France was the colonial ruler over Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia during the 19th and 20th Centuries. After France's defeat in WWII, Vietnam declared its independence, assuming that since France was no longer a nation, they could not rule Vietnam. after WWII and France was reformed, France attempted to retake Vietnam, but the French were quickly overrun, forcing them to ask the United States for help, ultimately beginning the decade-long Vietnam War.
