China colonized Vietnam around 200 BCE. Vietnam the gained its independence in 950 CE and remained independent until Vietnam the French began colonization in 1874. The French were eager to claim the area formally due to Britain’s rapid colonization of the Asia. The area became known as French Indochina. The main commodity or benefit the French saw in Vietnam was the economic advantages of trade routes between Europe and Indochina. The colonization of French Indochina (Vietnam) had some benefits for the native people.
Education, industrialization and the addition of massive transportation systems assisted the area in becoming wealthier and more modern. This was because of the efforts of Governor Dumer. Colonization did have some negative impacts. Neocolonialism/ forced labor became a common problem then and still is today. At the time, only those who supported and assisted the French in their attempts to control and profit made decent wages. For example, Ho Chi Minh fought against French rule in Vietnam, thus causing a large war and the involvement of communist countries such as China and the Soviet Union.
The United States also got involved. The Veitnam War then ensued because countries wanted to prevent the spread of communism. Vietnam would be a very different country had the French not colonized there. When the French came in, they attempted to force Catholic beliefs on the native people and began the forced intertwining of French music, culture and more. Also, if the French had not colonized the area then the internal struggle for independence wouldn’t have led those who opposed to follow Marxist teachings and the push for communism.
The entire Vietnam War could have been avoided. Though there were some benefits of being colonized, Vietnam would have probably been better off without it. As a country they could have maintained their own culture and followed the trends of industrialization and modernization on their own. Many lives were lost and internal conflicts could have been avoided if the French had not had a hand in the senior politician’s pockets. Labor would likely have been a lot better for the lower class. France did benefit greatly from the colonization of Vietnam.
They were able to have land and trade routes that were extremely beneficial for their economic growth and progress. The modernization of Vietnam allowed them to use cheap labor for various commodities and goods through neocolonialism. They were not complete dictators, and because of their strategy to assist political leaders that supported French colonization was successful, the profits kept rolling in for them. Struggles due to the colonization of Vietnam and Indochina came when those who opposed the French rule stood up and began to fight for independence and communism.
The French-Indochina War cost lives, money and precious resources due to their desire to maintain colonial rule. Things could have been very different for France had they not colonized in what is now Vietnam. They would have lost a valuable trade route and foothold in the profitable ventures that Europe had in Asia. The wars and conflicts could have been avoided but the loss of life and money probably would have been nothing compared to what France would have missed out on financially had they not seized that territory and invested money in the area.
France would probably be worse off if they hadn’t colonized in Vietnam. The transportation systems and cheap labor along with other business ventures were incredibly profitable and because this time in history was such a crucial time for industrialization and growth for the world the impact of not having this advantage would have been very noticeable for them today. Economically, Vietnam has a legacy due to the colonization and industrialization of the area. There are many factories where garments and other mass produced items are assembled and shipped all over the world.
The labor is still cheap and many companies invest in them around the world. Though this may be good for investors, it is bad for those who are forced to work for low wages and unethical conditions. Culturally, Vietnamese people still have some positive French influences in their cuisine, art, and more due to the investment France made in the education and shaping of the people. Socially, Vietnam has been a country that has a negative reputation for being poor and working class.
France should assume responsibility for the working conditions in China by ensuring that they mentor those who can make positive changes in the workplace of the many factories. This however should not be forced, rather it should be a positive partnership. There is not much that they can do without starting another conflict or involving some ultimatum which could and probably would have negative effects. There are plenty of indications that Vietnam is still experiencing neocolonialism. Articles exposing workplace conditions in Vietnam and the rest of Asia constantly trickle into the world’s press.
America’s clothing manufacturers use the companies in Vietnam because of the lower cost and higher output. It can be safely assumed that if a company employs so many people yet has extremely low production costs to foreign manufacturers that labor is likely being forced or is at a minimum unethical. Both colonialism and neocolonialism have had similarly negative impacts on Vietnam. Colonialism may have helped the few who helped aid France in enforcing a vision, the same can be said of the few who benefit from the poor conditions in factories that being in so much money.
The positives have always been for the bigger countries who benefit from the exploited labor and the negatives seem to have always been the worst for Vietnam itself. War, social conflict and more are the result of both colonialism and neocolonialism and the impacts of the past will likely continue into the future. The consequences seem to be negative overall. There are the few in Vietnam who profit like politicians and big businessmen but the lower class is the majority and until labor laws sweep in and change the working conditions and other countries stop exploiting the cheap labor for profit, it will remain negative.
I would also like to add that I would have never thought that looking into where my clothes were made would lead me to so much awareness about the neocolonialism going on in a country. It has me rethinking places to shop for anything in my home. It also has me thinking about the colonialism and neocolonialism throughout history and how many cultures and places would be very different today if things would have happened differently.