resolved in favor of the south. It ends with the creation of a united independent Vietnam in 1975.

Originally part of the Han Empire, Vietnam became a part of greater China in 111 B.C., when the Han Dynasty conquered the ancient kingdom of Nam-Viet. The Vietnamese people fought for independence for nearly five hundred years, until the end of the 9th century. The country's first revolt, the Trung Sisters' Rebellion, was a short-lived success, and the dynasty remained in power until the end of the nineteenth century.

The book is divided into six eras. The prehistory period spans roughly two thousand years, while the Hung Kings ruled for four centuries. Throughout the Chinese millennium, Vietnam was a separate nation. The autonomy period followed, spanning a period of wars with the Khmer and Cham, and border scraps with China until the 19th century. In the twentieth century, the French occupied Vietnam for 80 years, but after the fall of Saigon, the country was reunited as a nation.

The Vietnamese did not give up hope and continued to fight for independence. Their courage paid off, and the Vietnamese began to rebuild their country. However, the Chinese did not leave the country and soon their empire fell. It was not until 938 A.D. that the Vietnamese gained their independence. The successful Trung Sisters' Rebellion ended the Chinese monopoly over the land. In the end, they managed to regain the sovereignty over their homeland. Click here for more details about Văn Hoá Việt Nam

After the Chinese, the French took over Vietnam as a colony. They held the country for over a hundred years. After the war, the Japanese invaded Vietnam and ruled for four years. After the Japanese, the French returned. After four generations of a Chinese occupation, the Vietnamese had a revolt against the French and eventually won their freedom. The French occupied the country. In the aftermath, the Americans began to dominate the country and the war lasted another ten years.

The Communists seized the country in August 1945 and took over from the French. This was a major turning point in Vietnamese history, and the Communists were triumphant. The people of Vietnam did not want to be dominated by the Chinese, but their revolution made them stronger. They did not have a choice. A more balanced and accurate history would have included more of the Communist Revolution. In this case, the Communists won the war.