French colonial rule

Definition

French colonial rule refers to the period between the mid-19th century until 1954 when France controlled Vietnam. During this time, Vietnam was part of French Indochina, a federation of French colonies and protectorates within Southeast Asia.

Related terms

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Decolonization: The action or process of a state withdrawing from a former colony, leaving it independent.

Indochina War: A series of wars fought in Southeast Asia from 1946 until 1989, between communist Indochinese forces against mainly French, South Vietnamese, American, Cambodian and Laotian forces.