Vietnam Under Japanese Control

The Japanese rule over Vietnam began in late 1944. Though the rule of the French rulers continued in the country, Japan began to gain power over Vietnam. The Viche France government cooperated with the Japanese forces for ruling the country. The Vietnam under Japanese control went through several changes. With the return of Ho Chi Minh in 1941, headquarters were set up at Pac Bo. He set up contact with the ICP Central Committee, which was made the focal point for communist planning.

Ho Chi Minh gained financial support from the Americans and gave an ultimatum to the French for surrendering to Japanese forces. Without waiting for the reply, the Japanese troops started occupying administrative buildings, banks and industries in Vietnam.

With Vietnam under Japanese control, the Japanese forces revoked the treaty, which was signed in 1883. The Franco-Vietnamese Treaty of Protectorate had recognized Indochina as a French dominion and had also declared independence of the country under Japanese rule. With the end of Japanese rule in Vietnam and French loss of power, the ICP started planning to take the benefit out of the political vacuum. Since Japan was the prime enemy, the communists planned of including French troops in the newly formed “United Front”.