Decolonisations - Viet Nam

The proclamation of the Communist China by Mao Zedong in 1949 and American recognition of Bao Dai's regime transformed France's colonial war into a war between against communism.

Produced by Xavier-Diamé Ndour

Opening and Closing Credits by Niamar Le Conteur

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On 8 March 1949, Viet Nam became independent as an associated state within the French Union. Viet Nam reunified its two protectorates, regained Cochinchina and Bao Daï became head of state.

However, this was not real independence. It was just a ploy by the French to get American assistance and secure French presence in Viet Nam.

1948: The security situation is getting worse and France is still procrastinating about giving its independence to a unified Viet Nam. All that strengthens the Ho Chi Minh government and put the non communist nationalists in a embarrassing position.

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1947: Ho Chi Minh is isolated. Will he survive Operation Lea, the massive French offensive? At the same time an alliance between non-communist Vietnamese nationalists and the French is starting to take form and the former emperor Bao Dai is in the middle of it.

Produced by Xavier Diamé Ndour ([email protected])

In 1946, in Paris, Ho Chi Minh described the future war this way to American journalist David Schoenbrun: "It will be a war between an elephant and a tiger. If the tiger ever stands still the elephant will crush him with his mighty tusks. But the tiger does not stand still. He lurks in the jungle by day and emerges by night. He will leap upon the back of the elephant, tearing huge chunks from his hide, and then he will leap back into the dark jungle. And slowly the elephant will bleed to death. That will be the war of Indochina."

Source: David Schoenbrun, "As France Goes" (New York: Harper & Bros., 1957)

Where we try to understand how the Viet Minh alienated all other nationalist parties, and started of a 30-year civil war.

Producer: Xavier-Diame Ndour

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After negotiations failed in 1946, it was only a matter of time before war started between France and the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (DRV).

In 1946, Ho Chi Minh travelled to Paris to have France recognise Viet Nam's independence. But it was not meant to be.

Why on earth did Ho Chi Minh welcome back the French in the DRV without having its independence recognised?

In September 1945, the British army entered Saigon, while the Chinese Nationalist troops occupied Hanoi. How did Ho Chi Minh deal with them to avoid a French come-back?