Religion had always played a pivotal role in the lives of people in Vietnam. This fact was used well by the imperialists to aid in their control over the colonies. Thinking this, the imperialists imposed their religion on the Vietnamese locals. Thus anti-imperialist feelings arose in Vietnam against the French imperialist forces. Vietnam followed Buddhism and Confucianism. The French wanted to convert the Vietnamese to Christianity. The Scholars Revolt (1868): It took place as a movement against the spread of Christianity and French power. This revolt was led by the officials at the imperial court. The Vietnamese led a general uprising in the provinces ofNgu and Ha Tein and over a thousand Catholics missionaries were killed. This inspired other patriots to rise against the French government. The revolt was finally suppressed by the French.
Hoa Hoa Movement (1939): It began in 1939 and gained great popularity in the fertile Mekong delta area. It drew on religious ideas popular in anti-French uprisings of the nineteenth century. The founder of Hoa Hao was a man called Huynh Phu So. He performed miracles and helped the poor. His criticism against useless expenditure had a wide appeal. He also opposed the sale of child brides, gambling and the use of alcohol and opium. The French tried to suppress the movement inspired by Huynh Phu So. They declared him mad, called him the Mad Bonze, and put him in a mental asylum. But the doctor, who had to prove him mad, became his follower. Finally, he was exiled to Laos and many of his followers were sent to concentration camps.

China was a large and close neighbour of Vietnam.  It was obvious that the formerr would influence the latter.  The two countries shared the same religious beliefs, namely Buddhism and Confucianism.  The ideas spread by Confucius, a great Chinese thinker, religious leader and philosopher had deeply influenced the social and cultural aspect of Vietnam.  The influence.  Even when the latter gained independence in 1945, the rulers maintained the use of Chinese governance system and culture.  The elites were vastly influenced by Chinese culture and life, as has been elucidated in Phan Boi Chau's book "The History of the Loss of Vietnam".  In 1911, when the Chinese lanuages and Confucianism were followed by the upper classes in Vietnam.  In  1911, when the Chinese Republic we set up, Vietnamese students followed suit in organising the Association for the Restoration of Vietnam.  Vietnamese men also kept their hair long-a Chinese tradition

Phan Boi Chau (1867-1940): He was a nationalist who was educated in the Confucian tradition. He formed the Revolutionary Society (Duy Tan Hoi) in 1903; with Prince Cuong De as the head. Phan Boi Chau met the Chinese reformer Liang Qichao (1873 - 1929) in Yokohama in 1905. 'The History of the Loss of Vietnam' was the most influential book written by Phan. It was written under the strong influence and advice of Qichao. The book focuses mainly on two issues, viz. the loss of sovereignty and severing of ties with China. Phan became one of the leading figures of the anti-colonial movement in Vietnam.
Phan Chu Trinh (187l-1926): He strongly differed with Phan Boi Chau. He was hostile to the monarchy and opposed the idea of resisting French with the help of court. He was highly influenced by the democratic ideals of the west. He accepted the French ideals of liberty. He wanted the French to set up legal and educational institutions, and develop agriculture and industries. The objectives of the two nationalists, Phan Chu Trinh and Ph an Boi Chau, were different from each other. Phan Chu Trinh (1871 - 1926) did not want to resist the French with the aid of monarchy. He was influenced by the Western idea of democracy and wanted to set up a democratic republic of Vietnam. Phan Boi Chau (1867 - 1940) went on to form a revolutionary society with Prince Cuong De. So we can say that Ph an Boi Chau favoured monarchy and Phan Chu Trinh favoured a republic.

The ideas behind the Tonkin Free School were predominantly based on policies of westernization.  Students were taught science, hygiene and French, and were encouraged to adopt Western styles of dressing.  This school was a typical example of colonial ideas in Vietnam on account of the aforementioned.  It rejected traditional Vietnamese education and lifestyle, and promoted western ideals and living.

(a) The "civilising mission" of the colonisers was an imperial disguise for controlling colonies. European powers assumed that their civilisation was the most advanced, and that it was their humanitarian concern to spread it around the world, even if this was done by force. Europeans became the self-professed carriers of light to the colonies, rejecting the latter's inherent traditions, religions and cultures as outdated. Also, education was viewed as a "civilising" tool, but fearing retaliation, the colonisers-the French in Vietnam, the British in India, did not want to give full access to the colonised people to Western education. They were aware that Western education might instill democratic ideals and a desire for independence. Hence, the "civilising mission" was marred by double standards and sheer hypocrisy.
(b) Huynh Phu So was a revolutionary leader who started an anti-French movement known as the Hoa Hoa. He was declared the "Mad Bonze" and put in a mental asylum by the French. He performed miracles and helped the poor; condemning unnecessary expenses, gambling, intoxication and the sale of child brides. Interestingly, he was declared sane in 1941, but was exiled to Laos after the doctor treating him also became his follower.

The following were the objectives of the French in the development of infra structural 1- projects in Vietnam.
(a) They wanted to ensure regular supply of natural resources and other necessary goods to make more profits.
(b) They began by building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta to increase cultivation for increased export of rice in the international market.
(c) To facilitate trade, various projects were started to transport goods and move military garrisons.
(d) Trans-Indo-China rail network linking northern Vietnam with southern part was constructed to control the entire region. They were successful to some extent. Paul Bernard's suggestions were not liked by the colonisers. They did little to develop Vietnam as they were more interested in making profits.

The Entry of the US into the War (1965-1972) : The US was apprehensive that establishment of a communist regime would spark a chain reaction which could lead to formation of similar regimes in the surrounding parts of the world. In order to stop the spread of communism, the US attacked Vietnam. The US occupation of Vietnam involved use of a high number of services personnel and also the use of latest warfare. In spite of advanced technology and good medical supplies, the US casualties were very high in Vietnam. Even the most powerful bombers of the time, the B52s were used in the battle. About 47,000 US soldiers died and 303,000 were wounded. About 23,000 suffered 100% disability. The struggle of the Vietnamese people against the US showed that the inspiration of saving the motherland can turn even the weak into a great battle force. The US probably underestimated this factor. Effect on US : Most of the people in the US were highly critical of the US involvement in Vietnam. Many contemporary thinkers were of the opinion that the US should not have involved itself in a war was impossible to win.

We have read that Vietnamese women contributed to the resistance movement as workers as well as warriors. They were employed as porters carrying 25 kg of food and war materials on their delicate backs. They served as nurses to the wounded. They even went on to dig tunnels so that the imperialist attacks could be thwarted by hiding Vietnamese army in the tunnels. They worked bravely to neutralise thousands of bombs and shooting down the enemy planes. Nearly 1.5 million women workers were in the army. They helped in keeping strategic roads clear and even guarded the key points. It is difficult to imagine the state of the Vietnamese freedom struggle with the active role of Vietnamese women. Women played a crucial role in the anti-imperial struggle in Vietnam. Women who rebelled against social conventions were idealised and rebel women of the past were likewise celebrated. Trieu Au was a popular figure in nationalist tales. In the 1960s, women were represented as brave soldiers and workers. They assisted in nursing wounded soldiers, constructing underground tunnels and fighting the enemy. Interestingly, between 1965 and 1975, 70-80% of the youth working on the Ho Chi Minh trail were women. Compared to this very direct and active participation of Vietnamese women in the anti-imperial struggle, IndiJ women did not play a very dynamic role in the nationalist struggle ofIndia against Great Britain. They followed Gandhian ideals of boycotting foreign goods and picketing liquor shops, but mainstream politics was controlled by men; although women like Sarojini Naidu, Kamla Nehru and Kasturba Gandhi were keenly involved