VIETNAM

by: Charles Angelo P. Sarabosing

FACTS
Capital- Hanoi Largest city- Ho Chi Minh City Official languages- Vietnamese Ethnic groups- 86.2% Kinh (Viet) 1.9% Tay 1.7% Tai 1.5% Mng 1.4% Khmer Krom 1.1% Hoa 1.1% Nng 1% Hmong 4.1% Others Religion- (according to the 2009 census of the Vietnamese government, the CIA World Factbook, and various other sources) Non-religious (81.69%); Buddhism (9.6%); Christianity (7.48%); Others (including indigenous beliefs) (1.23%) Demonym- Vietnamese Government MarxistLeninist single-party state -President-Trng Tn Sang -Prime Minister-Nguyn Tn Dng -Chairman of National Assembly-Nguyn Sinh Hng -Chief Justice-Trng Ha Bnh -Communist Party General Secretary-Nguyn Ph Trng Legislature-National Assembly Area- 331,210 km2 (128,565 sq mi) Population- 2012 estimate-90,388,000[3] (13th) Currency- ng Internet domain-.vn

HISTORY OF VIETNAM
Prehistory Vietnamese historians have established a chronology of cultures originated in the Hong (Red) River valley from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age through the Son Vi, Hoa Binh, Bac Son, Quynh Van, Da But, Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau and Go Mun culture. The Dong Son culture culminated the Bronze Age and the opening stage of the Iron Age. Dynasties Hng Bng Dynasty (ruled Vn Lang 2879 BC-258 BCE)Western historians dispute the existence of this dynasty, however, because of lack of historical evidence,

Thc Dynasty (ruled u Lc 257-207 BCE or 179 BCE)- The country was created by Thc Phn, who served as its only monarch, ruling under the royal title of An Dng Vng and creating the Thc Dynasty by uniting the mountainous u Vit region (comprising what is today northernmost Vietnam and parts of southern China) with the more southerly Lc Vit (located in the Red River Delta of what is today northern Vietnam) Triu Dynasty (Nam Vit 207-111 BCE)- Kingdom of Nam Viet was established in northern Vietnam and southern China by Trieu Da, a former governor for the Chinese Qin Dynasty. However, the Han Dynasty conquered Nam Viet in 111 BCE, ushering in the "First Chinese Domination," which lasted until 39 CE. First Chinese Domination (111 BCE-40 CE)- Han Dynasty *Between 40 and 43 CE, sisters Trung Trac and Trung Nhi lead a revolt against the Chinese, and briefly ruled independent Vietnam. The Han Chinese defeated and killed them in 43 CE, however, marking the beginning of the "Second Chinese Domination," which lasted until 544 CE. Second Chinese Domination (43-544)- The second Chinese domination marks a period when Vietnam fell into Chinese control for a second time, between the end of the Trng Sisters and the start of the Early L Dynasty. Early L Dynasty (544-602)- The Early L Dynasty (Vietnamese: nh Tin L) was a dynasty of Vietnam dating from 544 to 602. Its founder, L Nam (L B) (r. 544 548) is traditionally counted the first emperor of Vietnam, as signified by the throne name ending with "," (literally "L South Emperor"). The capital at that time was Long Bin and the country was known as Vn Xun. Third Chinese Domination (602938)- The third Chinese domination refers to the time in Vietnam from the end of the Anterior L Dynasty in 602 after the conquest by Sui China to the rise of the Khc family by Khc Tha D in 905 or until 938, following the expulsion of the Southern Han invaders by Ng Quyn. Various dynasties appeared between 938 to 1407 (939967 Ng Dynasty; 968980 inh Dynasty; 9801009 Early L Dynasty; 10091225 Later L Dynasty; 12251400 Trn Dynasty; 14001407 H Dynasty) Fourth Chinese Domination (14071427)- The Ming Dynasty of China managed to take Annam in 1407, and controlled it for two decades. Later L Dynasty (1428-1788)- The Later L Dynasty was the longest-ruling dynasty of Vietnam, ruling the country from 1428 to 1788, with a brief six year interruption of the Mc Dynasty usurpers (1527-1533). The L Dynasty's rule saw Vietnam's territories grow from a small state in northern Vietnam at the time of L Li's coronation into almost its current size by the time the Ty Sn brothers took over. It also saw massive changes to Vietnamese society: the previously Buddhist state became Confucian after 20 years of Ming rule. The L emperors instituted many changes modeled after the Chinese system, including the civil service and laws. Their long-lasting rule was attributed to the popularity of the early emperors. L Li's liberation of the country from 20 years of Ming rule and L Thnh Tng's bringing the country into a golden age was well-remembered by the people.

Ty Sn Dynasty (1778-1802)- The name of Ty Sn is used in various ways to refer to the period of peasant rebellions and decentralized dynasties established between the end of the figurehead Later L dynasty and beginning of the Nguyn dynasties in the history of Vietnam between 1770 and 1802. Nguyn Dynasty (1802-1945)- The Nguyn dynasty was the last ruling family of Vietnam. Their rule lasted a total of 143 years. It began in 1802 when Emperor Gia Long ascended the throne after defeating the Ty Sn Dynasty and ended in 1945 when Bo i abdicated the throne and transferred power to the State of Vietnam. *French Indochina (1887-1945)- French Indochina, was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin (North), Annam (Central), and Cochinchina (South), as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887. Laos was added in 1893 and KouangTchou-Wan (Guangzhouwan) in 1900. The capital was moved from Saigon (in Cochinchina) to Hanoi (Tonkin) in 1902 and again to Da Lat (Annam) in 1939 until 1945, when it moved back to Hanoi. After the Fall of France during World War II, the colony was administered by Vichy France and was under Japanese supervision until a brief period of full Japanese control between March and August 1945. Beginning in May 1941, the Viet Minh, a communist army led by Ho Chi Minh, began a revolt against French rule known as the First Indochina War. In Saigon, the anti-Communist State of Vietnam, led by former Emperor Bo i, was granted independence in 1949. Following the Geneva Accord of 1954, the Viet Minh became the government of North Vietnam, although the Bo i government continued to rule in South Vietnam. Vietnam War First Indochinese War (1946-1945)- At the end of the Second World War, France demanded the return of its colonies in French Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos). The Vietnamese wanted independence, so this touched off the First Indochina War (1946-1954). In 1954, the French withdrew and Vietnam was partitioned along the 17th parallel with the promise of democratic elections. The north became the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam while the south became the capitalist Republic of Vietnam. Second Indochinese War or Vietnam War (1964-1975)- The war started when North Vietnamese forces allegedly attacked U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. Bombing campaigns ensued, and the conflict escalated. However, this war deeply divided the US public and the antiwar movement within the United States gained momentum as student protesters, countercultural hippies, and even many mainstream Americans denounced the war. US and North Vietnam signed a ceasefire in January 1973 and on April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese, who reunited the country under Communist rule as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, ending the Vietnam War. After Vietnam War 1978- Vietnam invaded Kampuchea.

1989- Vietnam withdrew from Kampuchea and handed ot to UN. Late 1980s- Vietnam liberalized its economy after the collapse of Iron Curtain. Oct 1991- Vietnam established or reestablished diplomatic and economic relations with most of Western Europe, and several Asian countries. Feb 1994- US lifted its trade embargo on Vietnam Jan 1995- US established diplomatic relations on Vietnam. Jun 2005-a high-level Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, visited the United States and met with their U.S. counterparts, including President George W. Bush. This was the first such visit in 30 years. Late 2005- Vietnam was placed under three-man collective leadership 2006- Vietnam hosted the APEC Annual Summit Jan 11 2007- Vietnam became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization 2011- Mass protests were held in Hanoi and Saigon, where thousands of Vietnamese protested China's increasing military aggression and encroachment into Vietnamese waters and territories in the South China Sea.

WARS INVOLVED
FIRST INDOCHINESE WAR Vietnam vs France Outcome: French withdrew from Vietnam; Vietnam partitioned along 17th parallel SECOND INDOCHINESE WAR/VIETNAM WAR North Vietnam (supported by USSR and China) vs South Vietnam (supported by US) Outcome: US signed a ceasefire with North Vietnam; North Vietnam overran South Vietnam and united as a socialist republic VIETNAMESE INVASION OF KAMPUCHEA; SINOVIETNAMESE WAR Vietnam vs Khmer Rouge-run Kampuchea and China Outcome: Vietnamese military invaded Cambodia to remove from power the Khmer Rouge, who had been attacking Vietnamese border villages. Vietnam was victorious, installing a government in Cambodia which ruled until 1989. This action worsened relations with the Chinese, who launched a brief incursion into northern Vietnam in 1979. This conflict caused Vietnam to rely even more heavily on Soviet economic and military aid.