Colonial Experience

   The French established a Western administration over the new territories, opening up the colony to economic exploitation [C]. Paul Doumer, arriving in 1897, enforced French control and left the Vietnamese bureaucracy without much power. By the 1930’s, Vietnamese officials only held low positions of order. He took advantage of Vietnam, making sure everything done in the colony would benefit the French. He started many different public transportation works, such as railroads, highways, harbors, bridges, and canals; they furthered the French exploitation of the Vietnamese trade. Doumer also taxed the Vietnamese peasants to pay and to labor for the works. He directly exported all raw materials from Vietnam, such as rice, coal, rare minerals, and rubber. Local consumption of the products was little to none, and the “aim of all investments was not the systematic economic development of the colony but the attainment of immediate high returns for investors.” [D]  

Do-more: Paul Doumer was one of the early enoforcers of French administration in the early 20th century.

Three Little Reasons

France wanted to invade Vietnam because of a few reasons:

1.  French wanted to protect the missionaries that were being attacked by the Vietnamese government. Tu Dac, the Vietnamese emperor at the time, attempted to eliminate all Christians from the mainly Buddhist country. [D] 
2. During a time of imperialism, the French did not want to be left behind in the race of global power. Everyone wanted a piece of foreign territory for raw materials and new markets. Vietnam was a direct trade center with China and would expand territory for French capitalism. As Napoleon’s specially appointed committee (to provide rationale behind the invasion) pointed out: “will we be the only ones without possessions in Asia, where the English, Dutch, Spanish, and even Russians are strengthening their positions?” [D] Napoleon also had an “obsession with national glory” [D]. Since England was establishing herself in Asia, why shouldn't France as well? 
3. France was also interested in Vietnam for its trade with China. With raw materials of coffee, rubber, and tea, Vietnam was a place for imports and exports of goods. [E]

All of these reasons to Napoleon's invasion. Forward march the French army! Huzzah!