Perfume River - Hué, Vietnam
Hué, Vietnam
Hue 4th August
We had another day "at leisure", so had a lazy get up and wandered into town past the karate school and along the river gardens. One of the first things we came across was a Nguyen dynasty style large war monument dedicated to Vietnamese soldiers in the First World War. We then walked along the Le Loi gardens to the first bridge Cau Phu Xuan), crossed over to Le Duan street and along the outside of the citadel walls. We spotted a fisherman with his young son enthusiastically catching the koi carp we had seen the day before (close to a no fishing sign), then turned right down one of the streets. Authentic Hue- shops filled with everything you could imagine from high tech (mobile phones) to make-do-and-mend stalls. We saw several of the Garden Houses and finished our walk in the main market (a lot of jewellery) of Dong Ba which was right next door to a spanking new shopping mall. We headed back to our side of the river and dipped into the Saigon Morin for a cooling beer in their inner courtyard garden. We grabbed a snack and headed back towards our hotel. I loved the Mao-style hoarding advertising the navy and families.
We chose to spend the afternoon relaxing in the second floor open air pool and verandah (overlooking a giant teapot of all things). As the afternoon turned to evening we wandered back towards the floating restaurant we'd seen the day before. We got there at dusk. The waiter showed us up to the open air top floor for drinks- a Mai Tai and B52- while we watched the locals enjoy their food. Song Huong Restaurant (Cong Vien 3-2) http://nhahangnoisonghuong.com The only floating restaurant in Hue. located on the Perfume River next to famous Truong Tien Bridge. It provides gastronomic culture, Hue traditional songs boat. over 300 seats- ideal place for tasting Hue delicacies and watching the romantic scene on the Perfume River. As it got darker we walked back across the road to the Saigon Morin for a huge french dinner (with Vietnamese twist). Then a stroll back to the hotel. Each day we got a different 'treat’ (peanut sesame sweet keo me xung, rice cake, etc)
Tà Ôi Vietnam (34,960) speak a Mon–Khmer language. concentrated A Lưới district (Thừa Thiên–Huế Province), Hướng Hóa District of Quảng Trị Province. HUE
Co Tu (Ca Tu, Ca Tang) provinces Thừa Thiên-Huế and Quảng Nam. pop 61,588. speak a Mon–Khmer language. rice cooked in bamboo stems, drink tavak. dances tung tung (males)/ ya yá (females). homes on stilts. HUE-HOI AN
Vietnamese/ Kinh (Jing) originate north Vietnam/ south China. maj ethnic group Vietnam, 86% of pop. earliest recorded name Lac. geographically/ linguistically SE Asian, but long Chinese domination/ influence puts culturally closer East Asian/ South Chinese. word Việt shortened from Bách Việt, used in ancient times. Nam means "south".
San Chay (Cao Lan) Tuyên Quang (NE Vietnam). speak Tai language. pop 169,410. remote areas, slash/ burn agric.
Tày speak a Central Tai language. Aka Thô, T'o, Tai Tho, Ngan, Phen, Thu Lao, Pa Di. 1.7 million- 2nd largest ethnic group. N Vietnam (Cao Bằng, Lạng Sơn, Bắc Kạn, Thái Nguyên, Quảng Ninh) valleys/ lower mountain slopes. agriculturalists (rice, sweet potato, maize). villages (15-20 households) at foot mountain named after mountain/ field/ river. closely related Nùng and Zhuang. woman wear sarongs to knee, split up right with 5 buttons.
Chut (Vietnamese: người Chứt) small ethnic group Minh Hóa and Tuyên Hóa, Quảng Bình Province, North Central Coast (by Hue). multiple subgroups- Ruc, Mày, Arem, Mã Liêng, Sách. all speak Chut, except the Arem (speak Arem)
Traditional music plays imp role in local life. Hue's royal court music (Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO).
Ca Tru Singing- an old form of singing in North Vietnam that flourished 15th century. In diff regions, ca tru has diff names eg A dao, co dau, nha tro. Ca tru was originally for royals, wealthy, scholars in feudal era.
Cai Luong- comes from South Vietnam and formed from the traditional music of the Mekong River Delta.
Chau Van Singing- (or "van" singing) is an ancient form with religious colour. It originated in the Red River Delta of Northern Vietnam 16th century and spread to surrounding areas.
Cheo Singing- is traditional as well as typical Vietnamese opera beside Tuong and Cai Luong. It is popular in North Vietnam, esp provinces of Red River Delta.
Then Singing- is traditional oratorio originating from religious activities of Tai, Tay, Nung ethnic groups in Northern Vietnam. "Then" is a Tay ethnic group word meaning "god". This is a religious liturgy.
Hue's Royal Court Music- is called Nha Nhac Cung Dinh (Royal court refined music) in Vietnamese. It was the official royal court music for centuries.
Quan Ho Singing- is typical Vietnamese folk music for 300 years, originating in Bac Ninh Province.
Tay Nguyen Gong Music- originated in Tay Nguyen region (Central Highlands); popular in communal activities of ethnic groups there (Gia Rai, Ede Kpah, Ba Na, Xo Dang, Brau, Co Ho, etc.). Gong is made of brass alloy or mix brass, gold, silver, bronze.
Tuong Singing- aka Boi singing or Luong Tuong, is the most classical/ scholarly drama of Vietnam and developed from literature with folk songs and traditional dance.
Water Puppetry- Mua Roi Nuoc in Vietnamese is an old form of puppetry originating from wet rice cultivation, Red River Delta during Ly Dynasty (1010 - 1225). Over centuries, has become typical art form of the North.
Xam Singing- is an old form of folk singing originating 14th century in countryside of Northern Vietnam.
Xoan Singing- aka Khuc Mon Dinh or Hat Cua Dinh. originated Phu Tho and spread to close provinces.
Paradise Garden Restaurant (Nha Hang Vuon Thien Dang), 17 Le Loi Street, Hue (in front of Saigon Morin Hotel)
Coffee There were loads of cafés (quán cafe) in Hue. We tried it local style, iced, with condensed milk. In the South, iced coffee comes in a tall glass with lots of ice and syrupy milk. Tay Son Dynasty
Nguyễn Nhạc 1778-93 Emperor Thái Đức and after 1789 King of Tay Son
Nguyễn Huệ 1788-92 Emperor Quang Trung
Nguyễn Quang Toản 1783-1802 Emperor Cảnh Thịnh
Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Huệ, Nguyễn Lữ (Tay Son Brothers) were leaders of the Tay Son uprising that ended the long civil war between the Trinh (North Vietnam) and the Nguyễn (South Vietnam), seizing power from them and the Lê Dynasty they claimed to represent. They came from peasant stock, surnamed Hồ, but Huệ's grandfather, Hồ Phi Tiễn married Nguyễn Thị Đồng, the only daughter of a rich tradesman in Tây Sơn village and the couple took her name. The brothers martial arts master was Trương Văn Hiến, a friend of Trương Văn Hạnh who taught the Nguyễn prince, Phúc Luân (father of Nguyễn Phúc Ánh). Following the death of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Khoát, an official, Trương Phúc Loan, took over the Nguyễn government. Heavy taxes and local corruption made the Nguyễn lords unpopular and the brothers revolt 1771 against the new Lord Nguyễn Phúc Thuần was popular. The brothers aimed to remove corrupt officials, redistribute land, reunite the country, and restore the power of the Lê emperor in Hanoi. 1774 Lord Trịnh Sâm ended the 100-year Trinh-Nguyen peace by sending his army to attack Phú Xuân (Huế), the Nguyễn capital. Officially he claimed it was to help the Nguyễn Lords fight Trương Phúc Loan, so Nguyễn officials arrested Trương Phúc Loan. Trịnh Sam then said he was staying to help the Nguyễn Lords suppress the Tây Sơn rebellion (1776). Lord Nguyễn Phúc Thuần fled, leaving his nephew, Nguyễn Phúc Dương as co-ruler (1776/7) in Quảng Nam where he was captured by the Tay Son. Nguyễn Nhạc told the Trịnh lords that if they recognised the Tây Sơn Rebel Army, he would help the Trịnh fight the Nguyễn. He was made a Trịnh official. Realising the truce would not last, Nguyen Nhạc sent his brother Nguyễn Huệ to defeat the Nguyễn Lords and his younger brother Nguyễn Lữ to attack Gia Định 1776 and proclaimed himself King of Tây Sơn, choosing Đồ Bàn as his capital. The Tây Sơn captured the last Nguyễn stronghold of Gia Định and massacred the entire Nguyễn family, except one nephew, Nguyễn Ánh, who fled to Siam. The Nguyễn Lords defeated Lữ shortly after. In 1784 the King of Siam and Nguyễn Án marched into South Việt Nam, but were defeated at the battle of Rạch Gầm/ Xoài Mút by Nguyễn Huệ. 1786, Nguyễn Huệ led his army north to “assist” the Lê dynasty and destroy Lord Trịnh. The battle of Phú Xuân (Huế) was won by the Tây Sơn. The citizens of Thăng Long were happy to accept Nguyễn Huan as Emperor. Nguyễn Nhạc ordered Nguyễn Huệ back to Phú Xuân in 1787 when Emperor Lê Hiến Tông (Lê dynasty) died. Nguyễn Ánh convinced King of Siam, P'ya Taksin, to invade Vietnam 1780, but they were unable to defeat the Tây Sơn. Nguyễn Huệ marched north 1786, and defeated the Trịnh who fled to China and Huệ married Lê Ngọc Hân, the daughter old Lê Emperor Lê Hiển Tông. The new Emperor, Lê Chiêu Thống fled north to the Qing Empire, where he petitioned Emperor Qianlong for aid. 1788, a Qing army marched into Vietnam and captured the capital Thăng Long. However, Nguyễn Huệ's army defeated them at the Battle of Đống Đa and forced Lê Chiêu Thống and the Qing army back to China. Nguyễn Huệ was now in control of a united Vietnam. He took the title Emperor Quang Trung. The capital, Thăng Long was briefly renamed Bắc Thành (North City) but soon took its modern name Hà Nội. He distributed land to the poor, encouraged artisans, allowed religious freedom, opened Vietnam to international trade. Quang Trung proposed to marry one of Qianlong's daughters. 1792, Quang Trung planned the final assault on Nguyễn Ánh at Saigon. While waiting for the winds to change, he collapsed and died. Many believed if he had ruled for another 10 years, the fate of the country would have been very different. Emperor Quang Trung's son, Nguyễn Quang Toản was enthroned as Emperor Cảnh Thịnh, aged 10 but the real power was in the hands of his uncle Bui Dac Tuyen, whose purge paved the way for Nguyễn Ánh to capture the entire country, with the help of French mercenaries enlisted by French bishop Pigneau de Behaine. 1800/1, Nguyễn Ánh took Phú Xuân, forcing Nguyễn Quang Toản to flee to Thăng Long. In 1802, Anh captured and executed Nguyễn Quang Toản. Nguyen Dynasty
Emperor Gia Long 1762 –1820 born Nguyễn (Phúc) Ánh 1st Emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam.
A nephew of the last Nguyễn lord who ruled over southern Vietnam, Nguyễn Ánh was forced into hiding 1777 when his family was slain in the Tây Sơn revolt. Nguyễn Ánh was the son of Nguyễn Phúc Luân (heir of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Khoát). However, a high-ranking mandarin, Trương Phúc Loan changed Khoat's will, and installed Luan's younger brother Nguyễn Phúc Thuần on the throne 1765. Luan was jailed and killed.Thuan was killed during the Tây Sơn rebellion 1777. Nguyễn Ánh fled to Hà Tiên where he met Pigneau de Behaine, a French priest who became his adviser. 1777 Nguyễn Ánh joined Đỗ Thanh Nhơn, who had organised an army. 1780, Nguyễn Ánh proclaimed himself Nguyễn vương (king) and had his supporter Nhon brutally murdered. The Tây Sơn recaptured Saigon and Nguyễn Ánh fled.1782 forces led by Nguyễn Phúc Mân, Nguyễn Ánh's younger brother, and Châu Văn Tiếp drove the Tây Sơn out of Saigon. A counterattack by the Tây Sơn 1783 saw Nguyen Man killed and Nguyễn Ánh again fled. Nguyễn Ánh asked Pigneau to appeal for French aid with his son Nguyễn Phúc Cảnh. Pigneau went to Pondicherry, India 1785. The French acting governor Coutenceau des Algrains, was opposed to intervention, so Pigneau sought the Portuguese who had earlier offered Nguyễn Ánh help.1786, Pigneau travelled back to France to ask the royal court for assistance. Arriving at the court of Louis XVI 1787, Pigneau had difficulty gathering support but was helped by Pierre Poivre, who sought commercial concessions in Vietnam. The court agreed and a deal was done for Cochinchina—southern Vietnam—in Nguyễn Ánh's name. Pigneau signed the treaty as "Royal Commissioner of France for Cochinchina".1787 the Tây Sơn moved north to unify the country. Nguyễn Ánh captured Saigon 1788. 1792, the middle Tây Sơn brother, Nguyễn Huệ Quang Trung, who had become Emperor of Vietnam, died suddenly. Nguyễn Ánh attacked north. Nguyễn Ánh's eldest son, Nguyễn Phúc Cảnh captured Huế 1799 and Nguyễn Ánh crowned himself Emperor Gia Long (derived from Gia Định =Saigon and Thăng Long =Hanoi) to symbolise the unification of north and south Vietnam. He moved the government from Hanoi to Huế and rebuilt the old citadel of Phú Xuân into a fortress stronghold. The structure was a square shape of 2.5 km per side. A 9 m rampart was cased with masonry and protected by protruding bastions, each defended by 36 guns. The exterior and interior were flanked and reinforced by a series of moats. The citadel's defenders included an 800-strong elephant troop. The new palace structure, protocol and court dress were taken directly from Qing Dynasty styles, and his palace and fortress was intended as a smaller copy of the Chinese Forbidden City.Gia Long tolerated the Catholic faith of his French allies and permitted missionary activities.1802, Gia Long captured and executed the Tây Sơn leaders. The remains of Quang Trung and his queen were desecrated, and his son, the last Tây Sơn monarch Quang Toản was bound to four elephants and torn apart. Gia Long 1780 married Tống Thị Lan (Empress Thừa Thiên), the daughter of a Nguyen general. Their son was Crown Prince Nguyen Canh. He married a second wife Trần Thị Đang, who bore him three sons, Nguyễn Phúc Đảm, Nguyen Phuc Dai and Nguyen Phuc Chan, and a third wife, Lê Ngọc Bình (daughter of Lê Hiển Tông, an emperor of the Lê Dynasty). Binh bore him two princes, Nguyen Phuc Quan and Nguyen Phuc Cu. Crown Prince Nguyen Canh died of smallpox during the war against the Tây Sơn, and 1816 he chose Nguyễn Phúc Đảm (later Emperor Minh Mạng), the son of his second wife as successor, chosen over Nguyen Canh’s son (his grandson) because he had converted to Christianity.
Minh Mang 1820- Nguyễn Phúc Đảm, son of Emperor Gia Long and Thuận Thiên, took the name Emperor Minh Mạng. In the early years, the most serious challenge came from his father's trusted lieutenant, Lê Văn Duyệt (Governor of Cochinchina). 1825, Minh Mạng banned missionaries from Vietnam describing Christianity as a "perverse European" (practice) "corrupting the hearts of men". He refused to allow French interpreters after Chaigneau's departure and summoned the French clergy to Hue and appointed them as mandarins. This worked until Father Regereau entered the country and began missionary work, leading to the arrest of clerics. After lobbying by Duyệt, Minh Mạng agreed to release the priests on condition they leave. Minh Mạng continued his father's isolationist and conservative Confucian policies. With the restoration of the French monarchy 1815, French interest in Vietnam revived. 1820, Captain John White of the US Navy arrived in Saigon. Minh Mạng was willing to purchase artillery, firearms, uniforms and books, but was rejected by White. 1821, British East India Company agent John Crawfurd was turned away. 1822, French frigate La Cleopatre visited Tourane (present day Đà Nẵng) to pay respects to Minh Mạng, but was greeted with a symbolic dispatch of troops as though for an invasion. 1824 Henri Baron de Bougainville was sent by Louis XVIII to Vietnam but not allowed ashore on the pretext nobody was able to translate. President Andrew Jackson unsuccessfully tried to contact Minh Mạng. After Vietnam gained control over Cambodia early 19th century, a Vietnamese-approved monarch was installed. Minh Mạng put down Siam’s attempt to regain control of Cambodia, which coincided with rebellion by Lê Văn Khôi. After China was attacked by Britain in the Opium War, Minh Mạng attempted to build an alliance with European powers by sending two lower rank mandarins and two interpreters in 1840. They were shunned by King Louis-Philippe. The delegation went on to London, with no success here either. Minh Mạng reorganised the administration, built highways, a postal service, public storehouses, monetary and agrarian reforms. He redistributed land and forbade sales of land to prevent wealthy citizens from reacquiring excessive amounts. 1840 he decreed that rich landowners had to return a third of their holdings. Calls for industrialisation, mining and forestry were ignored. 1839, Minh Mạng introduced a program of salaries and pensions for princes and mandarins to replace the traditional assignment of fief estates. Descendants of the old Lê dynasty appealed to the peasantry and Catholic minority and attempted to enlist foreign help by promising to open up to missionaries. Local leaders in the south were upset with the loss of political autonomy they enjoyed under Duyệt (a Christian defender) who died 1832. Minh Mạng ordered Duyệt to posthumously receive 100 lashes. This caused indignation and a revolt broke out under the leadership of his adopted son, Lê Văn Khôi. Khôi's rebels did well and proposed to replace Minh Mạng with a son of Prince Cảnh. However Khôi died in Saigon 1834 and the rebel commanders were put to death. Missionaries were executed which gave France the excuse to become involved in Vietnam. 1858 after Minh Mang’s death, French troops briefly occupied Tourane- the beginning of the French campaign to colonise Vietnam. When Minh Mạng died, he left the throne to his son, Emperor Thiệu Trị, xenophobic and rigidly Confucian.
Nguyễn Phúc Miên Tông 1807 –47 eldest son of Minh Mạng and third emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty taking the name of Thiệu Trị. Emperor Thiệu Trị carried on conservative policies of isolationism and the entrenchment of Confucianism. Highly educated in Confucian tradition, Thiệu Trị was curios about the West, but very suspicious of all non-Chinese outsiders. The French were in a colonial race with Great Britain and pushing hard for stronger relations with Indochina. When Trị began to imprison missionaries, it prompted a response from France. 1843, the French government sent a military expedition to Indochina to protect and defend French interests and free missionaries. Trị's determination to eliminate Catholic missionaries led in 1845, to a clash between Vietnam and the American warship USS Constitution who attempted to force Trị to free the missionary Dominique Lefèbvre. A French task force demanded the safety of French nationals be assured and that Thiệu Trị cease the persecution of missionaries. Imperial mandarins put off delivering the emperor's reply and fighting broke out. French forces easily defeated the Vietnamese. All the Vietnamese coastal forts were destroyed and 3 Nguyễn junks were sunk before the French squadron sailed away. Trị called all missionaries enemy spies and demanded that all Christians be executed. The mandarins did not put this order into effect and Emperor Thiệu Trị died shortly afterwards 1849. His childless wives were buried with him- the last Asian royal human sacrifice after the practice was banned in China by Kangxi Emperor 1673. . Tự Đức 1829 –83 (Nguyễn Phúc Hồng Nhậm, also Nguyễn Phúc Thì) was the son of Emperor Thiệu Trị and fourth emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty. Thiệu Trị passed over his more moderate eldest son, Hồng Bảo, to give the throne to Tự Đức, known for his staunch Confucianism and xenophobia. Due to the repressive policies of the previous emperor, there was a great deal of dissatisfaction with Nguyễn rule and Prince Hồng Bảo became the leader of a rebellion against Tự Đức, consisting of Confucian scholars angered that the family had been dishonoured (by passing over the eldest son), supporters of the Lê Dynasty (who many still considered the legitimate rulers), peasants angry over taxes, corrupt mandarins, Roman Catholic missionaries and Christian converts persecuted by Minh Mạng and Thiệu Trị. Tự Đức suppressed the rebellion and Hồng Bảo killed himself in prison. Tự Đức shut Vietnam off from the outside world and refused to modernise. His policies brought conflict with Europe that Vietnam could not win. He oppressed foreigners in Vietnam, especially the Christian community. The Christian mandarin Nguyễn Trường Tộ tried to convince Tự Đức that this was suicidal, but he did not listen, mistakenly thinking that France was too involved with the chaos in Europe in 1848 to respond. France sent an expeditionary force and attacked southern Vietnam. The Nguyễn army fought bravely, but their antiquated weapons and tactics were no match for the French. Tự Đức called on his Manchu over-lord, the Qing Emperor, for help and so ensued the Sino-French War. The fighting around Hanoi against China and the Black Flagpirates ended with France victorious. Tự Đức now had hundreds of small rebellions and uprisings against Nguyễn rule. 1848 Tự Đức commanded all Vietnamese Catholics to renounce their religion, or be branded on the face and surrender all rights and privileges. This rallied most European powers against Vietnam. When further rebellions broke out as the French were advancing on the capital, Tự Đức feared that his authority was crumbling. He made a deal with the French so he could crush the rebellion. He signed away the southernmost of Vietnam, Cochinchina, as a French colony and accepted the status of French protectorate for his country. This caused a huge uproar, and many, including the famous mandarin Trương Định, refused to recognise the treaty, fighting on. Emperor Tự Đức is regarded as the last Emperor of Vietnam, since he was the last to rule independently. Smallpox left him impotent so he had no children. He died 1883, supposedly cursing the French with his dying breath.
Dục Đức born Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Ái was Emperor of Vietnam for 3 days, from July 20 – July 23, 1883. He was the father of Thành Thái, emperor 1889-1907. Dục Đức was born Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Ái and at age 17 renamed Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Chân. He was the son of Kien Thoai Vuong, the brother of Emperor Tự Đức. He and his two cousins, Chanh Mong (later Emperor Đồng Khánh) and Duong Thien (Kiến Phúc) were adopted by the emperor, who had no children of his own.After Tự Đức's death, three regents, Nguyễn Văn Tường, Tôn Thất Thuyết and Tran Tien Thanh, declared 31 year old Dục Đức emperor. Tự Đức had thought Dục Đức too decadent to rule and chosen Kien Phuc instead, but the regents thought otherwise. Dục Đức ruled for only 3 days before he was deposed and sentenced to death by the same regents who had enthroned him. The reasons are unclear. The court quickly ruled to execute him with poison for violating the mourning rules and buried him in an unmarked grave. Other historians say Dục Đức was not executed but died in captivity. The true motivation may have been political; the regents may have feared Dục Đức would strip them of the power they enjoyed under Tự Đức.The regents named Duc Duc’s 34-year-old uncle Hiệp Hòa, Tự Đức's half-brother, as emperor. During his brief reign, Hiệp Hòa tried to reign in the regents' influence, but failed; he in turn was deposed and sentenced to die. After years of turmoil, Dục Đức's young son Thành Thái was made emperor 1889. He constructed a mausoleum and shrine complex for his father in Huế known as the Tomb of Dục Đức. This eventually became a family tomb, housing Thành Thái and other members of the Nguyễn dynasty.
Emperor Hiệp Hòa, aka Nguyễn Phúc Hồng Dật reigned for 4 months (Jul–Nov 1883). He was younger brother and adopted son of Emperor Tự Đức. After his nephew (and adoptive half-brother) Dục Đức was deposed 1883 he reasserted the family claim on the throne. However he presided over his nation's defeat by the French navy at the Battle of Thuận An 1883, and signed a treaty which made Vietnam a protectorate of France, ending Vietnam's independence. He was deposed and forced by officials to commit suicide.
Kiến Phúc was a child emperor who reigned for 8 months, Dec 1883- Jul 1884. Born 1869 as Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Đăng, he was the nephew-turned-adopted son of Emperor Tự Đức. Along with emperors Dục Đức and Đồng Khánh, he was adopted by Tự Đức who was unable to have children. After the regicide of Emperor Hiệp Hoà the regents quickly installed the 15 year-old prince as Emperor at 5am. The French Superior Resident, Champeaux had left Huế and on his return protested that France had not been consulted under the Harmand Treaty signed by Emperor Hiệp Hoà. But the treaty gave France no legal influence over the Imperial succession so the regents ignored it. However, when French military plans began the regents made a formal request for the recognition of Kiến Phúc as Emperor. Kiến Phúc had potential but was hampered by poor health and corrupt regents, Princes Nguyễn Văn Tường and Tôn Thất Thuyết. The Emperor's adopted mother, Học Phi, who held most of the authority, began a secret liaison with regent Nguyễn Văn Tường. When the Emperor caught them he was enraged, so Học Phi poisoned him 1884. The leader of the Imperial family, Prince Gia Hung, began a secret investigation into Phúc's death. When Prince Tôn Thất Thuyết found out the truth, he was exiled and disappeared.
Emperor Hàm Nghi born Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Lịch, reigned for 1 year (1884–85). 1885, a nationwide insurrection against the French broke out under the leadership of two regents Nguyễn Văn Tường and Tôn Thất Thuyết. The French stormed the palace and Tôn Thất Thuyết took Emperor Hàm Nghi into hiding in the hills around Laos from where they waged guerrilla warfare against French forces. The French replaced Hàm Nghi with his brother, Đồng Khánh. 1888, Hàm Nghi was betrayed by his Muong guard, Trương Quang Ngọc, and turned over to French officers.He was exiled to Algeria where he married a French Algerian woman, Marcelle Laloë 1904. They had three children, Prince Minh-Duc, Princess Nhu May and Princess Nhu Lý. He died in 1943.
Emperor Đồng Khánh, (b Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Kỷ; reigned 3 years 1885-9 was the son of Prince Nguyễn Phúc Hồng Cai, but adopted by Emperor Tự Đức, and made Duke of Kiên Giang. Đồng Khánh did not succeed until Dục Đức, Hiệp Hoà, Kiến Phúc, Hàm Nghi were all enthroned and removed. Đồng Khánh came to the throne 1885, when the regent, Tôn Thất Thuyết, kidnapped young Emperor Hàm Nghi from the "Purple Forbidden City" of Huế, and took him to the mountains as the figurehead of a movement against the French. The French enthroned Nguyễn Cảnh Tông.
Emperor Thành Thái 1889 –1907 b Prince Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lân, son of Emperor Duc Duc. When Emperor Dong Khanh came to power, Prince Bửu Lân was put under house arrest. When Đồng Khánh died, the French colonial authorities and high-ranking mandarins decided that Bửu Lân was the ideal successor and he was enthroned as Emperor Thành Thái (age 10). Thành Thái was very intelligent and realised the French were keeping watch over him through palace spies. Emperor Thành Thái took a course of passive-resistance. Although he refrained from outright rebellion (political suicide), he made his feelings clear in other ways. He was a man of the people, and would often slip out of the Forbidden Purple City (Huế) dressed as a commoner to talk with people directly and see how they were being affected by government policies. Thành Thái was the first Vietnamese monarch to cut his hair in western style and drive a car. He encouraged French-style education, and supported building projects and took an interest in the everyday lives of his subjects. As the emperor began to realise how thoroughly his palace was infiltrated with French spies, he feigned insanity to escape their constant scrutiny. With his enemies believing he was a harmless lunatic, Thành Thái was able to work for Vietnamese autonomy while waiting for the right time. He was on his way to join a resistance movement in China when he was arrested by French forces who declared him insane and forced him to abdicate. 1907, his son was installed as Emperor Duy Tân. Thành Thái was exiled first to Vũng Tàu in South Vietnam and when Duy Tân rebelled against the French they were both exiled to Reunion Island 1916. 1945, he was allowed to return home but was kept under house arrest in Vũng Tàu. He died in Saigon 1954.
Emperor Duy Tân (b Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh San; 1907 – 1916) son of Thành Thái. The French decided to pass the throne to Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh San, despite him being only 7. They hoped someone so young would be easily influenced and controlled. Their efforts largely failed. Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh San was enthroned as Duy Tân. As he became older he noticed that, even though he was treated as the emperor, it was the colonial authorities who were actually obeyed. As a teenager, Emperor Duy Tân came under the influence of mandarin Trần Cao Vân, who was opposed to the colonial administration. Emperor Duy Tân began to plan a secret rebellion with Trần Cao Vân to overthrow the French. 1916, while France was preoccupied with World War I, Emperor Duy Tân was smuggled out of the Forbidden City with Trần Cao Vân to call on the people to rise up against the French. However, the secret was revealed and France sent troops. Duy Tan was captured by the French authorities, deposed and exiled. Trần Cao Vân and the rest of the revolutionaries were all beheaded. Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh San was exiled with his father to Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. During World War II he resisted the Vichy Regime until the Liberation of La Réunion, after which he joined the Free French Forces and became a low-ranking naval officer on the French destroyer Léopard, serving as radio officer. He joined the Free French army as a second lieutenant in 1942. When France was facing defeat by the Viet Minh, and Emperor Bảo Đại proved incapable of gaining public support, Charles de Gaulle talked to Prince Vĩnh San, who was still very popular in Vietnam, about returning as Emperor. He died in a plane crash in Central Africa on his way home to Vietnam 1945, and the great hopes of many died with him.1987 his son, Prince Bảo Vàng, and the royal family of Vietnam accompanied his father's remains home to Vietnam.
Emperor Khải Định (b Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Đảo 1916-25) son of Emperor Đồng Khánh, but he did not succeed him immediately. After Emperors Thành Thái and Duy Tân (exiled by the French) the French decided to enthrone Bửu Đảo as he was the son of the monarch who was the most submissive to the colonial regime. Nguyễn Bửu Đảo became the nominal ruler of Annam 1916 and took the name Khải Định for his reign. He said he wanted to restore the prestige of the empire, but this was not possible with French occupation. Although not satisfied, Khải Định collaborated with the French government and was effectively a figurehead for the French colonial rulers, to give legitimacy to French policies. Because of this, Khải Định was unpopular with the Vietnamese. The nationalist leader Phan Châu Trinh accused him of selling out to the French and living in imperial luxury while the people were exploited. Nguyễn Ái Quốc (later known as Hồ Chí Minh) wrote a play about Khải Định called "The Bamboo Dragon”. Emperor Khải Định's unpopularity reached its peak 1923 when he authorised the French to tax Vietnamese peasants and added a tax to pay for the building of his palatial tomb. He signed the orders of arrest against nationalist leaders, such as Phan Bội Châu, forcing them into exile. His wives had no children, but a concubine, Tu Cung had a son, Nguyen Phuoc Thien, who became Prince Vinh Thuy and later Emperor Bảo Đại. Khải Định suffered poor health and was a drug addict. He died of tuberculosis at the Purple Forbidden City in Hué.