French In Vietnam

French in Vietnam

The French came to Vietnam a long time ago. They did some good things like starting schools. They taught lessons in French and Vietnamese languages and even built a big school called the University of Hanoi. Some kids from Vietnam got to study in France. But, most of the time, only city kids got to learn. Kids from farming families didn't go to these schools much. The French also changed how some Vietnamese cities looked, taking down old buildings and temples.

The French leaders didn't have a clear plan for Vietnam. They just wanted to keep control and make money. Different governors came and went, each doing things their way. Sometimes, they were not nice because they had a lot of power.

The main reason the French were in Vietnam was to make money. They changed the way people farmed, making them work to earn money for the French, not just to feed their families. The French took a lot of land and made big farms. They also made the Vietnamese pay a lot of taxes.

Dutch Colonial Era

A long time ago, the Dutch controlled many islands and made the people work hard to grow spices. Life was tough, and sometimes people were treated very badly if they didn't do what the Dutch wanted. Some groups tried to fight back, especially on the island of Java. The Dutch made a lot of money, but they also spent a lot trying to keep control. Eventually, the Dutch East India Company, which was in charge, ran out of money and went bankrupt.

After that, the Dutch government took over. They made the people grow certain crops to sell and made a lot of money from it. But, because they were growing these crops instead of food, many people didn't have enough to eat. The Dutch also built things like roads, bridges, and improved water systems which helped a bit, especially after Indonesia became independent.