Tonkin

Tonkin (also spelled Tongkin or Dong Kinh) was a French protectorate encompassing the northern part of present-day Vietnam from 1883 to 1945. It was one of the three regions of Vietnam under French colonial rule, alongside Annam (central Vietnam) and Cochinchina (southern Vietnam).

History:

Tonkin was conquered by France in the 1880s, following the Sino-French War (1884-1885). The Treaty of Tientsin (1885) officially recognized French control over Tonkin. While nominally under the rule of a Vietnamese emperor in Huế (Annam), the French exercised significant power through a Resident-Superior based in Hanoi, the administrative capital of French Indochina.

Tonkin was economically important to the French due to its rich natural resources, including coal and minerals, as well as its agricultural potential. French colonial policies focused on exploiting these resources, often to the detriment of the local population.

Governance and Administration:

The French administration in Tonkin was characterized by a dual system of governance. Vietnamese mandarins retained some administrative roles, but ultimate authority rested with French officials. This system led to tensions and resentment among the Vietnamese population.

Society and Culture:

Tonkin was the heartland of Vietnamese civilization and boasted a rich cultural heritage. However, French colonial policies aimed to assimilate the Vietnamese population into French culture, leading to resistance and the growth of Vietnamese nationalism.

Resistance and Independence:

Throughout the period of French rule, there were numerous uprisings and movements aimed at achieving Vietnamese independence. Prominent figures such as Phan Boi Chau and Ho Chi Minh emerged from Tonkin and played crucial roles in the struggle for liberation.

Dissolution:

Following the end of World War II, French control over Indochina weakened. In 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which included Tonkin. The First Indochina War (1946-1954) ensued, culminating in the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Accords, which partitioned Vietnam into North and South. Tonkin became part of North Vietnam.