State of Vietnam
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The State of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Quốc gia Việt Nam) was a former state in Vietnam replacing the former Republic of Cochinchina (1946-1949), a French colony. The transition toward the actual State of Vietnam was assumed under the leadership of Nguyen Van Xuan taking Office within the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam.
The last monarch of the Nguyen Dynasty and former Emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai, became the Chief of State (Quốc Trưởng) with cumulative title of Prime Minister (Thủ tướng) for short term. His successor was Ngo Dinh Diem, future President of the Republic of Vietnam.
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[edit] History
[edit] Unification of Vietnam (1947-1948)
By February 1947, following the pacification of Tonkin (North Vietnam), the Tonkinese capital Hanoi and the main traffic axis returned under French control. The derouted Viet Minh partisans were forced to retreat into the jungle and prepared to pursue the war using guerrilla warfare.
In order to reduce Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh's influence over the Vietnamese population, the French authorities in Indochina supported the return to Office of the charismatic Emperor of Annam (last ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty), Bao Dai. The latter had been forced to abdicate by the Viet Minh back in August 25, 1945 after the fall of the short-lived Empire of Vietnam, puppet state of the Empire of Japan.
On June 5, 1948, the Halong Bay Agreements (Accords de la baie d'Along) allowed the creation of a unified State of Vietnam replacing the Tonkin (North Vietnam), Annam (Middle Vietnam) and the Republic of Cochinchina (South Vietnam) associated to France within the French Union then including the neighboring Kingdom of Laos and Kingdom of Cambodia.
Since the Halong Bay Agreements resulted in many aspects — excluding the referendum — in the enforcement of the March 6, 1946 Indochinese Independence Convention signed by Communist Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam and High Commissioner of France in Indochina Admiral Thierry d'Argenlieu, representative of Socialist Felix Gouin's Provisional French Republic, some regarded the State of Vietnam as a puppet state of the French Fourth Republic.
[edit] French Union (1949-1954)
From 1949 to 1954, the State of Vietnam had partial autonomy from France as an associated state within the French Union.
Bao Dai fought with Communist leader Ho Chi Minh for legitimacy as the government of the whole Vietnam through the struggle between the Vietnamese National Army and the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War.
State of Vietnam found support in French Fourth Republic and the United States while Ho Chi Minh was backed by the People's Republic of China, and in lesser extent by the Soviet Union.
[edit] South Vietnam (1954-1955)
- Further information: Geneva Conference, Partition of Vietnam, and South Vietnam
After the Geneva Conference of 1954, as well as becoming fully independent with its departure from the French Union, the State of Vietnam became territorially confined to those lands of Vietnam south of the 17th parallel, and as such became commonly known as South Vietnam.
The massive migration of anti-Communist north Vietnamese, essentially Catholic people, was proceeded during the French-American Operation Passage to Freedom in summer 1954.
[edit] Republic of Vietnam (1955-1975)
In 1955 the State of Vietnam ceased to exist and was replaced by the Republic of Vietnam whose reformed army pursued the struggle against the Viet Minh in the Vietnam War.
[edit] Government
- Further information: Leaders of South Vietnam
[edit] Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (1948-1949)
On May 27 1948, Nguyen Van Xuan, then President of the Republic of Cochin China, became President of the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (Thủ tướng lâm thời) following the merging of the government of Cochin China and Vietnam in what is sometimes referred as "Pre-Vietnam".
[edit] State of Vietnam (1949-1955)
On June 14, 1949, Bao Dai was appointed Chief of State (Quoc Truong) of the State of Vietnam; he was concurrently Prime Minister for a short while (Kiêm nhiệm Thủ tướng).
From April 30, 1955 until the fall of the State of Vietnam and its replacement by the Republic of Vietnam (1955-1975), Ngo Dinh Diem, who was Prime Minister and leader of the Front of National Salvation coalition, replaced Bao Dai and became Chief of State.
On October 26, 1955, the Republic of Vietnam was established and Ngo Dinh Diem became the first President of the Republic.
[edit] Heads of State (1948-1955)
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nguyen Van Xuan | May 27, 1948 | July 14, 1949 | President of the PCGV | |
| 1 | Bao Dai | July 14, 1949 | January 21, 1950 | Prime Minister and Chief of State |
| 2 | Nguyen Phan Long | January 21, 1950 | April 27, 1950 | Prime Minister |
| 3 | Tran Van Huu | May 6, 1950 | June 3, 1952 | Prime Minister |
| 4 | Nguyen Van Tam | June 23, 1952 | December 7, 1953 | Prime Minister |
| 5 | Buu Phuc | January 11, 1954 | June 16, 1954 | Prime Minister |
| 6 | Ngo Dinh Diem | June 16, 1954 | October 23, 1955 | Prime Minister and Chief of State |
[edit] Military
[edit] Vietnamese National Army (1949-1955)
Following the signing of the 1949 Elysee Accords in Paris, Bao Dai was able to create a National Army for defense purpose.
It fought under the State of Vietnam's banner and leadership and was commanded by General Nguyen Van Hinh.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Currency
Currency used within the French Union was the French Indochinese piastre. Notes were issued and managed by the "Issue Institute of the States of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam" (Institut d'Emission des Etats du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viêt-Nam).
| Preceded by Republic of Cochinchina |
Dynasty of South Vietnam 1949 - 1955 |
Succeeded by Republic of Việt Nam |
