History of Vietnam and the years that 1900-1954 did to it.

One word: Vietnam. Many memories are linked to this word when it is said. Some think War. Some think of its location. Others think of its history, where it has been, and where it will go. Yet in the midst of these differentiating definitions, there lies a country and a people of that country who are fighting for freedom, just as their ancestors did thousands of years ago.

Around the 10th century b.c., Vietnam was under Chinese control for many years. This gave the Vietnamese very little "elbow room". However, perhaps even before this, the location of what is now Vietnam became a home for some in the early era of the Bronze Age. This was the center of Phung-Nguyen culture and this took place somewhere around 2000 to the year 1400 B.C.E. In about 200 years or so, this same area would be the birthplace of a new cultivation process people came to know as wet-rice and bronze-casting. As the rivers of the Ma and Red drew close to this location, the Dong Son culture of the time became notable for their beautiful bronze drums done through this process. Much later in the year 111 B.C.E., the Chinese "Han" Dynasty took what was then known as "Nanyue" (a.k.a. Vietnam) under their possession. This is where the Chinese became known for holding the area of Vietnam under their rule for the next one thousand years! Then under the family of Khuc, the ten century lead these people into a little bit more freedom, but just not simply enough to change their daily lives. Soon to follow between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Vietnamese country grew and expanded south in what they came to call "nam tien". They came to conquer small empires and lands such as Champa and parts of Khmer's grand empire. A civil war was later started between the Southern Nguyen Lords and the powerful Northern Trinh Lords. This battling feud lasted a total of 100 years, which surprisingly enough, seemed long enough to the people of early Vietnam. Following this brief moment of independence, the 1800's proved to be the time when France decided to step in and colonize the lands with its power over the Vietnamese people. One positive side to this dark time for the country of Vietnam, was that in this struggle, Christianity was introduced to Vietnam and so was a western-way of living.

Then, as the years grew closer and closer to what would be known as the Vietnam War, the First Indochina War developed in 1941. The communist movement known as "Viet Minh" came along under the firm instruction and rule of the legendary Ho Chi Minh who desperately sought out to break free from the French power. Then, officially on the 20th of November in the year of 1946, the Haiphong Incident lead to the start of the First Indochina War which was ultimately fought between Viet Minh and the dastardly French. This war continued until the summer of 1954.

This lead to our next big battle scene.
UNTIL NEXT TIME...