French Indochina and the Origins of the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was one of the longest and most divisive conflicts of the Cold War. Its origins lie in the struggle against French colonialism, the rise of Vietnamese nationalism, and the application of Cold War ideology to South-East Asia. This lesson traces the path from French Indochina to the beginning of American involvement.

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French Indochina

Indochina was the French colonial territory in South-East Asia, consisting of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. France had controlled the region since the mid-nineteenth century.

Feature	Detail
Colonial ruler	France (from the 1860s)
Territory	Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
Economy	Exploitation of rubber, rice, and other resources for French benefit
Vietnamese population	Subject to French rule; limited political rights; growing resentment
Japanese occupation	Japan occupied Indochina during WWII (1940–1945)

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Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese Nationalism

Ho Chi Minh was the most important figure in Vietnamese nationalism. He was a communist and a nationalist who had spent years abroad studying revolutionary movements.