History of Vietnam and its French connection. The history of
Vietnam is ancient. This beautiful country has seen significant
change over the millenium but close to a century of French rule
has seen the legacy of French culture still in evidence today,
some fifty years after their expulsion in 1954. It is still
evident in language, architecture, customs despite the major
French influence in the history of Vietnam being diminished half
a century ago. Bordered on the west by Cambodia and Laos, the
north by China, the east by the Gulf of Tonkin, and the south by
the South China Sea, S-Shaped Vietnam in Asia, is a land of
significant change. History of Vietnam before the French First
known as Au Lac, founded by ancient kingdoms of Van Lang, so
legend has it recorded Vietnam's origin. Some time before 258
B.C., Kinh Duong Vuong ruled over the kingdom of Xich Quy which
was much of what is called Vietnam today. The Hong Bang dynasty
also ruled over parts of Tonkin and North Central Vietnam. The
land at that time was