Why were the French attracted to Vietnam?

The decision to invade Vietnam was made by Napoleon III in July 1857. It was the result not only of missionary propaganda but also, after 1850, of the upsurge of French capitalism, which generated the need for overseas markets and the desire for a larger French share of the Asian territories conquered by the West.

Are there a lot of Vietnamese people in France?

About 128,000 Vietnamese live in France, according to mid-2017 estimates from the Migration Policy Institute, and it was the first place Gray experienced the Vietnamese diaspora outside of the United States.

Why are Vietnamese people French?

The onset of World War I and World War II saw the French Empire recruit soldiers and locals of its colonies to volunteer with the war effort in Metropolitan France. Roughly 50,000 and 20,000 Vietnamese migrated to France during these periods respectively.

Is there French influence in Vietnam?

From 1887 until the Geneva Accord of 1954, Vietnam was part of French Indochina, a colonial possession which also included Laos and Cambodia. Even now, more than 60 years later, it’s easy to find French influences throughout the region. It’s part of the fabric of Vietnam now.

Is French an official language in Vietnam?

Currently, Vietnamese is the only official language of Vietnam, and French speakers constitute a very small minority. Vietnam has been a member of the OIF (International Organization of Francophonie) since 1970 and they hosted a 1997 summit on Francophonie.

What is the history of French colonialism in Vietnam?

A French colon (settler) and his Vietnamese wife and servants. 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.

What is it like to be Asian in France?

As you mentioned in most of France there are little to no Asian people. Of course, this is in those parts of the country where people are mostly ignorant about Asia, but as you also mentioned, there aren’t really any prejudices against Asians beyond “they are rice eaters.”.

Do you think Asian people in France experience less racism and discrimination?

On the one hand, it’s true that Asians seem to experience less racism and discrimination than North Africans and Black people do, on the other hand, I feel that a bunch of French people are patronizing and condescending and generally they disrespect Asian people in ways that would be deemed totally unacceptable against other minorities.

How did the French justify their imperialism in Vietnam?

1. The French colonisation of Vietnam began in earnest in the 1880s and lasted six decades. The French justified their imperialism with a ‘civilising mission’, a pledge to develop backward nations. 2. In reality, French colonialism was chiefly driven by economic interests.