THE ISSUE OF TONKIN IN THE TREATIES BETWEEN VIETNAM AND FRANCE IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY

Abstract

From the time launching its invasion of Vietnam in 1858 until fully imposing its colonial rule over the entire country, the French colonialists forced the Nguyễn Dynasty to sign the unequal treaties. The ultimate result of this process was that Vietnam became a French colony, divided into three regions (Cochinchina, Annam and Tonkin), each was governed under different administrative systems. Based on these treaties, this article will critically examine the evolving strategies employed by the French colonialists in their endeavor to invade Vietnam in a broader context, with a particular focus on Tonkin, alongside an analysis of the specific provisions related to Bac Ky or the outcomes pertaining to the Tonkin situation that the French colonialists achieved through each treaty.