1. Culture and Colonialism

1886 Indochina Map

An appreciation for Vietnam’s unique culture is essential background for any discussion of the war. The Vietnamese have lived Confucian traditions for centuries. They also have a tradition of resistance against outside intervention; first against Chinese interference from the north, then French colonial pressures since the mid 19th century.

Required Readings

• Elliott, Duong Van Mai. The Sacred Willow: Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999 Chapters 1-5 (pp 3-101)

Book Reviews

• Jamieson, Neil L. Understanding Vietnam. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993.
• Viện , Nguyễn Khắc. Tradition and Revolution in Vietnam. Berkeley, Calif: Indochina Resource Center, 1974.