Vietnam entered the Twentieth Century under a billow of French smoke, choking its people of their rights, freedoms and sovereignty. This exploitative French regime greatly oppressed the Vietnamese, causing in them swelling emotions of anger and discontent and so united them in a common struggle for independence. Furthermore, under the inspiring and influential leadership of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese militarism was developed with the creation of the Viet Minh, which in turn, enabled Ho to inscribe in his people a sense of pride and nationalism; the binding belief that a people should be able to rule themselves and have this right recognised.
The French imperialist conquest of Vietnam began in 1802, when a Vietnamese Prince, Nguyen Anh, requested French help in regaining his throne. …
