Its History (Colonization and War Periods),

Political Culture, Political Participation,

Political System, and
Current Events

Presented by:
Marisol Armenio and Nilo M. Babiano
BAPOS AP32
Colonization and War Period

Chinese Colonization
• During 111 B.C., the Han Dynasty conquered the
south and expanded its territorial dominance.
• In 43 A.D., China began its second domination
conquest of Vietnam. Around this time, the Han
Dynasty conquered the southern region and named
it Jiaozhi.
• The Vietnamese fought back, but the decisive battle
didn't occur until 938 CE. The Vietnamese military
commander Ngô Quyen defeated the Chinese forces
at the Battle of Bach Dang River and secured
independence for Vietnam, or as they called it,
Annam.
Although 1,000 years of Chinese rule left many traces, the collective memory of
the period reinforced Vietnamese cultural and later political independence.
Colonization and War Period

French Colonization (1800s-1940)

• From the late 1800's to 1954, Vietnam was part of
a French colony called French Indochina.
• France obtained control over northern Vietnam following its
victory over China in the Sino-French War (1884–85). French
Indochina was formed on 17 October 1887 from Annam, Tonkin,
Cochinchina (which together form modern Vietnam) and the
Kingdom of Cambodia; Laos was added after the Franco-Siamese
War in 1893.
• French colonists were interested in acquiring land, exploiting
labour, exporting resources and making profit Vietnamese land
was seized by the French and collectivized into large rice and
rubber plantations. Local farmers were forced to labour on these
plantations in difficult and dangerous conditions.
 Colonization and War Period
Japanese Colonization (1940-1945)
• In September 1940 Vietnam was occupied by Japanese
forces, which were expanding throughout south-east Asia
and seeking greater control over China's southern borders.
• Japan colonized Vietnam, making Vietnam ruled by 2
countries.
• For much of World War II, the Japanese allowed the French
colonial government to continue ruling Vietnam. In March
1945 the Japanese, then in retreat from south-east Asia,
abruptly ended French rule and seized control of Vietnam,
installing Emperor Bao Dai as a puppet ruler.
• Then, in 1941, the Vietminh declared independence from
Japan. The Vietminh were a communist liberation party in
Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh.
• Finally, in 1945, Japan let them become independent.
 Colonization and War Period

French Colonization (1945-1954)

• The Vietminh established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on
August 8, 1945. Viet Minh rebels took control of Hanoi on August
19, 1945. Chinese troops entered northern Vietnam in August
1945.
• Ho Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnam’s independence from France on
September 2, 1945.
• France recognized the independence of Vietnam as a free state
within the Indochinese Federation and the French Union on March
6, 1946, but the Viet Minh refused to accept the arrangement.

• The French government proclaimed the state of Vietnam within

the French Union on July 5, 1949, and Bao Dai was installed as
prime minister.
• In 1950, the United States, identifying the Viet Minh as a
communist threat, steps up military assistance to France for their
operations against the Viet Minh.
 Cont.
French Colonization (1945-1954)
• In 1954, French troops are humiliated in defeat by Viet Minh forces
at Dien Bien Phu. The defeat solidifies the end of French rule in
Indochina. April 1954: In a speech, U.S. President Dwight D.
Eisenhower says the fall of French Indochina to communists could
create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia.

• In July 1954, the Geneva Accords establish North and South

Vietnam with the 17th parallel as the dividing line. The agreement
also stipulates that elections are to be held within two years to
unify Vietnam under a single democratic government. These
elections never happen.
 Colonization and War Period

American Colonization (1954-1973)

• In 1955, catholic nationalist Ngo Dinh Diem emerges as the leader
of South Vietnam, with U.S. backing, while Ho Chi Minh leads the
communist state to the north.
• In 1959, North Vietnam forces begin to build a supply route
through Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam in an effort to
support guerrilla attacks against Diem’s government in the south.
The route becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail and is greatly
expanded and enhanced during the Vietnam War.
• In September 1960, Ho Chi Minh, facing failing health, is replaced
by Le Duan as head of North Vietnam’s ruling communist party.
 Cont.
American Colonization (1954-1973)
• In, December 1960, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was
formed with North Vietnamese backing as the political wing of the
antigovernment insurgency in South Vietnam. The United States
views the NLF as an arm of North Vietnam and starts calling the
military wing of the NLF the Viet Cong—short for Vietnam Cong-
san, or Vietnamese communists.
• In 1961, President John F. Kennedy sends helicopters and 400
Green Berets to South Vietnam and authorizes secret operations
against the Viet Cong. In the following year, Operation Ranch
Hand, U.S. aircraft start spraying Agent Orange and other
herbicides over rural areas of South Vietnam to kill vegetation that
would offer cover and food for guerrilla forces.
 Cont.
American Colonization (1954-1973)
• In 1963, United State declined it confidence toward Ngo Dinh
Diem’s leadership in the South Vietnam due to “Buddhist Crisis”.
While in preceding year, The United States backs a South Vietnam
military coup against the unpopular Diem, which ends in the brutal
killing of Diem and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu
• In August 1964, the attacks in the Gulf of Tonkin spur Congress to
pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorizes the president
to “take all necessary measures, including the use of armed force”
against any aggressor in the conflict under the control of new
president of US, Lyndon B. Johnson.
•  In the same year, Soviet Politburo and China increased its support
to North Vietnam which resulted to launched in 1965 the
Operation Rolling Thunder—a three year campaign sustained
bombing targets in North Vietnam and Chi Minh Trail.
• General Nguen Van Thieu of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Governmental Military (ARVN), becomes president of South
Vietnam in 1965.
Cont.
American Colonization (1954-1973)
• In 1965 to 1967 more than 400,00 troops sent by US to fight
against South and North Vietnamese. Uncountable deaths between
American troops and North and South Vietnamese fighters were
recorded. Due to increasing rate of death and economical
disturbances, many protest occurred. In April 1967, a huge
Vietnam War protests occur in Washington, D.C., New York City
and San Francisco.
• In 1967, Nguyen Van Thieu wins the presidential election of South
Vietnam under a newly enacted constitution.
• From 1967-1969 conflict between US and Vietnam continues until
in 1969, Ho Chi Minh dies of a heart attack in Hanoi.
• From 1969-1973, a gradual withdrawal of US from Vietnam
happened. In the year 1973, President Johnson dies in Texas
following the signing of Paris Peace Accords (signed by President
Nixon) with ending the involvement of US in Vietnam war but
North Vietnamese continue plotting to overtake South Vietnam.
Cont.
American Colonization (1954-1973)
• In 1975, President Gerald Ford became the U.S. President
replacing from President Richard Nixon involved in Watergate
Scandal that simultaneously impeached him.

• In the same year, President Ford rules outs any further U.S. military
involvement in Vietnam. In the following year, the Fall of Saigon
happened.

• Until in July 1975, North and South Vietnam are formally unified as
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under the hardline communist
rule.
 Political Culture of Vietnam
Vietnam is a socialist republic with a one-party system led by the
Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The CPV espouses Marxism–
Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought, the thoughts of the late Hồ Chí
Minh. The two ideologies function as a firm ideological basis and serve
as guidance for the activities of the Party and state.

• The major influences on Vietnamese political culture were of

Chinese origin which is based on the ideologies of Confucianism.

• Communist ideology, particularly as manipulated by the

Vietnamese leadership, has also helped to shape Vietnam's political
culture.

Vietnam's political culture represents, therefore, the steadfast survival

of what is Vietnamese in the face of a long history of outside
influence; integration of historical political ideals with an imported
communist organizational model has created a communist identity
that is no less Vietnamese.
 Political System of Vietnam
The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a law-governed state.
The political system was established upon the birth of the
Democratic Republic of Viet Nam and comprises the
following:
• The Communist Party of Viet Nam is the vanguard of the
Vietnamese working class, the working people, and the whole
nation.
• People in the political system: All powers belong to the people
and their powers are exercised through the State. The State
regulates the society by laws under the leadership of the
Communist Party of Viet Nam.
• The State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is the central
organization and the pillar of the political system that realizes the
will and power of the people, acts on behalf of the people and is
accountable to the people for the management of all activities of
the social life and in domestic and external affairs.
 Cont.

• The National Assembly is the highest-level representative body of

the people; the highest organ of state power of the Socialist
Republic of Viet Nam; the National Assembly exercises three main
functions: to legislate, to decide on important national issues, to
exercise supreme supervision over all activities of the State
 
• The State President is the Head of State, elected by the National
Assembly from among its deputies to represent the Socialist
Republic of Viet Nam in domestic and foreign affairs.
 
• The Prime Minister The prime minister directs the work of
government members, and may propose deputy prime ministers to
the National Assembly. The head of government is responsible to
the National Assembly and serves as the Deputy Chairman of the
Council for Defense and Security.

• The Government is the highest body of State administration of the

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
• People's Courts: The Supreme People's Court, local People's
Courts, Military Tribunals and the other tribunals established by
law are the judicial organs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
 Cont.

• People's Procuracies: The Supreme People's Procuracy oversees

the enforcement of the law by Ministries, Ministerial–level organs,
other Government agencies, local administration, economic
entities, mass organizations, people's military organs and citizens.
It exercises the right to prosecution, ensures serious and uniform
implementation of the law. Local People's Procuracy and Military
Procuracy oversee the execution of the law and exercise the right
to prosecution as stipulated by the law.
• Social-Political Organizations and People’s Associations: These
are organizations representing the interests of different social
communities participating into the political system with their
own principles, purposes, and features. There are currently
major social-political organizations in Viet Nam such as the
Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Vietnamese Trade Union,
Vietnamese Women’s Union, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth
Union, and Veterans Association and other professional
organizations.
Political Structure of Vietnam
 Political Participation of Vietnam

• Participation in Vietnam has become a society concern with the

promulgation of the 1998 Decree on Grassroots Democracy by the
Vietnamese Government.
• This decree aims at enabling citizens to exercise their rights, be
informed of government activities that affect them, discuss and
contribute to the formulation of certain policies, participate in
local development activities and to supervise certain government
actions.
• Government has also promoted Participatory Poverty
Assessments (PPAs) initiatives under the idea that democratization
reforms alone are insufficient and should be supported by civic
and political actions to help developing the country.
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

• Nguyen Xuan Phuc Trending is the current State President.

• Phạm Minh Chính is the current Prime Minister.

• The current population of Vietnam in 2021 is 98,168,833+.

• Hanoi is the current Capital of Vietnam.

• Geography is 331,210 km.

• Vietnamese Dong is the current currency.

• National Flag:
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

• About 11,000 Vietnamese are stateless.

• About 10.5 million people live in poverty.

• Academic Freedom is limited.

• Religious freedom remain restricted.

• The communist party enjoys a monopoly on political

power. Members of illegal opposition parties are
subject to arrest and imprisonment.
• Vietnam is currently facing health crisis, COVID-19
Pandemic.