The death and resurrection of Indo-China in French memory

Abstract

A war of nine years duration led to the loss of the French colonies in Asia, but Indo-China did not have the impact in French eyes that North Africa and, in particular, Algeria had. In comparison, the French were not required to leave Indo-China either immediately or totally. Economic interests were retained until 1975, as was the pursuit of important cultural activities. Departure in 1975 left a memory that was partly nostalgic and partly bitter, but it revealed a conflict with the French community as well as with the Indo-Chinese.