Below is a list of writers from Vietnam whose works are available in english.
Vietnam's history begins in the Tonkin area before the Christian era. Settled by Viets from central China, Vietnam was held by China as a vassal state from 111 BC to 939 AD. Vietnam defeated the armies of Kublai Khan in 1288. Conquest by France began in 1858 and ended in 1884. The conquest by the French resulted in the country being divided in two with the protectorates of Tonkin and Annam in the north and the colony of Cochin-China in the south.
In 1940, Vietnam was occupied by the Japanese. Nationalist forces gained momentum in Vietnam at this time. Several of these groups united to form the Vietminh(independence) League under the leadership of a communist guerrilla soldier named Ho Chi Minh.
In 1945, the Vietminh forced Bao Dai, the former emperor of Annam(North Vietnam) and head of the Japanese sponsored regime in Vietnam during the occupation, out of the power. The French tried to reestablish colonial control over North Vietnam and fought the Vietminh anf other nationalist forces from 1946 - 1954. Eventually the French were defeated at Dienbienphu on May 8, 1954. Meanwhile, Bao Dai formed another government in the south of the country with himself as head of state.
On July 21, 1954 the cease fire was signed in Geneva. The aggreement divided the country in two along the 17th parallel. Ho Chi Minh became the first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam(North Vietnam) On October 26, 1955 Ngo Dinh Diem head of the interim government of South Vietnam declared South Vietnam to be a republic and became its first president.
On December 31,1959 the government of Ho Chi Minh adoted a new constitution based on communist principles. His government also called for the takeover of South Vietnam. In 1963 a crisis developed in South Vietnam when the Buddhists renounced authoritarianism and brutality. This led to a a military coup in which Ngo Dinh Diem was killed. Over next few years, several more coups were to occur.
Between 1964 to 1965, American military involvement increased dramatically in the war between North and South Vietnam. By April 1969 American troops numbered 543,000 soldiers. Later that June President Nixon ordered the troops decreased. A ceasefire was signed on January 27 1973, although it was never implemented. South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam on April 30 1975. The country was officially united on July 2 1976.
Return to Authors List