Nguyễn Dynasty and French rule: 19th-20th centuries Hoa people

hoa merchant in hanoi (1885, photography charles-Édouard hocquard)

the thanh nhan chinese made living exporting rice other southeast asian countries, , participation increased in years during 18th century after tây sơn rebellion. under local laws, rice exports other countries tightly regulated, chinese largely ignored rule , exported rice en masse. prices of rice witnessed increase of 50-100% in 1820s result of these exports, irked nguyễn court under emperor minh mạng. minh mạng s mandarin, lê văn duyệt noticed chinese had great autonomy on trade affairs in gia dinh, partly attributed patronage of trinh hoai duc serving governor of province. minh mạng introduced new series of measures curb chinese trade 1831 onwards, , started introducing new restrictions residents banned overseas travel, culminated in brief revolt among gia dinh s residents in 1833. nguyễn court experimented measures assimilate chinese immigrants; in 1839 edict issued abolish chinese clan associations in vietnamese-ruled cambodia, proved ineffective. minh mạng s son, thiệu trị, introduced new law allow chinese-born immigrants register chinese clan associations, whereas local born male descendants allowed register minh-huong-xa , adorn vietnamese costume. nguyễn court showed signs of subtle discrimination against people of chinese origin; 1 minh huong chinese promoted mandarin. sharply contrasted high representation of people of chinese descent able serve nguyễn court under gia long s reign.

chinese immigration vietnam visibly increased following french colonisation of vietnam 1860 onwards following signing of convention of peking whereby rights of chinese seek employment overseas officially recognised chinese, british , french authorities. unlike vietnamese predecessors, french receptive of these chinese immigrants provided opportunity stimulate trade , industry, , found employment labourers or middlemen. french established special immigration bureau in 1874 requiring chinese immigrants register chinese clan , dialect group associations , eased trade restrictions in place. historians such khanh tran viewed divide-and-rule policy, , intention of implementation minimise chances of internal revolt against french authorities. chinese population nevertheless witnessed exponential increase in late 19th century , more in 20th century; between 1870s , 1890s, 20,000 chinese settled in cochinchina. 600,000 arrived in 1920s , 1930s, , peaks in migration patterns pronounced during 1920s , late 1940s when effects of fighting , economic instability arising chinese civil war became pronounced.

crocodiles eaten vietnamese while taboo , off limits chinese. vietnamese women married chinese men adopted chinese taboo.

vietnamese women wedded chinese helped sell viet minh rice. customarily intermarriage between chinese , vietnamese has consisted of vietnamese female exogamy, because chinese men wealthier , seen better able support wife other way around.