Lot Essay
The area of south-east Asia known traditionally as Indo-China includes the former French territories of Annam, Cochin China, Cambodia and Tonquin. Hue, the capital and Tourane, the main entry port, were both in Annam (modern Vietnam) which, whilst nominally subject to Imperial China, had fallen under French influence during the late seventeenth century. Subsequent persecution of Christians provoked more direct intervention in 1859 and, as a result of peace agreed in 1862, three provinces of Annam were ceded to France and became colonies. The remaining provinces were annexed in 1867 and the entire country therafter reamined a French possession until the European withdrawal a century later.