Discover France’s long lasting traces in Hanoi
and the fusion style that emerged, from french architecture, getting adapted to the climate, botanic and local motifs and symbols

French colonialism in Vietnam lasted more than six decades. By the late 1880s, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were all controlled by France and collectively referred to as Indochine Français (French Indochina). Indochina became one of France’s most important colonial possessions. French colonialism was focussed largely on production, profit and labour. It had a profound impact on the lives of people in Vietnam.

To justify their imperialism, the French developed their own principle called the mission civilisatrice (or ‘civilising mission’).
This was, in effect, a French form of the English ‘white man’s burden’. Both were theories utilised by powerful European nations to justify their conquest and colonisation of people and places in Africa, Asia and South America.
French imperialists claimed it was their responsibility to colonise undeveloped regions in Africa and Asia, to introduce modern political ideas, social reforms, industrial methods and new technologies. Without European intervention, these places would remain backward, uncivilised and impoverished.

In general, French colonialism was more haphazard, expedient and brutal than British colonialism. Paris never designed or promoted a coherent colonial policy in Indochina. So long as it remained in French hands and open to French economic interests, the French government was satisfied. 

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