Vietnam-China Trade Relations In The Feudal Period: From The Early 10th To The Late 19th Century

Abstract

During the thousands of years that Vietnam and China existed side by side, trade relations between them, despite fluctuations at different times, continued without interruption. History reveals that trade relations between the two countries were always strongly affected by political relations. This article aims to understand trade relations from the 10th century until 1885, when Vietnam emerged as an independent country after having been an administrative district of the Chinese feudal dynasty. The Treaty of Tianjin, which was signed between France and China in 1885, gave France control over Annam, as Vietnam was then known, and marked the permanent termination of the vassal relationship between Vietnam and China. This paper suggested that Vietnam trade relations with China during the 10th century until 1885 followed the principle of being firm but flexible in order to maintain conciliatory relations with China, as China was considered Vietnam’s main partner in both political and economic relations. The state of Vietnam-China economic relations fluctuated during different feudal dynasties. Certain dynasties maintained a closed-door policy; however, trade between two countries still took place by traders especially in border areas. This indicated that trade relations at border crossings or trading sites on land and at sea was stronger and more active than formal trade relations.